S R C E n v i r o n m e n t a l A n a l y t i c a l L a b o r a t o r i e s N e w s l e t t e r

Holiday Greetings to Our Clients and Friends

Table of ContentsNEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS 1

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB 2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION 2

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS 3

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD 3

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED 3

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF 3

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS 4

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE? 4

RARE EARTHS TESTING 4

ENTER TO WIN 4

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories 102 - 422 Downey Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4N1T: 306-933-6932 Toll-free: 1-800-240-8808 F: 306-933-7922

www.src.sk.ca/analytical

4

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTSParticle Size Analyzer

SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories haspurchased and installed a new particle size analyzerwith the aqueous liquids module. The purchase of thisunit means that the labs clients will experience quickerturnaround times (TAT) for particle size analysis.

The analyzer uses laser light scattering to determinesize distribution of particles in samples by measuringintensity patterns. This is a much less labour intensivemethod than the pipette and sieve technique whichnot only decreases TAT but also provides moreconsistent results that are highly reproducible.

MicrowaveThe lab has also purchased and installed a new box-

type microwave unit from CEM. The new unitcomplements the other microwave units in the lab and

will provide increased capacity and quicker TAT forclients. Similar to other microwave units in the lab, thenew CEM microwave oven is used with pressurized

DECEMBER 2012

O B I ELab Mascotsample cells and acids to facilitate quick, clean

digestions of solid samples, including soil, sediments,fish flesh, fish bones and vegetation.

Freeze DryerIn early 2012, the lab purchased a freeze dry system.

Freeze drying is a process whereby water or othersolvent is removed from frozen material by convertingthe frozen water directly into vapour without theintermediate formation of liquid water. The basis forthis sublimation process involves the absorption ofheat by the frozen sample in order to vaporize the ice,the use of a vacuum pump to enhance removal ofwater vapour from the surface of the sample, thetransfer of water vapour to a collector and the removalof heat by the collector in order to condense the watervapour. In essence, the freeze dry process is a balancebetween the heat absorbed by the sample to vaporizethe ice and the heat removed from the collector toconvert the water vapour into ice. The lab will use thefreeze dryer for certain samples or analysis or uponclient request. Contact the lab if you have anyquestions regarding freeze drying.

Mercury AnalyserMercury is a potent toxin that is found throughout

the environment. Chronic exposure to mercury canhave devastating consequences owing to itsneurological effects. A particular concern with mercuryis the impact of bioaccumulation. For example, traceconcentrations of mercury within a lake canaccumulate in the fish raising mercury concentrationsto levels that could potentially lead to chronic mercury

continued on page 2

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?If you are unable to answer this question, there

are simple and inexpensive options to ensure youare not in danger of drinking contaminated water.Testing can be conducted on water from the city ora privately-owned well in a rural setting, as well asa larger company or organization. Read our latestwhite paper on water testing on our new website(www.src.sk.ca) in the Environmental AnalyticalLaboratories section. n

1. What two elements may cause your water to be discoloured?

2. What is the first phase of root cause analysis?

3. What new equipment has the lab purchased this year: A Particle Size Analyzer B Freeze Dryer C Microwave D All of the above

Email your answers to analytical@src.sk.ca and include your:Name Company NameE-mail address Phone number Be sure to include December Contest in the Subject LineContest closes December 20, 2012For complete contest rules go to http://src.nu/drawrules

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

In August, the lab organized and raised nearly $1500.00 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation by riding the Heart & Stroke Big Bike.

RARE EARTHSTESTING

SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories offersan Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS) rare earth metals scan. The scan includesfourteen lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus scandium and yttrium.Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earthelements (REEs) because they are usually found inthe same ore deposits as the lanthanides and havesimilar chemical properties.

In nature, most REEs are not as uncommon astheir name would have you believe. The problem isthat the elements are scattered and not found inconcentrated deposits, which makes it moreeconomically challenging to mine these sites.

REEs are essential in the manufacturing of manyhigh-tech products such as laptops, smartphonesand LCDs. They are also a necessary component inmany of the green technologies such as solarpanels, wind turbines and batteries for hybrid cars.With modern technology changing, the demand forthese high-tech applications has increased, raisingprofile and demand for REEs. China supplies 97 percent of the worlds rare earth needs and with worlddemand exceeding what China can supply, otherglobal markets will likely develop.

Please contact the laboratory for furtherinformation. n

FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THIS NEWSLETTERAND YOU COULD WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE

32

Despite our best efforts and most stringent controls, non-conformances still occur. It is what we do after thenon-conformance happens that is of utmost importance.

