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Environmental Chemistry Core Technology Team

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By Environmental Health Program August 29, 2018

A customized extraction system used for collection and extraction

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS)

Using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system

A liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer

A liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

About the Research

The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program develops and applies innovative methods of sampling and analysis to answer critical questions about the occurrence, distribution, fate and transport, and biological exposure of chemical in all environmental matrices (water, air, tissues, sediments, and others).

 

Key Analytical Capabilities

  • Analysis of Organic and Inorganic chemicals in tissues and sediments
  • Development and application of field sampling techniques (passive and active)
  • Effects-Directed Analysis and non-target chemical analysis by liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

  • Custom method development

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to fractionate water sample
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to fractionate water samples for identification of biologically-active chemicals.(Credit: Jennifer Colleen Brennan, USGS. Public domain.)

Key Instrumentation

  • Modern laboratory facility with dedicated spaces for organic and inorganic analyses
  • 3 gas chromatography/mass spectrometry systems
  • Magnetic sector high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometer
  • Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for elements across much of the periodic table
  • Customized sample extraction and processing equipment for measuring trace contaminations
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for the measurement of metals in environmental samples
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for the measurement of metals in environmental samples.(Credit: Danielle M. Cleveland, USGS. Public domain.)
A liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer used for the detection of both target and unknown chemicals
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer used for the detection of both target and unknown chemicals in environmental samples.(Credit: David Alvarez, USGS. Public domain.)
A liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometer used for the detection of pesticides, estrogens, and pharmaceuticals
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometer used for the detection of pesticides, estrogens, and pharmaceuticals in environmental samples.(Credit: David Alvarez, USGS. Public domain.)

About the Research

The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program develops and applies innovative methods of sampling and analysis to answer critical questions about the occurrence, distribution, fate and transport, and biological exposure of chemical in all environmental matrices (water, air, tissues, sediments, and others).

 

Key Analytical Capabilities

  • Analysis of Organic and Inorganic chemicals in tissues and sediments
  • Development and application of field sampling techniques (passive and active)
  • Effects-Directed Analysis and non-target chemical analysis by liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

  • Custom method development

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to fractionate water sample
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to fractionate water samples for identification of biologically-active chemicals.(Credit: Jennifer Colleen Brennan, USGS. Public domain.)

Key Instrumentation

  • Modern laboratory facility with dedicated spaces for organic and inorganic analyses
  • 3 gas chromatography/mass spectrometry systems
  • Magnetic sector high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometer
  • Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for elements across much of the periodic table
  • Customized sample extraction and processing equipment for measuring trace contaminations
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for the measurement of metals in environmental samples
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for the measurement of metals in environmental samples.(Credit: Danielle M. Cleveland, USGS. Public domain.)
A liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer used for the detection of both target and unknown chemicals
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer used for the detection of both target and unknown chemicals in environmental samples.(Credit: David Alvarez, USGS. Public domain.)
A liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometer used for the detection of pesticides, estrogens, and pharmaceuticals
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometer used for the detection of pesticides, estrogens, and pharmaceuticals in environmental samples.(Credit: David Alvarez, USGS. Public domain.)