Laboratory Science

Chemical analysis is a vital part of many enforcement actions. Often, the presence of pollutants must be established with certainty by highly sensitive and selective tests. Analysis to establish the presence of pollutants is a branch of Environmental Forensics - the application of environmental science to environmental law.

EPA has defined pollutants in a series of regulations that cover specific media, such as water, air and hazardous wastes. These regulations sometimes require highly specialized testing. At NEIC, laboratory science involving the use of highly sophisticated instrumentation by expert chemists are used in this testing in order to support the enforcement mission of EPA.

Standardized testing protocols are often used to identify and quantitate chemicals that might degrade the environment or cause damage to human health. However, that are many investigations with unique challenges that require the development and use of nonstandard methods.

Federal Facilities | National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) | International | State | Tribal

Laboratory Science

Laboratory Science

Local Navigation