What is a non-conformance? A non-conformance is defined by the International Association for Standardization (ISO) as a non-fulfillment

of a requirement. Some examples are the failure of resources to meet specified requirements, the failure ofpersonnel to comply with documented work instructions and the failure of test data to meet required standards.

When is Root Cause Analysis required? Root Cause Analysis is not always required to address the non-conformance. It is only required when the non-

conformance is deemed to be significant. Examples of significant events are the validity of a test, a personalinjury occurs, a breach of confidentiality, damage to the facility or any event where the risk of recurrence is highand the consequences are severe.

How is Root Cause Analysis performed?The first phase of root cause analysis is to gather information. Information can be gathered several ways,

including interviewing employees with first-hand knowledge of the non-conformance, reviewing proceduraldocuments as well as the reference method, reviewing raw data and performing a process walkthrough.

The second phase of Root Cause Analysis is data analysis and root cause identification. One basic, yet in-depth,way to determine the root cause is the five whys analysis. Keep asking Why? until a logical root cause is found.More than one root cause is often determined.

The last phase is to develop a Corrective Action Plan. The purpose of the plan is to determine a solution thatwill prevent the problem from recurring, or at least reduce the number of recurrences and severity ofconsequences. The plan must lay out the steps needed to correct the non-conformance, responsibilities and thetime frame in which the steps will be implemented.

It is important to follow up on the corrective action to ensure that the steps taken were effective in eliminatingor reducing the non-conformance. n

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS MEET THE NEWFACE OF SRC

www.src.sk.ca

Choosing the correct lab to conduct yourenvironmental analysis can be the difference betweenuseful results or wasted resources. What matters mostfor your analysis?

SafetyQuality and accreditation Expertise Price Turnaround times These determining factors can impact the reports you

are creating for your clients. All of us want to ensure thatour employees, families and communities are workingand living in a safe environment. You want to choose alab that is accredited for the specific tests you need. Thiswill ensure that you receive reliable sample results.

What happens when you have an unusual sampleresult? Lab expertise is invaluable in solving your questions to ensure you are meeting your client requirements.Value for price is essential in forming a responsible business decision. You and your clients have set timelines forreporting and regulations. Lab turnaround times are critical in the work you do.

Here at SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories, we take your business seriously. Operating in a safeenvironment is our overriding priority. The lab is CALA ISO 17025 accredited with more than 90 accreditedmethods for 420 different parameters in our scope. We are continually reviewing your analytical requirements toensure we are providing you with quality results. The management team has more than 150 years of combinedexperience working with samples, both sample prep and analysis. We pride ourselves on doing our best for youeach day. Pricing is critical for our business. We want to ensure that you receive value for our services. The labprovides a five-day turnaround time for standard testing. We understand that your work is time-sensitive andimpacts your business processes.

We are here to help you solve your analytical challenges. We believe that our services will help you meet yourclient needs in a timely and effective manner. Your feedback is important to us, and we value your input.Together, our team will assist you in meeting your company needs. n

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB

Environmental Analytical Laboratories and SRCsnew Crop Evaluation Lab have teamed together toprovide you with a comprehensive package foragricultural product testing. Our labs offer analyticalservices to farmers, grain industry and researchprograms. The package includes analysis forpesticides, herbicides, trace metals and radioactivity,in addition to grain grading, mycotoxin, fallingnumber and other quality parameters. SRCsEnvironmental Analytical Laboratories is accreditedby CALA according to ISO 17025, and the CropEvaluation Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab.Both labs support the Canadian quality controlsystem ensuring the buyers of Canadian grains withquality results. n

NEW WHEAT LABCOLLABORATION

exposure. Environmental agencies have often issued advisories against eating too much fish from certain water bodies or even against specific types of fish. The lab has used the Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF) technique for determining mercury for many years. Since even very low levels of mercury can have a

devastating effect due to bioaccumulation, there has been increasing demand to see lower and lower detection limits. Although CVAF is a sensitive technique, the lab canalso determine mercury via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS technique can see slightly lower limits than CVAF, but in some samplesthere can be interferences due to other elements with similar isotopic mass.

The CVAF technique can be enhanced to gain even more sensitivity. The mercury vapour generated during the first part of the analysis is collected by forming anamalgam with gold. Afterwards, the amalgam is heated to release the mercury vapour which is then detected by the fluorescence detector. The formation of the amalgameffectively eliminates interferences and enhances the instrument signal by concentrating the mercury from the sample.

