Accurate laboratory results begin long before samples arrive at the laboratory. Proper field sampling techniques are essential for minimizing the potential for cross-contamination and ensuring data quality. Because PFAS compounds are found in many everyday consumer products, extra care should be taken during sample collection.
Advancing its commitment to supporting a comprehensive federal services program, Merit Laboratories has expanded its DoD ELAP accreditation to include Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) sample preparation.
Merit Laboratories is pleased to announce its participation in the 2026 International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds (Battelle Chlorinated Conference), taking place May 31 – June 4, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. Recognized globally as one of the leading conferences for environmental remediation professionals, the event brings together scientists, engineers, consultants, regulators, and industry leaders to advance solutions for complex environmental challenges.
Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) is an increasingly accepted approach for characterizing soil contamination and reducing the uncertainty commonly associated with traditional discrete sampling methods. By collecting and combining multiple increments from a defined area, ISM is designed to provide a more representative estimate of mean contaminant concentrations within a designated decision unit.
Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) is increasingly used across the environmental industry to evaluate soil contaminants. Unlike traditional discrete sampling, ISM collects numerous soil increments that are combined, processed, and subsampled to produce more representative measurements of contaminant concentrations within a defined area.
In this episode of sh(e)=mc2 we meet Abigail Hendershott of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Abigail leads the team tasked with cleaning-up Michigan’s largest PFAS site as Executive Director of MPART. Abigail shares her experience in leadership and the power of knowing your strengths and the importance of creating a team of who is not only skilled, but also happy.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15) to protect the nation’s waterways. According to the EPA Plan 15 will follow the science and the Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits and studies on wastewater discharges from industrial sources.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched interactive PFAS Analytic Tools to integrate data about PFAS reporting, testing, and occurrences in communities, making it easier to evaluate the collective PFAS information from nearly a dozen different databases that include relevant information.
3M announced that it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. In the official announcement from 3M, the company said that it plans to. Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products.
The U.S. EPA officially approved Merit Laboratories to perform analytical laboratory testing for PFAS compounds as part of the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UMCR5). As part of UCMR5, Merit Laboratories is approved for analytical methods EPA 533 and EPA 537.1. UCMR 5 includes all 29 PFAS compounds that are within the scope of EPA Methods 533 and 537.1.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) continues to track PFAS contamination progress at over 700 military installations throughout the country. In the DoD’s latest update, the list of sites includes bases and facilities in all 50 states and several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Wisconsin PFAS Action Council published its 2022 PFAS Action Plan Progress Report in August. The progress report presented progress in the eight themes that are covered in the states PFAS Action Plan to address statewide PFAS contamination. A few of the highlights presented as accomplishments in the report include the implementation of new surface water and drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS
