MGP USA 2008 is the third international symposium in an on-going series, initiated in 1995, focusing on how the remediation and redevelopment of MGP sites is taking place today. The presentation was delivered by Ms. Alyson Fortune, an Air Quality Scientist with Columbia Analytical Services, with the paper co-authored by Leo Gendron, Senior Program Manager at ENSR in Westford, MA.

The paper included real world data from 105 co-located EPA TO-15 and EPA TO-13A samples; findings showed that the EPA TO-15 method consistently yielded higher concentrations of naphthalene than EPA TO-13A. “The findings in this paper are consistent with what our lab has seen anecdotally for 20 years”, Fortune said.

Read the Naphthalene Ambient Air Sampling abstract…

For those interested in the measurement of naphthalene in ambient air, please contact Columbia Analytical at 805-526-7161.

Clients sending samples should contact the Houston laboratory directly for updates on shipping availability and procedures. The laboratory may be reached at 713.266.1599 or through the URL: http://www.caslab.com/Houston-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.

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

Draper joins Columbia Analytical with 21 years of experience in the environmental laboratory field, where she has held positions as Senior Analytical Chemist and National Account Executive. Draper has expertise in the EPA Safe Drinking Water program, Department of Defense programs, and many aspects of environmental testing.

“Draper will focus on the southeastern sector of the US and will also work with national accounts in the Eastern Region,” said Bob Wyeth, senior vice president of Columbia Analytical. “Her expertise will provide our clients technical depth and resources for their projects.”
 
Draper’s other skills include 40 hours of OSHA training, field sampling and testing support and advanced SCUBA, including research diving. She has a BA in Biology and Chemistry and did her Masters Degree work in Marine Biology. She is a current Board Member of the NW Chapter of Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, has served as past Pensacola Post President for the Society of American Military Engineers and is a member of AWWA. Draper resides in Pensacola, Florida.

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

For more information on Columbia Analytical please contact Draper at 850.377.1535 or check out the company’s website at www.caslab.com.

“It will be a history, current status and a prediction of where we are going while avoiding the pitfalls and taking advantage of the positive aspects of accreditation,” said Wyeth.

The conference’s 2008 program features four keynote presentations as well as 140 technical and poster sessions. Wyeth’s presentation will be offered on Thursday, August 14, 2008 entitled, ‘Moving Forward on National Accreditation.’ He will also be available during the conference for questions.

The NEMC was initiated in 1985 as part of EPA’s efforts to foster a partnership among the agency, the regulated community, the public, state regulatory agencies, and the other members of the monitoring community.

Wyeth has more than 35 years in the environmental testing industry and is currently a technical and regulatory expert for Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The NELAC Institute and the Environmental Sciences Section of the American Council of Independent Laboratories.

For more information on the conference or Wyeth’s presentation visit Columbia Analytical’s website at www.caslab.com or contact Wyeth at 716-860-9108.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Columbia Analytical Services, Inc., announces expansion of its Phoenix, Arizona, laboratory with the addition of new gas chromatography mass spectrometers (GC/MS), autosamplers and microbiological testing capabilities.

“Adding capabilities and capacity has been a natural part of our growth since our purchase of the Phoenix property earlier this year,” said Steve Vincent, president of Columbia Analytical. “These investments reinforce our long-term commitment to serving Arizona and the Southwest region.”

As part of its growth strategy, Columbia Analytical has also launched a client access web portal where clients can obtain their lab reports and other documents online.

“Our new web system will add value to our customers by offering access to detailed project data at their convenience,” said Beth Proffitt, vice president of corporate business development and acting laboratory director. “We are excited about our growth and are looking forward to providing even better service to our clients through these changes.”

Proffitt was recently promoted to the position of vice president, corporate business development and has been in the environmental laboratory industry for more than 21 years. She will continue to provide support and operate from the Phoenix location.

“Beth is an outstanding resource to have in the Southwest region,” said Vincent. “She will be expanding her efforts on our regional and national markets. We are now hiring to fill Beth’s former lab director position as well as other new analyst positions in the Phoenix laboratory. We take pride in our experienced staff and look forward to our future growth.”

For more information on Columbia Analytical, please contact Steve Vincent at 360.577.7222 or Beth Proffitt at 602.437.0330 or visit the company’s website at www.caslab.com.

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.

The addition of this new equipment will enable Columbia Analytical to increase capacity for CHNS analyses and analyze difficult matrices for oxygen.

“We can analyze CHNS on a single aliquot of sample, thus reducing the amount of the sample needed. Oxygen analyses can also be performed on organo-metallic samples and samples containing fluorine,” stated Lab Manager Ralph Poulsen. “The instrument is easily switched from CHNS to oxygen and stabilizes within an hour versus up to a day with other instruments.”

TruSpec analyzers operate at a higher pyrolysis temperature (1,250 vs 950C) which is critical in breaking organo-metallic and oxygen bounds and it uses IR detectors which eliminates the need for a gas separation column that is easily poisoned by low concentrations of fluorine in the sample.

“Oxygen analyses times will be greatly improved from approximately five to six minutes to less than two minutes,” said Poulsen. “This new analyzer also supports compliance to FDA Regulation 21 CFR Part 11 and AOAC, AACC, AOCS, ASBC and ASTM approved methods of analyses.”

For more information on micro-elemental testing, contact Ralph Poulsen, Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. at 520-573-1061 or visit their website at www.caslab.com.

Ms. Fortune taught the air sampling, laboratory analysis, and data evaluation section of the PDC. This section compared and contrasted the available air sampling media options for vapor intrusion, described in detail the concept of using helium as a leak testing tracer for soil gas sampling, and showed an example of a typical air laboratory report, which pointed out key features consultants should examine when reviewing vapor intrusion data.

In its first year, the Vapor Intrusion PDC was sold out and ranked in the top 25% of all PDCs. AIHce is a premier annual event for thousands of practicing industrial hygiene and environmental health & safety professionals.

Ms. Fortune is an Air Quality Scientist with Columbia Analytical in Simi Valley, Calif.

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.

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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.

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