Lancaster Laboratories Environmental

Environmental NEWS - Fall 2011

Lancaster Labs doubles capacity for perchlorates; LC/MS/MS improves turnaround time

Principal Chemist Meng Yu uses a triple quad to test rush drinking water samples for perchlorate contamination.

Perchlorate is used in the manufacture of rocket fuel, explosives and some fertilizers. Perchlorate salts are not readily affected by pH and temperature and are persistent in aqueous systems. Perchlorate’s water solubility makes it very mobile in soil. Research has indicated that perchlorate can disrupt the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth and development.

Even though EPA does not have an established Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) for perchlorate, in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation 1 (UCMR1) program, the contaminant was detected in approximately 4 percent of public drinking water supplies. EPA has proposed an action level of 15 ug/l for perchlorate.

In response to the health concern and client needs, Lancaster Labs has doubled its capacity to perform perchlorate analysis by EPA SW-846 Method 6850.

Method 6850 uses LC/MS/MS with an isotopically labeled surrogate, so the analysis is very selective and sensitive. In addition to expanding the instrument capacity, the Specialty Services Group made improvements to the chromatography column and elution profile so that ion suppression is greatly reduced, which adds to the specificity of the analysis. These improvements have allowed for more rapid turnaround on sensitive drinking water sample analysis as well as increased the number of samples processed in a day.

Based on client need the Specialty Services Group has also worked to achieve lower limits for the analysis of perchlorate in soil as well as an analysis for perchlorate in milk and milk products.

For more information, contact Environmental Business Development at 717-656-2300.