Lancaster Laboratories Environmental

Environmental NEWS - Spring 2010

NJDEP certification obtained for extractable petroleum hydrocarbon testing

Principal chemist Bob Brown loads soil and water samples for analysis.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently published a new method entitled, “Analysis of Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) in Aqueous and Soil/Sediment/Sludge Matrices.” The method focuses on non-volatile petroleum products, which are separated into aliphatic and aromatic fractions. The fractions are analyzed individually using gas chromatography that further separates the extract into carbon ranges, each with an assigned toxicity factor. This technique supplies more specific information that can be used to implement health based soil remediation standards.

Applying their experience with similar methods that are required in other states, chemists at Lancaster Labs submitted method validation data, and the Labs’ certification was approved by the State of N.J. “We have a lot experience with this type of testing and are accepting samples for this method,” says Jenifer Hess, manager of the EPH Department.

For more information about Lancaster Labs’ accreditations, contact Environmental Business Development at 717-656-2300 or email env@lancasterlabs.com.