9 services found
MPL Health Safety Environment services
Common analysis groups
These are routine groups of analysis that have been designed to cover many of the enquiries received at MPL Laboratories. Special groups can be designed to suit individual requirements.
Non-metal water testing
Water testing methods are based on Standard Methods from APHA. Common analytes and LQL (detection limits) are listed below.
Carbon Analysis And Oxygen Demand
The carbon content of a water sample and its biological or chemical oxygen demand are directly related to each other, however these parameters can be measured in different ways. The exact relationship between these parameters for each type of sample will vary with sample composition. Definitions of these analytes and how they relate to each other are given below.
Drinking water testing
The recommended guideline maximum of 500 mg/L is based on taste. Generally water with less than 500 mg/L is regarded as good quality water but values of up to 1000 mg/L can be tolerated. Corrosion may also become a problem with high TDS levels. There are no health effects associated with high TDS but the components which make up the TDS may cause problems in their own right. It is difficult to lower the TDS. Suitable treatments include reverse osmosis, ion exchange and distillation. These may be expensive to operate. TDS is related to Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the water and high EC normally produces a high TDS.
Field filtration of water samples
The key aim of taking a water sample and having it analysed is to be able to look at analysis results and have them accurately reflect the quality of water in question. It is critical that the composition of the sample submitted to the laboratory be representative of the water source you are trying to measure. During sample storage and transport after sampling and prior to analysis, the composition of the water can change. The action of microbes, aeration, temperature and the chemical reactivity leads to (depending on the analyte) changes in the composition of the water samples.
Acid Sulphate Soils
Acid sulphate soils often occur in areas which were once waterlogged (eg. mangrove swamps and low lying coastal areas). In these areas, when the soil is drained and exposed to air, sulphuric acid can be formed. The produced sulphuric acid moves through the soil dissolving heavy metals and making the soil too toxic for plant growth. The acid can also drain into nearby waterways, poisoning fish and aquatic life. The acid can corrode concrete, iron and steel causing the weakening of concrete buildings. One kilogram of soil can produce one and a half kilos of acid.
Asbestos Testing
MPL Laboratories is NATA accredited to identify asbestos fibres in bulk samples using Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM). Three types of asbestos commonly used in manufacturing are chrysotile, amosite and crocidilite. These can be detected by PLM. Fibres which cannot be identified by PLM can be confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). MPL Laboratories subcontract this work.
Occupational testing
Respirable and Inhalable Dust. Quartz. Welding Gases and Fumes. Organic Vapours. Acid mists. Atmospheric Dust Fall (Dust Deposition). High Volume Dust (TSP and PM10). Metal and Metal Compound Analysis. Lead in Paint.
Microbiological Testing
MPL Laboratories is NATA accredited for microbiological testing of a range of environmental and industrial samples including surface, airborne, potable, swimming pool and industrial waste samples. They use established procedures and indicators such as heterotrophic (Standard) plate count (HPC), total coliforms, faecal streptococci, thermotolerant coliforms/ E. coli. A major factor leading to poor quality water is the presence of high levels of bacteria, fungi and other microbes. To address this problem, MPL has developed its own in-house microbiological testing laboratory. In addition to sample analysis MPL can also supply collection equipment for microbiological water analysis. Sampling of airborne microbes is generally carried out as part of sick building syndrome surveys. Where available, microbiological results are supplied with a set of guidelines to assist interpretation.