The lab is in the process of installing a new CVAF mercury analyzer equipped with gold amalgam capability. The instrument should be installed before the end of the yearand we anticipate we will be able to complete method development and start generating results using the new technique early in the new year. n

SRC is celebrating its 65th year with a completewebsite makeover to reflect its growth and futureaspirations. We have overhauled our website toimprove navigation and make it more engaging.

Youll see things have changed a lot. As we expand our services into new industries,

crossing geographical boundaries and spreading ourexpertise worldwide, we want it to be easy for youto reach us and learn more about what we do.

The new website features: An updated Environmental Analytical

Laboratories webpage The Environmental Analytical Laboratories Price

Guide Our Chain of Custody please note that we

can customize this template to meet your needs Career and business opportunities A Multimedia webpage to find photos and

videos profiling our services, experts and projects

Please let us know if you have any issues whileusing the site. We recommend re-bookmarking anySRC webpages you had previously bookmarked. n

New equipment and tests from page 1

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARDCongratulations to Dr. Wo Yuen on receiving the Don

LaBerge Award, presented at CALAs (CanadianAssociation for Laboratory Accreditation) AnnualGeneral Meeting in Toronto on June 12. Dr. Yuenretired from SRC last year, but continues to consultwith SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories,where he worked for 31 years.

This award recognizes lifetime achievement andcommitment in volunteering time and expertise tothe work of CALA. Dr. Yuen has been a CALA assessorfor the past 19 years, a member of the CALA ProgramCommittee, President of the Board of Directors and iscurrently a member of the CALA advisory panel. n

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFFWe realize that it can be difficult to arrange

sample delivery during normal business hours,therefore, effective immediately, arrangementscan be made to drop off samples any time of theday, seven days a week. Its as simple ascontacting us to receive your own unique code togain access to our secure drop-off location.

32

Despite our best efforts and most stringent controls, non-conformances still occur. It is what we do after thenon-conformance happens that is of utmost importance.

What is a non-conformance? A non-conformance is defined by the International Association for Standardization (ISO) as a non-fulfillment

of a requirement. Some examples are the failure of resources to meet specified requirements, the failure ofpersonnel to comply with documented work instructions and the failure of test data to meet required standards.

When is Root Cause Analysis required? Root Cause Analysis is not always required to address the non-conformance. It is only required when the non-

conformance is deemed to be significant. Examples of significant events are the validity of a test, a personalinjury occurs, a breach of confidentiality, damage to the facility or any event where the risk of recurrence is highand the consequences are severe.

How is Root Cause Analysis performed?The first phase of root cause analysis is to gather information. Information can be gathered several ways,

including interviewing employees with first-hand knowledge of the non-conformance, reviewing proceduraldocuments as well as the reference method, reviewing raw data and performing a process walkthrough.

The second phase of Root Cause Analysis is data analysis and root cause identification. One basic, yet in-depth,way to determine the root cause is the five whys analysis. Keep asking Why? until a logical root cause is found.More than one root cause is often determined.

The last phase is to develop a Corrective Action Plan. The purpose of the plan is to determine a solution thatwill prevent the problem from recurring, or at least reduce the number of recurrences and severity ofconsequences. The plan must lay out the steps needed to correct the non-conformance, responsibilities and thetime frame in which the steps will be implemented.

It is important to follow up on the corrective action to ensure that the steps taken were effective in eliminatingor reducing the non-conformance. n

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS MEET THE NEWFACE OF SRC

www.src.sk.ca

Choosing the correct lab to conduct yourenvironmental analysis can be the difference betweenuseful results or wasted resources. What matters mostfor your analysis?

SafetyQuality and accreditation Expertise Price Turnaround times These determining factors can impact the reports you

are creating for your clients. All of us want to ensure thatour employees, families and communities are workingand living in a safe environment. You want to choose alab that is accredited for the specific tests you need. Thiswill ensure that you receive reliable sample results.

What happens when you have an unusual sampleresult? Lab expertise is invaluable in solving your questions to ensure you are meeting your client requirements.Value for price is essential in forming a responsible business decision. You and your clients have set timelines forreporting and regulations. Lab turnaround times are critical in the work you do.

Here at SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories, we take your business seriously. Operating in a safeenvironment is our overriding priority. The lab is CALA ISO 17025 accredited with more than 90 accreditedmethods for 420 different parameters in our scope. We are continually reviewing your analytical requirements toensure we are providing you with quality results. The management team has more than 150 years of combinedexperience working with samples, both sample prep and analysis. We pride ourselves on doing our best for youeach day. Pricing is critical for our business. We want to ensure that you receive value for our services. The labprovides a five-day turnaround time for standard testing. We understand that your work is time-sensitive andimpacts your business processes.

