LABORATORY SERVICES P AGE

CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH INSTITUTE

Laboratory Services
P AGE 2 LABORATORY SERVICES

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

Laboratory Services

Compiled by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

(CEHI)
©May 2010
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The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

(CEHI) was established as a legal entity in 1988 by the
Governments of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) to respond to the environmental health
concerns of CARICOM Member States.

The laboratory at CEHI boasts

analytical tools, with highly
trained professional and techni-
cal staff and a comprehensive
full-service analytical laboratory
providing environmental water
analysis, pesticides and heavy
metals testing.

We are accredited to ISO 17025

by the Canadian Association for
Laboratory Accreditation. We aim
to provide the highest level of
quality and customer service.

Our services can be tailored to

meet your needs for:
rapid turnaround
reliable methods
follow-up technical support
Confidentiality

Our team of technicians and professionals, are

dedicated to assisting clients in cost-effective ways
and provide accurate and reliable results.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Water Quality Testing Page 5

Drinking Water Page 6

Bottled Water Page 8

Recreational Water Page 9

- Swimming Pool Water Page 10

-River and Marine Water Page 11

Wastewater Page 12

-Discharge to Marine Page13

Environments

-Recycled Wastewater for Page 15

Irrigation
Services to Marinas Page 17

Services to Golf Courses Page 20

Plant and Tissue Analyses Page 21

Soil Analyses Page 22

Indoor Air Quality Assessments Page 24

Training Services Page 28

Internships Page 29

Glossary Page 30
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W ATER Q UALITY T ESTING

CEHI performs a wide range of tests on several

different types of water ranging from bottled water to
wastewater.

This testing is done in

an effort to ensure that
water is safe for con-
sumption, recreation,
discharge to sensitive
environments, or simply
for research purposes.

Tests include:
microbiological
physico-chemical
nutrient
trace metals, and
pesticide analyses.
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DRINKING WATER

Access to safe drinking water is essential to

human health and is a basic human right.

Drinking water is tested for

the purpose of ensuring
adequate quality for health
and aesthetic purposes.

Drinking water should be free of impurities

including, pesticides, pathogens, toxic metals,
harmful chemicals, and other elements that may
cause unpleasant tastes and odors.

CEHI offers the following tests for potable water to

meet World Health Organization Standards:
Escherichia coli Count (E. coli), pH, Turbidity, and
Residual Chlorine.
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DRINKING WATER

Recommended limits for drinking water

PARAMETER LIMIT
E. coli <1 CFU/100 mL
pH 6.5-9 units
Turbidity <1 NTU
Residual chlorine 0.2-1 mg/L
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BOTTLED WATER

CEHI offers the following tests

for bottled water to meet the Na-
tional and International Specifi-
cation for Packaged Water:

Heterotrophic Plate Count

(HPC) at 350C and at 220C
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Count
Total Coliform Count

Recommended limits for bottled water

PARAMETER LIMIT
HPC <20 CFU/ mL
Pseudomonas aeruginosa <1 CFU/250 mL
Total coliforms <1 CFU/250 mL
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RECREATIONAL WATER

Water used for recreational

purposes can have benefits to
health if it is unpolluted but
can have significant adverse
health effects (e.g. infections)
if it is polluted or unsafe.
Fresh and coastal recreational
waters are used frequently and
should be sufficiently free
from microbiological, physical
and chemical contaminants to
ensure the safety of users.
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RECREATIONAL WATER

SWIMMING POOLS:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) recommend the following parameters
be monitored for healthy swimming conditions
in swimming pools:

pH
Residual chlorine
Faecal Coliforms
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

CEHI’s recommended limits for swimming pools

PARAMETER LIMIT

pH 7.0-7.8 units

Residual chlorine 1-3 ppm

Faecal coliform count <1 CFU/ 100 ml

Pseudomonas aeruginosa <1 CFU/100 ml

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RECREATIONAL WATER

RIVER AND MARINE WATERS:

WHO guidelines recommend the tests below be
performed on riverine and coastal waters:

Escherchia coli and/ or

Faecal Coliforms
Enterococci

CEHI’S recommended limits for river and marine waters

PARAMETER LIMIT
E. coli 126 CFU/ 100 ml
Faecal Coliform Count 200 CFU/100 ml
Enterococci 35 CFU/100 ml
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WASTEWATER

Why test wastewater?

