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braunintertec.com
THE ANALYTICAL
ConsultantVol. 6 Issue 4 A BRAUN INTERTEC PUBLICATION Winter 2010
Maintaining Laboratory Certification or AccreditationBy Craig Foxhoven, Quality Assurance Director
The analytical laboratory at Braun Intertec is
currently certified, accredited or pre-approved to
perform a variety of analyses by several accrediting
bodies and state agencies. In order to maintain this status, the
laboratory continues to develop and implement procedures and
systems within a quality assurance program that meets their
requirements. Commercial environmental, industrial hygiene and
asbestos analytical laboratories must comply with standards that are
primarily based on ISO/IEC 17025:2005. This is an international
standard that covers the core components of management and
quality systems so laboratories submit reliable, consistent and
defendable data.
Lead: Public Water Supplies vs. Schools
By Richard Maw, Project Scientist
The 1991 Lead/Copper rule requires public water suppliers
to monitor for lead in drinking water to determine if it exceeds
unacceptable levels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
strongly recommends that school administrators have school
buildings tested for lead. However, unless the school owns its own
water system, testing is not specifically required and the possibility
remains that some schools are not getting tested.
The testing protocol is different for lead in drinking water systems
and lead in outlets in schools. The sample size and procedures
differ as follows: Under the Lead/Copper rule, the action level is
15 ppb (parts per billion) for a one-liter sample taken by public
water systems at high-risk residences. If more than 10 percent of the
samples taken exceed the action level, systemwide controls must be
implemented to control corrosion. The 15 ppb level is a trigger for
treatment rather than exposure.
The EPA recommends
schools collect 250mL
“first draw” samples from
fountains and other outlets
used for consumption. “First
draw” is defined as water
withdrawn from the tap
after sitting undisturbed for
at least eight hours. The
level of lead should not
exceed 20 ppb. This protocol was designed to pinpoint outlets that
require immediate remediation and maximize the likelihood that
the highest levels of lead are found. When collecting water samples
it is important to obtain sample containers from an accredited
laboratory. Do not use other containers such as canning jars or
water bottles. Once the samples are collected, ship them on ice to
the laboratory. The laboratory will acidify the sample upon receipt.
While samples can be held up to 14 days prior to acidification
without loss of lead through adsorption, it is recommended that
samples be shipped to the laboratory as soon as possible.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently
was recognized by the National Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) as an
accreditation body. Therefore, laboratories accredited
by the MDH must comply with the 2003 NELAC
standard, a national standard adopted by NELAP
and based largely on the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
Although each program may differ in specific details or have
additional requirements, the main components that laboratories
must include for regulatory compliance are:
• Quality Assurance Manual • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) • Proficiency testing studies • Internal audits • External audits by the accrediting or certifying programs • Corrective action/Preventive action
See REQUIREMENTS - Continued on page 2
2 braunintertec.com
Lab Manager’s Corner: Rush Turnaround Time
Tom Wagner
A few weeks ago, I received a
phone call from a contractor on a
Friday afternoon who needed a 48-
hour turnaround on a water sampling
project. That evening we arranged for
a technician to visit the site the next
morning and collect the sample and
return it to our laboratory for analysis.
Our scientists were able to work through
the weekend to meet the client’s required
turnaround time. Because we were able
to provide results in such a short period of time, the contractor
saved money and time by not having to keep equipment or
employees on site longer than necessary.
At Braun Intertec, we understand how valuable project timelines
are and how small delays can increase your project costs. For this
reason, our laboratory is available after hours and on the weekends
for rush turnaround projects, as might be required for spills, cleanups
and remediation projects. If you have any questions about having
rush turnaround performed on your projects, please contact your
project manager, or me directly at 952.995.2650, and we will work
to meet your timeline requirements.
- Tom Wagner
By Rebecca Hofstad, Ph.D.Technical [email protected]
Braun Intertec’s Analytical Laboratory recently obtained certification from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Lab obtains certification for UST testing in Iowa
REQUIREMENTS - Continued from page 1 • Training records • Demonstrations of capability • Document control • Method detection limit studies • Quality control charting • Traceability of chemicals and reference standards • Supervisory and management review reports • Suitable facilities and equipment • Proper reporting of analytical results
• Client feedback
Braun Intertec is currently certified, accredited, or pre-approved
by the programs listed below to provide the following services:
Minnesota Department of Health (MN-ELAP) • Safe Drinking Water analyses • Clean Water analyses • Resource Conservation Recovery analyses • Underground Storage Tank analyses
Minnesota Department of Agriculture • MDA List 1 pesticides • MDA List 2 herbicides
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources • Safe Drinking Water analyses • Clean Water analyses • Resource Conservation Recovery analyses • Underground Storage Tank analyses
Iowa Department of Natural Resources • Clean Water analyses • Resource Conservation Recovery analyses • Underground Storage Tank analyses North Dakota Department of Health • Safe Drinking Water analyses • Clean Water analyses • Resource Conservation Recovery analyses
American Industrial Hygiene Association • Environmental Lead by ICP • Industrial hygiene analyses by gas chromatography, ion
chromatography, gravimetry, colorimetry, liquid chromatography, and phase contrast microscopy
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) • Airborne and Bulk Asbestos analyses
For more details about the laboratory’s accreditation or certification
status for specific analytes and regulatory programs, please contact
your project manager or me directly at 952.995.2630.
for two methods specific to Iowa’s Underground Storage Tank (UST) program. Method OA-1 is used to determine concentrations of volatile organic compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX), in soil and water. Measurements for this method are made using gas chromatography. Soil samples are collected unpreserved, whereas water samples are preserved with hydrochloric acid.
