PFAS

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS for short, are a group of chemicals consisting mainly of a carbon chain backbone with fluorine atoms attached in various configurations.  As a group, they have desirable properties for everyday use in a variety of applications.  They are resistant to oil and water as well as degradation by oxidation and heat.  They are used for surface protection, fire suppression, vapor suppression, lubrication, and adhesion.

Some PFAS have been found to bioaccumulate and have various negative health effects.  Additionally, due to their widespread use and resistance to degradation, they have become persistent and ubiquitous in the environment.  As a result, PFAS are a growing health and environmental concern.  Health, environmental, and regulatory information is continually evolving, and the demand for testing is increasing.  AAI is working on bringing you PFAS analysis to better meet the growing need for testing

HEM, SGT-HEM: OIL & GREASE

The term “n-Hexane Extractable Material (HEM; Oil and Grease)” reflects the material extracted by n- hexane as that which is being measured using Method 1664. “Silica-gel Treated n- Hexane Extractable Material (SGT-HEM; Non-polar Material)” designates the substances that remain after n-hexane extractable material is exposed to silica gel. Method 1664B is a performance-based method applicable to the measurement of the method-defined parameters HEM and SGT-HEM from aqueous matrices and requires the use of n-hexane as the extraction solvent, gravimetry as the determinative technique.

Pesticides

Pesticides are produced to protect wood, crops, animals, and humans from damage and disease caused by organisms such as fungus, insects, and rodents.  Pesticides can be from several classes of compounds and have largely different properties.  The chemical composition of pesticides ranges from copper and arsenic based to organochlorides and organophosphates.

Some pesticides are toxic as well as persistent in the environment prompting the need for regulation.  The U.S. EPA regulates pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).  For site evaluations and ongoing remediation, AAI analyzes for pesticides by EPA method 8270E.