Testing wastewater is important in determining
whether wastewater treatment plants are
operating effectively so as to
ensure safe discharge to the
environment or safe use for
recycling. CEHI recommends
that both the influent and ef-
fluent are tested.
Treated wastewater may be used recycled and
used for cooling towers in industry, discharged
into marine waters, discharged to the soil, or
used for irrigation. The most common fate of
treated wastewater in the Caribbean is discharge
to marine waters and use for
irrigation. The Land-Based
Sources of Marine Pollution
(LBS) Protocol specifies
limitations for domestic
wastewater (sewage) and re-
quiring specific plans to address agricultural
non-point sources. It is therefore imperative that
the quality of the treated waste water is known
so as to ensure that few/no adverse effects may
occur as a result of its use or discharge.
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DISCHARGE INTO MARINE WATERS

Treated water that is

discharged into marine waters
must be analysed to ensure
that is meets the requirements
specified under the WHO
and other health based
guidelines and the LBS Proto-
col so as to ensure that these
waters are safe, not only for
human heath, but also for the
health of coral and other
marine life.

Marine receiving waters are

classified according to use:

Class I waters are particularly

sensitive to the effects of
wastewater.

Class II waters are less sen-

sitive to the impacts of
domestic wastewater and
where humans or living re-
sources that are likely to be
adversely affected by the
discharges are not exposed to
such discharges.
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DISCHARGE INTO MARINE WATERS

The recommended limits for effluent discharges into the

marine environment are:

PARAMETER EFFLUENT LIMIT EFFLUENT

CLASS I LIMIT
CLASS II

Total Suspended 30 mg/L 150 mg/L

Solids (TSS)
Biochemical 30 mg/L 150 mg/L
Oxygen Demand
pH 5-10 units 5-10 units
Fats, Oils and 15 mg/L 50 mg/L
Greases
Faecal Coliforms 200 CFU/100 ml
E. Coli 126 CFU/ 100 ml
Enterococci 35 CFU/100 ml
Floatables Not visible Not visible
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RECYCLED WASTEWATER FOR

IRRIGATION
In addition to mitigating possible
health effects associated with use
of wastewater in agriculture,
good irrigation practices will
need to be followed to ensure
good crop yield and minimize
risk to the environment.

In general, the limits of concentrations of many

contaminants in wastewater used for agriculture
will be determined by crop requirements. The
nutrients in wastewater should be present in the
right concentrations, or they will damage the
crops and/or the environment.

Human health is a
concern when water used
for irrigation may come
into contact with
humans. Water should be
tested to ensure that the
levels are within accept-
able levels for contact
with humans, and that for the most part,
sprinkler irrigation is done when there is limited
human exposure, e.g. at night.
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Threshold levels for effluent used for irrigation

PARAMETER LIMIT

Faecal coliforms <100 CFU/100 ml

Salinity <3 dS/m

TSS <100 mg/L

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) <2000 mg/L

Sodium (sprinkler irrigation) <3 mg/L

Chloride (sprinkler irrigation) < 3 mg/L

Iron <1.5 mg/L

Manganese <1.5 mg/L

Total nitrogen < 30 mg/L

pH 6.5—8 units

Aluminum 5.0 mg/L

Arsenic 0.10 mg/L

Cadmium 0.01 mg/L

Cobalt 0.05 mg/L

Chromium 0.10 mg/L

Copper 0.20 mg/K

Fluoride 1.0 mg/L

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SERVICES TO MARINAS

Although marinas provide essential services to

boaters, they potentially pose adverse environ-
mental impacts. Non- point sources of pollu-
tion at marinas are from urban and agricultural
run-off which introduces pesticides, petroleum
products, pathogens, heavy metals, sediment,
sewage and solid waste.
Point source pollution
comes from boat operation
and maintenance e.g. from
anti fouling paint, liquid
waste discharge).
Pollution within a marina can contribute to high
toxicity levels in aquatic organisms, increased
nutrient levels leading to eutrophication, and
high levels of pathogens.
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SERVICES TO MARINAS

The quality of water in a marina should be

based on the recreational water quality standards
of the country or other health based guidelines.

Water in a marina can be classified as for

primary contact.

CEHI therefore advises

that the following tests be
performed on water in a
marina to ascertain the
effects of the marina
activities.