Method OA-2 is used to identify and quantify various petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, mineral spirits, fuel oil and motor oil, in soil and water matrices. Analyst experience is important in comparing the results of the analysis of environmental samples with the analysis of purchased standards of petroleum products. This method also employs gas chromatography for analysis after the samples are prepared by solvent extraction using techniques that are very similar to the methods used to measure diesel range organics (DRO) by the Wisconsin method. Both soil and water samples are collected unpreserved.
With the addition of these two methods, Braun Intertec’s laboratory is certified for a broad range of environmental methods in Iowa. For specific questions about sampling or analysis please contact your project manager.
Underground Storage Tank
braunintertec.com 3
Rupali Sawant begins each day saying, “There’s always
something new to learn.” Even though she has worked as a
laboratory analyst in Braun Intertec’s Analytical Laboratory for
nearly three years, Rupali still enjoys learning different methods
of analysis and has been assisting Rebecca Hofstad, technical
director, with special testing methods required by clients, such as
the state of Iowa.
Rupali works in the sample prep lab, performing diesel range
organics (DRO) analysis by gas chromatography and has 10 years
of laboratory experience with a master’s degree in environmental
chemistry from Mumbai University. Thirteen years ago, Rupali and
her family moved from Mumbai, India, to Eden Prairie, MN. Early
in her career at Braun Intertec, Rupali worked mostly in the prep
lab. Now, however, she tends to focus on DRO projects and is
responsible for several steps of the process, including extraction,
analysis, instrument maintenance and data handling. She is
looking forward to analyzing OA-2 samples for the state of Iowa
to determine the presence of petroleum products. Her lab work
was instrumental during the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit
project, where she performed analyses under tight deadlines.
Meet Rupali Sawant• Lab Analyst II •
When not at work,
Rupali loves spending
time with her two
children, gardening
and cooking butter
chicken and pulav
(green pea rice)
to share with her
colleagues.
Coming soon to a computer near you Braun Intertec’s website (braunintertec.com) is getting a whole new look. Our new website, debuting soon, will feature expansive content aimed at helping you make your laboratory projects even better! On the website, you’ll find information about our laboratory and capabilities, our people, the latest news and events from Braun Intertec and of course electronic versions of The Analytical Consultant.
Recently, there have been changes
announced to regulations aimed at
Stringent Requirements Help Improve Safety in Children’s Products By Rebecca Hofstad, Ph.D.
Technical Director
improving the safety of children’s products, specifically regarding
lead and phthalates. The changes relate to the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which applies to specific
children’s products manufactured after Feb. 10, 2009. Section
101 of the CPSIA regulates lead. Currently, products manufactured
after Feb. 10, 2009 may not exceed 600 ppm (parts per million) of
lead. The limit is scheduled to be reduced to 300 ppm beginning in
February of 2011. Reducing the limit for lead to less than 100 ppm
is under consideration in the future. Currently, third party testing
by an accredited lab is required to determine lead content. For
information about requirements specific to lead, see:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect101.html
Meanwhile, section 108 of the CPSIA regulates phthalate
compounds. The purpose of this section is to prevent children
from being exposed to specific phthalate compounds while
playing, sleeping or eating. The act permanently bans the sale
of any children’s product containing more than 0.1 percent of
di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or butyl
benzyl phthalate (BBP). The sale of “any children’s toy that can be
placed in a child’s mouth or child care article” containing more
than 0.1 percent of three additional phthalate compounds is also
currently prohibited on an interim basis. The additional compounds
are di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and
diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). The Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel
(CHAP) will recommend to the CPSC whether to make the interim
ban permanent for these compounds. For more information about
the following, visit the listed websites:
For phthalates:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect108.html#108q17
For children’s products:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/childproducts.html
For component testing:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/componenttestingpolicy.pdf
As information regarding the CPSIA is constantly updated and
may vary significantly depending on specific applications and the
intended use of specific products, please consult the most current
information.
Providing engineering and environmental solutions since 1957
©2010 Braun Intertec Corporation
Questions, Requests and Comments
Thomas Wagner, [email protected]
Steven Albrecht, 952.995.2622
Braun Intertec Corporation11001 Hampshire Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55438
This newsletter contains only general information. For specific applications, please consult your engineering or environmental consultants and legal counsel.
Braun Intertec’s Analytical Laboratory is open to receive samples Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exceptions of Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. If you have any questions, you may contact the lab at 952.995.2600.
As always, if you have a special project requiring sample receipt during off hours this winter, please contact your project manager and we’ll accommodate your needs.
Braun Intertec’s Analytical Laboratory11001 Hampshire Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55438952.995.2600
Analytical Laboratory Holiday Hours