Dioxin-like Compounds Analysis: PCBs and PBDEs

USEPA and World Health Organization research have identified compounds similar in nature to dioxin, which appear to pose similar risks to both animals and humans. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are one such family of compounds where increasingly lower detection limits are being sought to better characterize the associated health risks. Advances in instrumentation and method development make it possible to accurately quantify these contaminants at previously unreachable levels. Pace Analytical currently offers recently promulgated EPA Method 1668A for analysis of up to 209 PCB compounds or subsets of these at the congener level. One commonly requested subset is the WHO list of 12 coplanar congeners that are dioxin-like in molecular structure and appear to exhibit similar toxic endpoints.

Another emerging compound of concern is Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)—a family of compounds used as flame retardants in many common household items including carpet, fabric, seating foam and electrical components. Recent PBDE research has found that these compounds are persistent and readily bioaccumulative—and have been linked to adverse health effects in animal studies. Pace Analytical provides analysis of these compounds by USEPA Method 1614, which is capable of determining and quantifying the presence of 49 PBDE compounds. Pace Analytical is committed to remaining at the forefront of analytical development and process improvement to serve the evolving needs of the environmental community for dioxin testing and dioxin-like compounds' testing as well.