CEHI can also offer advisory services to assist

in the remediation of any problems that may be
found.
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LIST OF TESTS RECOMMENDED

FOR MARINAS

pH
Enterococci
Oils and Greases
Total suspended solids
Nitrates
Nitrites
Phosphates
Sulphates
Metals:
arsenic
cadmium
chromium
lead
mercury
nickel
Pesticides:
organochlorine
organophosphorous
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SERVICES FOR GOLF COURSES

Golf course upkeep and maintenance may

adversely affect the environment. It is therefore
important that the runoff from golf courses be
monitored to ensure that this is minimized. These
activities include:

Fertilization of golf course

Use of recycled water for
irrigation
Pesticide use
Repair of golf carts

Golf course runoff should be tested

for:

Nitrates
Phosphates
Oil and grease
Enterococci or faecal coliform
count
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PLANT & ANIMAL TISSUE ANALYSES

Plant and animal tissue samples

can be analyzed for presence of
pesticides and trace metals. These
analyses may be extremely impor-
tant where certain pesticides or
metals are known to bioaccumu-
late, or for diagnosis of certain
plant conditions.

Pesticides:
Organochlorine pesticides:
DDT and metabolites, Dieldrin,
Lindane, Heptachlor, Aldrin, BHC,
Endosulphan, Chlorpyrifos and Imazalil.

Organophosphate pesticides:
Cadusaphos, Coumaphos, Diazinon,
Isazophos, Ethoprophos, Malathion,
Monocrotophos, Profenophos,
Pirimiphos-ethyl, Pirimiphos-methyl, Diazi-
non and Dimethoate
Trace Metals:
Carbamate pesticides: Cadmium, Calcium,
Aldicarb and metabolites, Baygon Chromium, Cobalt,
(Propoxur), Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Copper, Iron, Lead,
Diruron, Linuron, 3-Hydrocarbofuran, Magnesium, Manganese,
Methomyl, Oxamyl and Methiocarb Mercury, Nickel,
Potassium, Sodium, Zinc
Paraquat and Diquat
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SOIL ANALYSES

What is a soil test?

In agriculture, a soil test is the analy-

sis of a soil sample to determine nu-
trient content, composition and other
characteristics, including contaminants. Tests are
usually performed to measure fertility and indicate
deficiencies that need to be remedied.

Why test your soil?

Soil testing can provide important information
to make decisions concerning:
• How much lime to use in lawns, vegetable or
flower beds.
• How much fertilizer to use on lawns, vegeta-
bles, flowers, and shrubs.
• How to adjust the soil pH for optimum
growth of acid-loving plants such as azaleas
and rhododendrons.
• How to apply soil amendments and fertilizer
to improve soil quality.
• Determining nutrients that are lacking or in
excess in the soil.
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SOIL ANALYSES
CEHI offers:

Nutrient Analyses:
phosphates, sulphates,
nitrates, ammonia nitrogen,
chlorides, fluorides, total
inorganic nitrogen, total
organic nitrogen, total
nitrogen.

Trace Metal Analyses:

Cadmium, Calcium,
Chromium, Cobalt,
Copper, Iron, Lead,
Magnesium, Manganese,
Nickel, Potassium,
Sodium, Zinc, Mercury

Pesticide Analyses:
Organochlorines,
Carbamates, Organophos-
phorous, Paraquat &
Diquat
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major concern for

industries, businesses, building managers,
tenants, and employees because it can impact
the health, comfort, well-being, and productivity
of building occupants.

Many people spend up to

90% of their time indoors
and many spend most of
their working hours in an
office environment.

Studies conducted by the

U. S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency (EPA) and
others show that indoor
environments sometimes
can have levels of pollutants that are actually
higher than levels found outside.
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

Pollutants in our indoor environment can

increase the risk of illness.

Typical symptoms caused by air quality problems

vary greatly according to an individual’s sensitiv-
ity and may include:

Chills
Sweating
Eye irritation
Allergies
Coughing
Sneezing
Nausea
Fatigue
Skin irritation
Breathing difficulties.

In extreme cases, personal reactions actually

reach a point where an individual cannot
function when exposed to adverse air conditions.
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

CEHI’s approach:
IAQ assessments are usually a 2-step process:
Phase 1
A walk-though of the building is taken to
assess its physical state and determination of
whether this is a contributing factor to poor
indoor air quality and ill-health of occupants.
In particular, the occurrence of leaks, water
stains/marks, mould growth, dust and dust
mites together with lighting are investigated.
Based on this assessment, recommendations
are made to address any problems/concerns
identified. These recommendations are
classified as immediate, short, medium and
long term.
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I NDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

Phase 2
Based on the assessment, CEHI determines
if air quality testing is required. Some of the
basic tests that are usually done include:

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Relative Humidity and
Temperature

If it is suspected from the preliminary site

visit that Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) are being emitted then tests for these
would be conducted. In addition, if mould is
present, and the client so desires, tests could
be done to determine its type.
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TRAINING
CEHI offers training courses
that are tailor-made to your
specifications.

