Multivariate Statistical Methods in Environmental Forensics

ISSN： 1527-5922

Source： Environmental Forensics, Vol.8, Iss.1-2, 2007-01, pp. : 155-163

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Abstract

In an environmental forensic context, statistics can lend considerable support to evidence presented to a court and assist in the interpretation of data. However, the use of statistical methods must be conducted with utmost rigor and be applied only where relevant and necessary. Statistics for the sake of statistics or the wrong statistics may lead to doubt being raised and imply deception. It has also been suggested that a well-planned and executed analytical program should not need statistics to prove a point; this suggestion may be true when simple comparisons are all that is required, but when examining complex environmental situations, statistical methods might be the only ones that can identify the underlying truth. There are several types of statistics, but this article concentrates on some of the multivariate statistical methods that can assist in the identification of the source. This article is not designed to be a comprehensive study of any one method or of any one case but an overview of the methods and the common pitfalls made by inexperienced practitioners.