Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
The U.S. EPA (EPA) has released the highly anticipated 2nd Draft of EPA Method 1633, an LC/MS/MS method to analyze PFAS. This second draft, released by the EPA in June, is a follow-up to the original draft released in Fall 2021. One of the most concerning aspects of the first draft was it being based on a single laboratory validation study
In a continuing trend, another 19 sites with PFAS contamination have been added to the latest list of Michigan sites. The newest Michigan EGLE PFAS Map Tracker shows that the number of confirmed PFAS contaminated sites has grown to 93, up from 74 in December 2019 and 52 a year ago. The latest list of PFAS contamination includes sites spread across Michigan, throughout both the lower and upper peninsulas, in rural, suburban, and urban areas The EGLE also provides a PFAS map viewer, which provides information on the site name, location and address, description of the site, and a link to site-specific background, data, PFAS contaminants, site history, and recent activities.
Merit Laboratories has expanded the list of analytical methods, compounds, and sample matrices for which it is accredited through the DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (DoD ELAP). Through this expansion, the DoD officially revised Merit Laboratories' DoD ELAP testing certification to also now include EPA Method TO-15 for the analysis of air samples. Merit is also analyzed for a comprehensive list of analytical methods for aqueous and solid sample matrices.
Last month, Merit Laboratories introduced you to the advisory report on the Scientific Evidence and Recommendations for Managing PFAS Contamination in Michigan. The report, authored by the Michigan PFAS Science Advisory Panel with support from state agency staff, provides a detailed look at Michigan’s PFAS contamination crisis.