Our areas of expertise include:

Quality Assurance/
Quality Control for
Environmental
Laboratories
Water Microbiology by
Membrane Filtration
Physico-chemical
analyses- nutrients,
Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD),
Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD), total
suspended solids,
turbidity
Metals Analysis using
Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy
Pesticide Analysis using
Gas Chromatography
Sampling for Environ-
mental Monitoring
Use of in-field test kits
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INTERNSHIPS

CEHI has arrangements

with a number of regional
and international academic
institutions which facilitate
students from a variety of
academic and geographical
backgrounds to benefit from
the practical application of aspects of their formal
technical training.

The internship programme also allows for the de-

velopment of other related skills that students may
not have been exposed to previously.

The CEHI experience is unique

to many students as it affords
them the perspective of not just
the technical areas, but also that
of regional programming and
policy development, inter-
country assessments and com-
parison of developmental issues.
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GLOSSARY
Class I waters
Waters in the Cartagena Convention area that, due to inherent or unique
environmental characteristics or fragile biological or ecological characteris-
tics or human use, are particularly sensitive to the impacts of domestic
wastewater. Class I waters include, but are not limited to:
a. waters containing coral reefs, seagrass beds, or mangroves;
b. critical breeding, nursery or forage areas for aquatic and terrestrial life;
c. areas that provide habitat for species protected under the Protocol
Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention
(the SPAW Protocol);
d. protected areas listed in the SPAW Protocol; and
e. waters used for recreation.

Domestic Wastewater
All discharges from households, commercial facilities, hotels, septage and
any other entity that include the following:
a. toilet flushing (black water);
b. showers, wash basins, kitchens and laundries (grey water); or
c. small industries, provided their consumption and quantity are
compatible with treatment in a domestic wastewater system

Eutrophication
Degradation of water quality due to enrichment by nutrients such as
nitrogen and phosphorous, resulting in excessive algal growth and decay
and often with low dissolved oxygen in the water.

Indicator organisms
Non-pathogenic microorganism is used to indicate the degree of faecal
contamination. They are generally present in far greater numbers than
pathogenic microorganisms and are easy to isolate, identify and enumerate.
These organisms include coliforms (total coliforms, thermotolerant coli-
forms and Escherichia coli), intestinal enterococci, bacteriophages and
clostridia.
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GLOSSARY
Non-point source pollution
Water pollution affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as
polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into it, or wind borne
debris blowing out to sea.

Pathogen
An agent that causes infection or disease, especially a microorganism such
as a bacterium, a protozoan, or a virus.

Point source pollution

Single identifiable localize source of pollution, e.g., discharge from a factory

Recreational use class

Type of use based on degree of physical contact with recreational water
body. These are:
a. primary contact creation: recreation in which the whole body or the
face and trunk are frequently immersed or the face in frequently wet by
spray, and where it is likely that some water will be swallowed or
inhaled, or come into contact with ears, nasal passages, mucous
membranes or cuts in the skin (e.g. swimming, diving, surfing or
whitewater canoeing).
b. Secondary contact recreation: recreation in which only the limbs are
regularly wet and in which greater contact (including swallowing water)
is unusual (e.g. boating, fishing, wading), and including occasional
inadvertent immersion through slipping or being swept in the water
by a wave.
c. Passive recreation: recreation in which there is normally no contact
with the water (e.g. angling from shore), or where water is incidental to
the activity (such as sunbathing on the beach).

Recreational water
Any public or privately controlled natural water body whether coastal,
riverine or estuarine (e.g. rivers, waterfalls, sea, mineral bath) and its source
and the immediate environments used for recreational purposes including
but not limited to, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating,
fishing, wind surfing, skin, for medicinal/therapeutical purposes, for social
activities (e.g. picnicking, public partying) for religious activities and
relaxation.
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Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

The Morne, P.O. Box 1111
Castries, ST. LUCIA

Tel: (758)452-2501; Fax: (758)453-2721

Email: cehi@candw.lc
Website: www.cehi.org.lc