Summary SGS has developed and validated accurate, sensitive and accessible polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) analysis by GC-MS in support of the US EPA’s initiative to update the PCB measurement strategy for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Background Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous contaminants regulated under the US Clean Water Act. Currently, the […]
12
Feb
Feb
We in British Columbia love our Pacific wild salmon and view them as keystone species and indicators of ecosystem wellbeing. Numbers have dropped significantly recently from multiple stressors including climate change, habitat loss, pollution and more. With current and proposed pipelines that will carry diluted bitumen (dilbit) from the oil sands through spawning habitat and […]
29
Jan
Jan
The widespread use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) containing PFAS at airports all over the world has resulted in contamination of ground and surface water, and soil. In addition to the many ecosystem effects that are still being studied, how are microbial communities affected? Which PFAS are microbes able to degrade and how does […]
09
Jan
Jan
How many contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) can you assess from one set of mussels? Turns out if SGS AXYS is doing the measurement, it’s at least 330! Scientists Andrew James, Jennifer Lanksbury, Tarang Khangaonkar and James West from the University of Washington Tacoma, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories […]
17
Dec
Dec
SGS AXYS is a leader in the measurement of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment. Our methods were used as the basis for EPA Method 1694 in 2007 and these isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS PPCPs methods has since expanded to include close to 200 drugs, metabolites, hormones and personal care products. From natural and […]
04
Dec
Dec
OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR As we celebrate what has been a successful year at SGS AXYS, our laboratory facilities will be closed on December 25th through 27th and January 1st. We do not recommend shipping samples from December 23rd through 31st to avoid possible delays. Please […]
15
Nov
Nov
Can bile acids found in plasma, eggs, liver and other biological samples interfere with PFAS analysis? Yes! But there are ways to avoid these interferences and produce reliable data. Bile acids and their salts are either synthesized in the liver or formed from bacterial activity. They are the major constituents of bile and help digest […]
12
Nov
Nov
Phthalates, used as plasticizers in many plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene and more, have been associated with endocrine disruption. But, given their ubiquity in the environment, it is challenging to really pinpoint exposure in humans. Phthalates are metabolized in the body into monophthalate ester metabolites and excreted in urine. So, measuring these phthalate ester metabolites in […]
30
Oct
Oct
SGS AXYS will be featuring our work on PFAS, neonicotinoids, bisphenols, metabolomics and more at the SETAC North America 40th Annual Meeting, November 3-7 in Toronto. As a world leading specialist in the measurement of persistent organic pollutants, emerging contaminants and endogenous metabolites, SGS AXYS contributes to the SETAC body of knowledge this year with […]
11
Oct
Oct
While perfluorinated carboxylates and sulfonates (PFAA) such as PFOA and PFOS are known to be stable under all storage/environmental conditions, it is well known that many other PFAS, including PFAA precursors can transform in the environment from biological and chemical processes. But little was known about their stability in environmental samples sent to laboratory and […]