Insights

Whenever the reliability of the laboratory data can be called into question, an independent, third party assessment of the data (i.e. data validation) will play an important role.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act (CWA), was designed to help manage pollutants that reach water sources in the United States.

Emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are relatively new to the laboratories, and methods have not been long-established, like those for the more familiar analyses such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).

Until the early 2000’s, 1,4-dioxane has received little attention from regulatory agencies. This compound is a frequent contaminant of concern at sites contaminated with chlorinated compounds, due to its widespread use as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents.

As regulatory agencies push action limits lower and lower, laboratories have had to move to increasingly more sensitive methodologies for analyses in order to meet their clients’ needs.