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Dioxinlab.com
RPC’s high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) laboratory has been serving clients since 1992 and has built a reputation of performing dioxin analysis at the high level of quality required by clients and regulatory agencies. Service is personalized, reliable, confidential, and on-time. Clients include aquaculture growers, feed suppliers, meat and dairy producers, environmental consultants, regulatory authorities, industry and testing laboratories from around the world.
RPC offers high resolution gas chromatography / high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) analysis of dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) for the monitoring of food, feed, tissue, soil, sediment, ash, water, effuent, ambient air and vegetation, as well as industrial products. Water and effluent are analyzed by HRGC/HRMS for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
Dioxins & Furans
Dioxins and furans are the common terms assigned to a family of over 200 chlorinated compounds known as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). They are formed as by-products of certain chemical processes and from the inefficient combustion of organic materials. These compounds are extremely stable and persist in the environment for many years. They are strongly lipophilic and bioaccumulate in fatty tissues as they are passed up the food chain. Because PCDD/Fs are believed to cause serious health effects, including cancer and birth defects, at very low levels in humans, low exposure guidelines require trace level analysis.
Other HRMS Services
Some PCB congeners exhibit toxicological properties similar to those of PCDD/Fs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified twelve PCB congeners as "dioxin-like".
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used extensively for fire prevention in a wide range of commercial materials. The polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are an important sub-class of the BFRs. Although toxicological data on PBDEs are limited to date, these compounds are similar to dioxins, furans and DL-PCBs in structure, stability and tendency to bioaccumulate in the food chain.
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a highly carcinogenic byproduct of water treatment which can be present in the environment and in a wide variety of food products.
Reference
Methods
For Dioxins & Furans:
For Dioxin-like PCBs:
For Polybrominated diphenyl ethers:
For NDMA:
- Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) Method E3291A
Detection Limits
For Dioxins & Furans, Dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs:
• <1 part per trillion (ppt) in matrices such as food, feed, soil and sediment
• <1 part per quadrillion (ppq) in effluent and water samples
For NDMA:
• 1 part per trillion (ppt) in water
Qualifications
RPC’s Analytical Services laboratories hold accreditation with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The laboratory accreditation program is based on the continued demonstration of performance as evaluated through interlaboratory proficiency testing and laboratory site audits. SCC accredited laboratories are required to conform to the International Laboratory Standard ISO 17025: "General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories".
RPC’s quality management system is registered to ISO 9001:2000.
In addition, the laboratory’s proficiency is demonstrated through successful participation in published interlaboratory studies.
Year |
Title |
Coordinating Organizations |
2008 |
Interlaboratory
Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2008 (9th Round) Matrices: Deer, Cream and Eel homogenates |
Norwegian Institute
of Public Health Division of Environmental Medicine (Oslo,
Norway) |
2007 |
Interlaboratory
Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2007(8th Round) Matrices: Salmon and Butter homogenates |
Norwegian Institute
of Public Health Division of Environmental Medicine (Oslo,
Norway) |
2006 |
2006 Second Round International Interlaboratory Study on Sediment, Soil, and Fish Tissue Reference Materials
|
Cambridge Isotope Laboratories (Andover, MA) & Cerilliant Corporation (Round Rock, TX)
|
2006 |
Interlaboratory
Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2006 (7th Round) Matrices: Halibut,
Egg yolk and Breast milk homogenates
|
Norwegian Institute
of Public Health Division of Environmental Medicine (Oslo,
Norway)
|
2005 |
Interlaboratory
Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2005 (6th Round)
Matrices: Baltic herring, reindeer meat and cod liver oil
homogenates
|
Norwegian Institute
of Public Health
Division
of Environmental Medicine (Oslo, Norway)
|
2004 |
Interlaboratory
Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2004 (5th Round) Matrices: trout,
palm oil, and chicken homogenates |
Norwegian
Institute of Public Health Division of Environmental Medicine
(Oslo, Norway) |
2003 |
2003
International Interlaboratory Study on Sediment, Soil, and Fish
Tissue Reference Materials |
Cambridge
Isotope Laboratories & Cerilliant Corporation |
2003 |
Interlaboratory Comparison on Dioxins in Food 2003 (4th Round)
Matrices: salmon, turkey and cheese |
Norwegian Institute of Public Health Division of Environmental
Medicine (Oslo, Norway) |
2003 |
International Intercalibration Studies (8th Round) Matrix: Soil/Sediment |
MTM Research Centre
Orebro University, Sweden
Prof. Bert van Bavel (Chair) |
1999/2000 |
MOE Interlaboratory Study 99-2 Dioxins, Dibenzofurans and Dioxin-Like
PCBs Matrix: Sediment |
MOE Ontario
Quality Management Unit |
1997/1998 |
NIST / ETC Interlaboratory Comparison Study Dioxins in SRM 1649a
(Urban Dust/Organics) & SRM 1944 (NY/NJ Waterway Sediment) |
Analytical Chemistry Division National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) & Environmental Technology Centre (ETC)
Environment Canada |
1995 |
Environment Canada Certified Reference Materials (CRM) Study
Matrices: reference sediments EC-2 & EC-3 |
Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Branch National Water Research
Institute (NWRI) Environment Canada |
1994 |
CAEAL Dioxin/Furan Interlaboratory Comparison Study
Matrices: Ash and Sludge extracts |
Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories
(CAEAL) and Environment Canada |
1994 |
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) National Interlaboratory
Comparison Study (CP-4): Analysis of Dioxins and Furans in Sediment
Extracts |
Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Branch National Water Research
Institute (NWRI) Environment Canada |
1992 |
National Dioxin Interlaboratory QA Study No. 5 Analysis of Dioxins
and Furans in Sediments |
Research and Applications Branch National Water Research Institute
(NWRI) Environment Canada |
Reporting
Results are reported on a individual congener as well as a toxic equivalent (TEQ) basis. Final reports are available by request in English, French or Spanish and can be customized to client specifications. Electronic data in spreadsheet format can also be provided.
Turnaround Times
RPC's turnaround times are generally 20 business days but may vary depending on workload. In priority situations, RPC can offer more rapid turnaround-times (surcharges will apply).
Technical and Price Enquiries
If you have questions of a technical nature, please e-mail us at info@dioxinlab.com.
For a price quotation please contact us by telephone (506-460-5765), by email at info@rpc.ca.
Hablamos castellano. Para más información visítenos a nuestra página web: www.dioxina.com
Related Links
RPC
(Research and Productivity Council) - Our
Home Site!
CCME
- Dioxins & Furans Overview
Environment
Canada's Greenlane
Canadian
Food Inspectional Agency (CFIA)
United
States Environmental Protection Agency
USEPA
- Dioxin and Related Compounds
World
Health Organization - Dioxin Information
Download
RPC
Dioxin & Furan Info Sheet
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