Units used at MEL
Lab results are usually reported as densities - the amount of some element per unit of sample.
Not all labs use the same units in reporting results for the same tests. This page will help you compare test results if different units have been used.
AQUEOUS RESULTS
mg/L= 1 ppm (part per million) = 1 milligram of element per liter of liquid
μg/L = 1 ppb (part per billion) = 1 micrograms of element per liter of liquid
CONVERSION
mg/L ÷ 1000 = μg/L
μg/L x 1000 = mg/L
SOLID RESULTS
mg/kg = 1 ppm (part per million)= 1 milligram of element per kilogram of material
μg/kg = 1 ppb (part per billion)= 1 microgram of element per kilogram of material
CONVERSION
mg/kg ÷ 1000 = μg/kg
μg/kg x 1000 = mg/kg
RESOURCES
AWESOME : Easy units converter: www.endmemo.com
Units of Measurement
MASS
g- a gram is about as much mass as a paper clip
kg - a kilogram = 1000 grams = about 2.2 pounds
mg - a milligram = 1/1000 of a gram
μg- a microgram = 1/1,000,000 of a gram*
VOLUME
L - a liter is about 4 cups of liquid.
mL - a milliliter = 1/1000 of a liter.
* "μ" is the symbol for "micro" or "1/million."
It may appear in lab reports as a simple "u", as in ug/kg.