Environmental / Industrial Archives

Overcoming uncertainty in your PFAS analysis

by Karl Oetjen | Dec 19, 2024 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial

Just like gum on the bottom of a shoe, the existence of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in our environment is a sticky one. If you’re in the field of environmental testing, then you’re all too familiar with the threat these substances have on public health. While we have learned a lot about them over the years, there is still much more to understand. With the right detection methods, we can gather the information we need to empower us to make informed decisions on reducing the risks they impose.

Understanding PFAS and its impact on U.S. drinking water

by Karl Oetjen | Oct 31, 2024 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial

In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” have become a growing topic of interest due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. These synthetic compounds have been widely used in various industrial applications and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in the air, soil, and water, and studies have shown that most people have detectable levels of PFAS in their bloodstream. One of the main exposure pathways for humans is through drinking water, particularly in communities located near industrial sites, military bases, or areas where firefighting foam has been used.

Celebrating customer experience: Insights from SCIEX leaders

by Philip Taylor | Oct 1, 2024 | Biopharma, Blogs, Clinical, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Forensic, Life Science Research, Pharma, Technology

Introduction Customer Experience Day (CX Day) is a special occasion for SCIEX, celebrated every first Tuesday in October. It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the incredible value of our customers and the relentless dedication of our associates who strive to make...

PFAS analysis in food: a robustness study in sensitivity and stability

by Holly Lee | Sep 27, 2024 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, QTRAP / Triple Quad

The combination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing, trace-level regulatory requirements and complex MS applications can be intimidating. In a recent webinar, now available on demand, SCIEX PFAS expert Craig Butt demonstrated how the new SCIEX 7500+ system can help make PFAS testing easier.

Your success and voice go a long way!

by Philip Taylor | Sep 25, 2024 | Biopharma, Blogs, Clinical, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Forensic, Life Science Research, Pharma, Technology

At the heart of everything we do is ensuring that your workflows and team are empowered to achieve optimal results with your SCIEX instruments, software, consumables, and services. Every interaction with SCIEX is designed to support your success through the dedication...

The costly consequences of unplanned downtime

by Andrew Wilcox | Jan 18, 2024 | Biopharma, Blogs, Clinical, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Forensic, Life Science Research, Pharma, Technology

Unplanned downtime is a formidable adversary that businesses across various industries strive to minimize. Defined as the unexpected interruption of regular operations, unplanned downtime can wreak havoc on productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction. In this article, we delve into the causes of unplanned downtime, its far-reaching consequences and strategies to mitigate its impact.

Take out the PFAS in our takeout

by Holly Lee | Jan 20, 2023 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Food and Beverage

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were first detected in wildlife1 and oceanic waters2 in the early 2000s. Recently, however, these chemicals have been found in school uniforms,3 cosmetics4 and food contact materials,5 shifting what was initially considered an environmental issue to a public health crisis. As concerns have grown about the toxicological impact of long-term PFAS exposure on human health, questions about food-borne exposure have surged, especially since these chemicals are used in disposable food packaging materials, non-stick cookware and even in food processing machinery.

The secrets of recycling: PFAS and 6PPD

by Craig Butt | Dec 16, 2022 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial

Recycling and reusing items is generally accepted as the “right” thing to do. But what if there were unintended, negative consequences to recycling? For example, old car tires are often ground down and reused for synthetic turf, with roughly 40,000 tires used per field.1 However, car tires contain the chemical 6PPD,5 which is converted by ozone to a quinone compound 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) and enters river systems where it is toxic to coho salmon. In addition, some studies have detected per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)— the” forever chemicals”—in artificial turf,1,4 which means it may be a source of PFAS found in nearby water supplies and potentially in drinking water.

Telling the PFAS story with pine needles

by Craig Butt | May 5, 2022 | Agriculture, Blogs, Environmental / Industrial, Industrial

As an ever-expanding group of chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) require novel techniques to monitor their current and historical presence in the environment. Concerns over exposure to PFAS chemicals continue to grow, with some having known toxic characteristics and the potential effects of others remaining unknown.1 In addition, while PFAS are one of the most persistent synthetic chemicals to date, most of them hardly degrade in the environment.2 So, how long do traces of PFAS last in our environment? Two tools used to help answer this question are active samplers and passive samplers.

Back to the new basics: Part 3 | LC vs. LC-MS and what it means for your lab

by Alex Liu | Apr 6, 2022 | Biopharma, Blogs, Clinical, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Forensic, Life Science Research, Pharma, QTRAP / Triple Quad, Technology

In this final installment of our “Back to the new basics” series, we take one more look at analytical techniques and best practices in the lab, and opportunities to improve efficiency. Here, we explore the basic principles of high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and how these techniques can affect a lab’s efficiency and productivity.

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