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INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE
Common Symbols and Abbreviations
ND means "not detected".
BMQL means "below minimum Quantitation level".
< means "less than"-- The number following this sign is the smallest amount that may be quantified using the
method listed ("quantitation limit"). Better than "ND", it indicates the lowest level for which a sample has been examined without detecting the analyte in question.
> means "greater than".
TNTC means "too numerous to count".
NTU means "nephelometric turbidity units".
C or F refer to temperature. Degrees Centigrade (or Celsius) and Fahrenheit respectively.
umhos/cm means "micromhos per centimeter". Usually at a specific temperature (25oC), it is used in reporting specific
conductance of solutions.
g means "gram". This is the unit of mass (weight) in the metric system. It equals about 1/30 of an ounce.
kg means "kilogram". This is 1000 grams.
mg means "milligram". This is 1/1000 of a gram.
ug means "microgram". This is 1/1000 of a milligram and 1/1,000,000 of a gram.
l means "liter". This is the unit of volume in the metric system (about 0.95 quarts).
ml means "milliliter". This is 1/1000 of a liter. (100ml would be 1/10 of a liter.)
ul means "microliter". This is 1/1000 of a milliliter and 1/1,000,000 of a liter.
% means "percent" or "parts per hundred". Usually designated by weight or volume.
mg/l ,mg/kg usually represents "parts per million". One milligram per kilogram. (mg/kg), milligram per
liter (mg/l)
ppm one part per million (ppm) is equivalent to mg/l for aqueous solutions as the mass of one
liter of water is about one kilogram.
ug/l, ug/kg usually represents "parts per billion". One microgram per kilogram. (ug/kg), one microgram
per literliter(ug/l)
ppb one part per billion (ppb) is taken as equivalent to ug/l in aqueous solutions as the mass of one
liter of water is about one kilogram. It is 1/1000 of the amount above (mg/kg, mg/l or ppm).
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