What Environmental Testing Services Are Offered by Labs Today?
What Is Environmental Testing?
Environmental testing labs test the collected samples of air, water and soil for their clients around the world for the presence and precise levels of trace chemical compounds and pollutants. Environmental chemists operate state-of-the-art analytical instruments in order to test for levels of contamination exceeding government, regulatory and industry standards. The analytical capabilities of their tests and instruments can identify trace and ultra-trace amounts of hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, metals, pesticides and other contaminants.
Why Environmental Testing is Important
Whether you are a developer, business owner, remediation project engineer, waste disposal facility operator, part of an emergency response cleanup team, farmer or homeowner; federal chemical, petroleum and other hazardous waste contaminants regulations are strict and far-reaching. This includes their production, handling, distribution, use and destruction. If your business involves, uses or intersects with any of these pollutants you need to know why environmental testing is important as well as when and what environmental testing labs to contact.
Environmental testing is tremendously important for the protection of our environment. The innovations over the years made by laboratory chemists and engineers have led to many new ways to improve our business, office, home and agricultural environments. Dedicated environmental testing laboratories personalize their services to fit the very specific needs presented by each situation and to comply with local, state and federal regulations.
Environmental testing helps businesses, property owners, developers, farmers, ranchers and governmental agencies find solutions to contamination of our water sources, soils, existing businesses, industries and living spaces in order to improve our overall natural environment and all of its inhabitants.
What Are Environmental Testing Laboratories?
An environmental laboratory is responsible for dealing with contaminants that affect the environment, humans and wildlife. Such laboratories consist of advanced technology and experienced researchers. The researchers at an environmental laboratory produce analytical data on biological, ecological and physical sciences by performing insightful analytical tests of water, soil, air, waste characterization, contaminants, energetics, explosives and other aspects. However, in order to provide such services, the lab must have qualified experts who are great at the development of protocols, sampling and analysis.
Environmental testing labs are only as good as their team of specialists in chemical engineering. A team of lab technicians receives years of specialized training in testing for contaminants that have negative effects on the Earth’s life and environment. These chemists and engineers are responsible for environmental testing and management, as well as for developing new procedures in response to new policies, lower limits and environmental needs.
Types of Environmental Testing Services
Analyzing Environmental Samples
Most environmental laboratories provide technical services for the analysis of samples. They provide a detailed report of their results including, but not limited to, the analysis of elements, trace metals, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), pesticides, herbicides, mold, mildew, pollen, hydrocarbons and a host of other chemical compounds that are dangerous to life on our planet.
Air Testing
Critical air testing services include stack emissions, noise, ambient factory or office building air, generator and engine exhausts, volatile compounds, semi-volatiles, hazardous air pollutants, air toxins, metals and particulates. Besides air testing and reporting, most labs offer ongoing air monitoring options or consultations.
Water Testing
Whether testing well water or other drinking water sources such as reservoirs, lakes, rivers or oceans, environmental labs leverage cutting edge tools and equipment to test water for a wide array of contaminants. With water resources becoming all the more important and scarce as a result of growing populations and climate change, protecting this vital resource is essential.
Soil Testing
When foreign substances get introduced into the soil, whether biological organisms, pesticides, herbicides or solid wastes, the result is detrimental to soil quality. This pollution affects the normal uses of the soil, endangers public health and the environment.
Site Assessments
An environmental site assessment is a report prepared for property developers and it identifies potential or existing liabilities due to environmental contamination. The report analysis, often called an ESA, typically involves performing field and laboratory testing for soils, sub-soils and water.
Who Do You Choose for Your Environmental Testing and Management?
When your business, farm, government agency, or the like, needs the very best environmental testing lab to help you analyze your water, soil or air, you want the very best testing capabilities, turnaround times, expert chemists and customer service. One really helpful way of determining how capable a laboratory is, is to check their certifications from federal and state agencies. These agencies have demanding and rigorous requirements in a broad range of categories. How long have they been in business and providing testing services and reports? What is their reputation for turnaround times and customer satisfaction?
Torrent Laboratory has been providing quality environmental testing for almost three decades. Their chemists and engineers have the most experience and highest credentials in the industry. Plus, Torrent has long been known for having the fastest turnaround times for their testing results which can be very important when it comes to getting your plans back on track. Considered California’s premier testing laboratory, Torrent is known for its fantastic customer service and, most of all, it boasts the most respected certifications in the business.
Technical Certifications:
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (CA ELAP)
Department of Defense (DoD ELAP)
DOE Consolidated Audit Program- Accreditation Program (DOECAP-AP)
Business and Administrative Certificates:
California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)—MBE
Regional Transportation—Caltrans, BART, VTA, etc.
State of California—SBE
When only the best is good enough, call Torrent.