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PAH Analysis (Alkylated PAHs, HPAHs & PAHs in Air)
Alpha Analytical has considerable experience with the analysis of hydrocarbons in general and PAHs in particular. We have supported some of the largest, most demanding and highest profile hydrocarbon investigations in the world. Alpha offers a unique combination of the highest quality analytical capabiliities, as well as the capacity to process the large numbers of samples these types of projects typically generate both efficiently and in accordance with challenging timeframes. Alpha`s PAH analyses range from the typical parent PAH compounds listed in the EPA Priority Pollutant list to PAH target compounds lists that also include their respective alkyl-substituted homologs.
Alkylated PAH Analysis
Alkylated PAH analysis can be used to support risk assessment applications. The USEPA has developed a tiered ecological risk assessment approach for contaminated sediments. In Tier 1, the potential bioavailability of PAHs is assessed based on the analysis of whole sediments, with the PAH concentrations detected evaluated against established equilibrium partitioning guidelines. In Tier 2, the potential PAH bioavailability is assessed by the analysis of the sediment pore water. Alpha supports both assessments, with the pore water analysis conducted using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) analysis (ASTM D7363) for all of the Ecological Monitoring & Assessment Program (EMAP) 34 listed PAH compounds.
Heavy Molecular Weight PAH (HPAH) Analysis
In 2010, the USEPA released a draft document entitled "Development of a Relative Potency Factor (RPF) Approach for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Mixtures", EPA/635/R-08/012A. The RPF approach under review describes a procedures for assessing cancer risk from exposure to PAH mixtures. This document lists several, somewhat obscure, high molecular weight PAH compounds that are not commonly analyzed for and that have an associated high degree of analytical difficulty associated with them. Alpha Analytical offers this analysis, which would support risk assessment applications, for a majority of the additional PAH compounds listed in this document.
PAH Analysis in Air
Air monitoring for PAHs during MGP site remediation or to monitor for a possible vapor instrusion pathway has become increasingly more common. For MGP sites where vapor intrusion is a concern, Alpha has developed a target compound list that has the standard EPA Method TO-15 analytes plus a number of the `MGP Indicator` compounds:
- Thiophenes: thiophene, methylthiophene, ethyl thiophene, benzothiophene
- Alkyl-substituted benzenes: 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene
- Aromatics: indane, indene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene