KELSO, Wash. — Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. is proud to announce the addition of Nicolas Bloom, one of the world’s foremost chemists in metals speciation. Bloom will serve as a project manager for selected metals research and development activities at Columbia Analytical’s Kelso, Wash., laboratory.

“The addition of Nicolas Bloom affirms our reputation as an innovative analytical laboratory in the field of metals analyses,” said Jeff Christian, laboratory director of the company’s Kelso facility.

Bloom is most noted for his expertise in the field of speciation and bioavailability of trace metals. In his 30 years of experience, he has authored hundreds of publications and provided expert advice to many international organizations. Bloom has served on numerous national scientific advisory committees under the EPA and other government and scientific organizations, some of which have resulted in congressional reports and findings.

Bloom’s expertise is in ultra-clean field sampling for the determination of trace metals in atmospheric, aqueous (including seawater), sediment, soil, and biotic medias. Tracing these metals requires advanced knowledge of cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, neutron activation anaylsis, and colormetric methods.

In his new position, Bloom will expand Columbia Analytical’s speciation capabilities for metals and organometallics. His work related to trace metals in petroleum materials will be continued at Columbia Analytical. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with such a world-class organization,” said Bloom. “I look forward to new analytical technique discoveries that will provide answers to many chemical questions here at Columbia Analytical.”

Founded in 1986, Columbia Analytical is an employee-owned, full service analytical laboratory network. Headquartered in Kelso, Washington, the company’s network is comprised of seven laboratories in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington. Columbia Analytical’s expertise encompasses air, water, dioxin, biological, pharmaceutical, and solid and hazardous waste analyses.

For more information on Columbia Analytical please call 360.577.7222 or visit the company’s website at www.caslab.com.

###

HI-RES PRESS IMAGES:

Download

Download

Download

Download

 
CAPTION:
Nicolas Bloom shown preparing for low-level mercury analysis using EPA method 1631, which he pioneered.

Columbia Analytical has completed the implementation of the National Council of Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Method AQ-S108.01 for the determination of anthraquinone in pulp and paper products.

In response to California’s listing of anthraquinone with Proposition 65, many companies are proactively having their products tested for anthraquinone in advance of the ruling’s effective date. This procedure is currently being performed by Columbia Analytical as written and released by NCASI.

Columbia Analytical has been in consultation with NCASI scientists over the past year in preparation for this action by the state. This preparation enabled Columbia Analytical to be in position to offer the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure in time for pulp and paper operations to comply with the regulation.

Columbia Analytical is currently analyzing for anthraquinone in samples for multiple organizations.

For more information on anthraquinone analysis, please contact Jeff Christian at 360-501-3316 or Ed Wallace at 360-577-7222.

KELSO, Wash. – Congressman Brian Baird, representing Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, recently toured the expansion of Columbia Analytical’s Kelso, Washington, laboratory facilities. The expansion doubled the size of the company’s Kelso operations.

As chairman of the Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, Rep. Baird was particularly interested in the innovative instrumentation used in the laboratory, such as the gas chromatograph triple quadrapole mass spectrometer (GC/MS/MS). With help from the Cowlitz Economic Development Council (CEDC), Columbia Analytical qualified for a deferral on Washington state sales tax, making it easier to attain the high-tech equipment.

“Because of his interest in science and technology, Rep. Baird enjoyed seeing how our laboratory has grown and how state government is helping spur economic growth in this area,” said Jeff Christian, Kelso Laboratory Director.

After touring the laboratory, Congressman Baird spent the afternoon with Columbia Analytical employees, answering questions about various current events taking place in the state and in the country. Founded in 1986, Columbia Analytical is an employee-owned national laboratory network, with operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Texas, and Washington. The company employs more than 200 people at its Kelso, Washington, headquarters.

For more information on Columbia Analytical, call 800-695-7222 or visit the website at www.caslab.com.

###

Contact:
Dee O’Neill
360-577-7222

www.caslab.com

Press Images and Links:

Jeff Christian, Kelso Laboratory Director, discusses the GC/MS/MS instrument with Congressman Baird, Paul Brachvogel, Kelso City Manager, and Todd McDaniel, Kelso City Council.

Download Hi-Res

Download Hi-Res

Download Hi-Res

Download Hi-Res

View our Press Kit to download logos/images.

Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. (CAS) announces progress on our major expansion program.

CAS is undergoing major changes as a result of its $15,000,000 growth initiatives. The Kelso, WA laboratory is close to completing the expansion of its facility with the addition of more than 20,000 square feet of laboratory space in support of its expanding pharmaceutical and specialty environmental work. The new addition scheduled for completion in February, 2007 doubles the existing laboratory space.

Our Simi Valley laboratory completed its relocation into its new 20,000 square feet laboratory in December of 2006. This move was in response to its expanding business in air toxics and to support the addition of some routine soil and water testing capability.

With the completion of this growth initiative which began in 2005 with the purchase of the Transwest Geochem, Inc., and Desert Analytics laboratories in Phoenix and Tucson as well as the expansion of HR/MS capacity at its Houston laboratory, CAS has been able to realign its California operations by folding its Redding laboratory services into our newly expanded Kelso, Simi Valley, and Phoenix laboratories.

Founded in 1986 and a leader in the commercial laboratory industry, the CAS laboratory network is employee owned, with over 400 people, and operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Texas, and Washington. CAS provides high-quality, cost-effective and innovative chemical and biological analyses for potentially hazardous substances in air, water, sediments, tissues, solids, wastes and other matrices.