Why do you need accurate VOC testing of effluent?

What is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)?
VOCs are compounds which have a high vapour pressure and low water solubility. Many are human made that are used and produced in the manufacturing industry.

Are VOCs dangerous?
VOCs include a variety of chemicals, which may have short and long term adverse health effects. The heath effects can vary greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those witch at present, have no known health effects. Many are known to be carcinogenic in animals and suspected of causing cancer in humans. VOCs have been found to be a major contributing factor to the ozone, a common air pollutant that has been proven to be a health hazard.

Why test effluent for VOCs?
The pollution of water has a serious impact on all living things. Effluent discharged to ground water can have an adverse on the quality of the groundwater which feeds our streams and rivers and is the primary source of drinking water.

Where do VOCs come from?
Manufacture of paints, refrigerants and pharmaceuticals. VOCs typically are industrial solvents e.g. trichloroethene, or bi-products of the chlorination of water treatments, e.g. chloroforms. In the household, sources can include, paint, paint stripper, aerosol sprays, disinfectants, air fresheners amongst others. Numerous manufacturing processes are sources of VOCs and their discharge effluents must be closely monitored. 

What Chemex can do for you!
We test for a standard suite of 72 target volatile organic compounds, US EPA Method 8260 as modified for the US EPA CLP with heated purge. Our method uses GC/MS instrumentation. Sample concentrations are calculated by individual quantitation mass peak areas for each target compound to the appropriate internal standard quantitation mass peak area and the response factor calibrated from the preceding calibration standard. For a full method summary and target compound list click here

• Every compound listed with accreditation
• Every result backed by a wealth of validation data (data available on request)
• Non target compounds can be identified
• Extra compounds available with full method validation
• Bespoke Target Compound Lists
• Quick Turnaround
• Comprehensive report package with QA/QC data on request
• Sample data validated by iso 17025 accredited Quality System
• Adapting to client’s individual QAPPs