Capability

The DEQ Environmental Laboratory currently has one mobile laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS). it is designed for on-site analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Examples of VOC's are gasoline components including benzene, toluene, and xylene, and degreasing solvents or dry cleaning solvents including trichloroethylene (TCE), trichloroethane (TCA), and methylene chloride. Some of these compounds are quite toxic and/or may be carcinogenic.

Potential Capability

This mobile lab also can be modified to test for the so-called semi-volatile organic compounds such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's), pesticides, and a class of compounds known as Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNA's). PNA's are found in combustion products (benzo-a-pyrene, found in cigarette smoke, is an example of a PNA), in crude oil, and as minor constituents of gasoline.

Advantages

The most important feature of the mobile lab is its ability to go to a site and provide analysis for samples immediately. This greatly enhances our ability to quickly define the type and scope of the problem, and in over year's field work, has proved to be invaluable in the swift identification of potentially responsible parties and the source of contamination. The mobile lab follows a strict Quality Assurance-Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol and fully validated methodology as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the results can be used reliably in court.

The mobile lab is in constant demand by DEQ field staff. To maximize its use, the DEQ frequently arranges to analyze samples from more than one contaminated site in a district. Because the mobile lab has the capability to analyze samples unattended overnight, it can handle as many as 20 to 30 samples per day.