Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Analysis
Much of the testing in our laboratory is governed by the dictates of the Stockholm Convention, which regulates a list of twenty-three Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
The pervasiveness of POPs are a concern on every continent throughout the world. The Stockholm Convention’s current list is:
Original POPs
- Polychlorinated Dibenzo(p)dioxins (PCDD)
- Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDF)
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
- Aldrin
- Chlordane
- DDT
- Dieldrin
- Endrin
- Heptachlor
- Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
- Mirex
- Toxaphene
New POPs
- α-Hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH)
- β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH)
- Chlordecone
- Hexabromocyclododecane
- Hexa + Heptabromodiphenylether
- Lindane
- Pentachlorobenzene
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
- Endosulphan
- Tetra + Pentabromodiphenylether
Pacific Rim Laboratories in Surrey, BC currently has the capabilities to analyze 87-percent of these POPs, and will reach the 100-percent plateau by the end of 2016.
POPs are bio-accumulative as we are at the top of the food chain, we consume them via the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.
POPs are toxic
Some POPs are carcinogenic and mutagenic. This makes accurate testing for trace amounts very important. Because PRL offers some of the most reliable low detection limit testing available, our POPs analysis helps our clients spot statistically valid trends (increasing or decreasing) that would otherwise fly under the radar in higher threshold tests that simply determine if POPs are present in the concentrations allowable by law.
Through our ISO 17025 accreditation, PRL is able to test POPs in soil, water, air, and food.
