<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Professional > Action Levels in EQuIS

•Action Levels Definition and Overview

•Action Level Groups

•Managing Action Levels

 

Action Levels Definition and Overview

 

Action Levels define the maximum value (level) an analytical result or sample parameter can have before some type of response or action is warranted. Action levels can be defined by regulatory or other agencies to establish values which, when exceeded, require action or trigger a response. The purpose of the Action Level tables in EQuIS is to store the action level data so that analytical result or sample parameter data can be compared against the values during report generation.

 

As defined by users, action levels may apply to the entire database or may be specific to a facility or subfacility, a limited time period, a particular matrix, land use, analytic method, fraction, depth and/or geologic unit. Additionally, Advanced Action Levels can be configured to look up and/or calculate a sample-specific action level for an analyte using lookups and/or formulas. These sample-specific action levels can be based on a location or location group, Method Analyte Group (MAG) sums, Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ) sums, detection limits, or another analyte's result. The following matching criteria are available for reporting:

•Start and End Dates

•Seasonal Dates

•Subfacility

•Land Use

•Depths (default)

•Match Fraction (default)

•Match Methods  (default)

•Match Facility (default)

•Match Matrix (default)

•Geologic Unit Code

 

Three tables are used to define action levels and associated analytes. These tables are as follows (in parent-child order).

RT_ACTION_LEVEL_TYPE > DT_ACTION_LEVEL > DT_ACTION_LEVEL_PARAMETER

 

The DT_ACTION_LEVEL table has columns for all of the matching criteria above, except analytic method. The MATRIX column is generally always populated since the action levels for one matrix typically do not apply to another.

 

The DT_ACTION_LEVEL_PARAMETER table has columns for matrix, fraction, and analytic method that enable defining multiple action levels per chemical.

 

The purpose of the Action Level tables can be described by type, group, and members of the group as explained in the following sections.

 

Watch the EQuIS Office Hour video Configure Static and Dynamic Action Levels on Vimeo to learn more about action levels.

 

 

Action Level Groups

 

Action Level Groups allow data managers to track regulatory limits for analytes. There is no limit to the number of groups that can be created, and an analyte can exist in multiple action level groups. The information in this article will show how to set up a group of analytes and how to assign a regulatory limit to each analyte in the group.

 

 

The DT_ACTION_LEVEL_LOOKUP table stores values that allow Advanced Action Levels to be looked up or calculated.

 

 

Managing Action Levels

 

Action Levels can be managed in EQuIS three ways:

1.Upload an Action Level EDD through EDP with the ActionLevel Format. A Files section has been added to the ActionLevels format, and allows uploading of attachments.

2.Use the Action Levels Form to manually enter and edit Action Levels. The form is accessed from the Professional Home ribbon.

3.Use the Risk3T Module to do the following. Risk3T is accessed from the Professional Decision Support ribbon.

a.Generate EQuIS Action Levels using tables of action levels for exposure pathways from a regulatory agency.

b.Calculate EQuIS Action Levels using chemical toxicity and physical properties tables from a regulatory agency.