Sample size for estimating the mean concentration of organisms in ballast water. (15th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costa, Eliardo G.; Lopes, Rubens M.; Singer, Julio M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 180(2016)
• Page Start: 433
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2016-09-15
• Subjects: Bounds on absolute and relative errors -- Confidence interval -- Coverage probability -- Negative binomial distribution; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.05.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: We consider the computation of sample sizes for estimating the mean concentration of organisms in ballast water. Given the possible heterogeneity of their distribution in the tank, we adopt a negative binomial model to obtain confidence intervals for the mean concentration. We show that the results obtained by Chen and Chen (2012) in a different set-up hold for the proposed model and use them to develop algorithms to compute sample sizes both in cases where the mean concentration is known to lie in some bounded interval or where there is no information about its range. We also construct simple diagrams that may be easily employed to decide for compliance with the D-2 regulation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Graphical abstract: Highlights: Ballast water monitoring for compliance requires reliable mean concentration estimates. We compute the minimum sample size for estimating the mean concentration of organisms. We present algorithms and diagrams to assist in the decision-making process. We propose a sequential procedure to verify non-compliance during deballasting.