Environmental Analysis Facility

In addition to laboratory analyses, EAF professionals assist sponsors in designing environmental sampling and analysis programs to meet specific needs and financial constraints. This includes supplying sampling equipment, training, and submitting reports/publications. EAF provides state and government agencies with the tools needed to identify, control, and reduce environmental contaminants. EAF researchers also collaborate with other scientists at DRI, universities, government agencies, and private sectors to complement their expertise in environmental management, permitting, and assessment in the U.S. and abroad.

EAF prepares and tests sampling substrates and containers in a clean room with positive-pressure air and high-efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filters. Sample handling is conducted under a laminar flow hood to minimize contamination. Temperature and relative humidity are controlled for sample equilibration and gravimetric analysis. Standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA), as well as internal and external quality audits, have been established for all analyses. Data processing and data validation procedures integrate field records with analytical data, implement blank subtraction, and perform error propagation. EAF reports each measurement with associated uncertainties and validation flags.