Cooperative Research & Development Agreement Signed between the EPA and EMSL Analytical

Sept. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- EMSL Analytical, Inc. has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA and EMSL will work to cooperatively develop various methods for the detection and analysis of asbestos in environmental media.  

This collaboration will allow EPA engineers and scientists and EMSL to develop and evaluate various technologies for the identification, detection and quantification of asbestos present in soils and other challenging environmental matrices.

The EPA and various other governmental and non-governmental agencies have developed techniques for collecting environmental asbestos samples, separating the asbestos from the surrounding environmental matrix, identifying and quantifying the asbestos in the samples.  The purpose of this CRADA is for the EPA and EMSL to evaluate these nascent technologies and determine whether the technology produces better results than existing analytical methodologies.

These technologies will be evaluated through the testing of “mock-up” samples that are prepared from environmental media and asbestos material to provide an understanding of the base-line capabilities of the methods being evaluated up to the comparison of different methods based upon specific samples from the environmental sites.  Results of these comparisons will be used to inform environmental decision makers regarding the risks associated with the presence of asbestos at the subject sites.

"Continuing to work at the highest levels with the EPA on asbestos analysis methodologies is a significant milestone in our corporate development," said EMSL Senior Vice President of Laboratory Services, Robert DeMalo, who is also the CRADA Project Manager. "It's been a long process to achieve this multi-year CRADA and we are pleased to be able to collaborate with the EPA on improving the risk assessment tools for the health and safety of the public on asbestos contaminated sites throughout the U.S."

To learn more about EMSL and their asbestos and other environmental testing services please visit www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.

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EMSL Analytical Inc. is a nationally recognized accredited testing laboratory and locally focused provider of consumer product, environmental, microbiology, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services to professionals and the general public.