Evaluation of field test kits including immunoassays for the detection of contaminants in soil and water

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10143988

Waters, L C; Smith, R R; Counts, R W; Stewart, J H; Jenkins, R A

Effective field test methods are needed for hazardous waste site characterization and remediation. Useful field methods should be rapid, analyte-specific, cost-effective and accurate in the concentration range at which the analyte is regulated. In this study, field test kits for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, lead and nitrate were evaluated with reference to these criteria. PCBs and mercury, in soils, were analyzed by immunoassay. Ionic lead and nitrate, in water, were measured chemically using test strips. Except for lead, each analyte was measured in both spiked and actual field samples. Twenty to 40 samples per day can be analyzed with the immunoassays and even more with the strip tests. The sensitivity of the immunoassays is in the 1-3 ppM range. Nitrate was consistently detected at {ge}5 ppM; lead ions at {ge}20 ppM. Results obtained using these methods compared favorably with those obtained by standard laboratory methods. In addition to being useful field screening methods, these kits can be used in the laboratory to sort out negative samples and/or to define proper dilutions for positive samples requiring further analysis.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10143988
• Report Number(s): CONF-930257--3; ON: DE93009664
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220
540320
550200
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROCEDURES
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
IMMUNOASSAY
LEAD
MERCURY
NITRATES
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SENSITIVITY
SOILS
WATER