An Improved Estimation for Heterogeneous Datasets with Lower Detection Limits regarding Environmental Health.

Abstract

Analysis of environmental data with lower detection limits (LDL) using mixture models has recently gained importance. However, only a particular type of mixture models under classical estimation methods have been used in the literature. We have proposed the Bayesian analysis for the said data using mixture models. In addition, an optimal mixture distribution to model such data has been explored. The sensitivity of the proposed estimators with respect to LDL, model parameters, hyperparameters, mixing weights, loss functions, sample size, and Bayesian estimation methods has also been proposed. The optimal number of components for the mixture has also been explored. As a practical example, we analyzed two environmental datasets involving LDL. We also compared the proposed estimators with existing estimators, based on different goodness of fit criteria. The results under the proposed estimators were more convincing as compared to those using existing estimators.