We are here to help you solve your analytical challenges. We believe that our services will help you meet yourclient needs in a timely and effective manner. Your feedback is important to us, and we value your input.Together, our team will assist you in meeting your company needs. n

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB

Environmental Analytical Laboratories and SRCsnew Crop Evaluation Lab have teamed together toprovide you with a comprehensive package foragricultural product testing. Our labs offer analyticalservices to farmers, grain industry and researchprograms. The package includes analysis forpesticides, herbicides, trace metals and radioactivity,in addition to grain grading, mycotoxin, fallingnumber and other quality parameters. SRCsEnvironmental Analytical Laboratories is accreditedby CALA according to ISO 17025, and the CropEvaluation Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab.Both labs support the Canadian quality controlsystem ensuring the buyers of Canadian grains withquality results. n

NEW WHEAT LABCOLLABORATION

exposure. Environmental agencies have often issued advisories against eating too much fish from certain water bodies or even against specific types of fish. The lab has used the Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF) technique for determining mercury for many years. Since even very low levels of mercury can have a

devastating effect due to bioaccumulation, there has been increasing demand to see lower and lower detection limits. Although CVAF is a sensitive technique, the lab canalso determine mercury via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS technique can see slightly lower limits than CVAF, but in some samplesthere can be interferences due to other elements with similar isotopic mass.

The CVAF technique can be enhanced to gain even more sensitivity. The mercury vapour generated during the first part of the analysis is collected by forming anamalgam with gold. Afterwards, the amalgam is heated to release the mercury vapour which is then detected by the fluorescence detector. The formation of the amalgameffectively eliminates interferences and enhances the instrument signal by concentrating the mercury from the sample.

The lab is in the process of installing a new CVAF mercury analyzer equipped with gold amalgam capability. The instrument should be installed before the end of the yearand we anticipate we will be able to complete method development and start generating results using the new technique early in the new year. n

SRC is celebrating its 65th year with a completewebsite makeover to reflect its growth and futureaspirations. We have overhauled our website toimprove navigation and make it more engaging.

Youll see things have changed a lot. As we expand our services into new industries,

crossing geographical boundaries and spreading ourexpertise worldwide, we want it to be easy for youto reach us and learn more about what we do.

The new website features: An updated Environmental Analytical

Laboratories webpage The Environmental Analytical Laboratories Price

Guide Our Chain of Custody please note that we

can customize this template to meet your needs Career and business opportunities A Multimedia webpage to find photos and

videos profiling our services, experts and projects

Please let us know if you have any issues whileusing the site. We recommend re-bookmarking anySRC webpages you had previously bookmarked. n

New equipment and tests from page 1

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARDCongratulations to Dr. Wo Yuen on receiving the Don

LaBerge Award, presented at CALAs (CanadianAssociation for Laboratory Accreditation) AnnualGeneral Meeting in Toronto on June 12. Dr. Yuenretired from SRC last year, but continues to consultwith SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories,where he worked for 31 years.

This award recognizes lifetime achievement andcommitment in volunteering time and expertise tothe work of CALA. Dr. Yuen has been a CALA assessorfor the past 19 years, a member of the CALA ProgramCommittee, President of the Board of Directors and iscurrently a member of the CALA advisory panel. n

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFFWe realize that it can be difficult to arrange

sample delivery during normal business hours,therefore, effective immediately, arrangementscan be made to drop off samples any time of theday, seven days a week. Its as simple ascontacting us to receive your own unique code togain access to our secure drop-off location.

S R C E n v i r o n m e n t a l A n a l y t i c a l L a b o r a t o r i e s N e w s l e t t e r

Holiday Greetings to Our Clients and Friends

Table of ContentsNEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS 1

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB 2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION 2

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS 3

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD 3

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED 3

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF 3

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS 4

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE? 4

RARE EARTHS TESTING 4

ENTER TO WIN 4

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories 102 - 422 Downey Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4N1T: 306-933-6932 Toll-free: 1-800-240-8808 F: 306-933-7922

www.src.sk.ca/analytical

4

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTSParticle Size Analyzer

SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories haspurchased and installed a new particle size analyzerwith the aqueous liquids module. The purchase of thisunit means that the labs clients will experience quickerturnaround times (TAT) for particle size analysis.

The analyzer uses laser light scattering to determinesize distribution of particles in samples by measuringintensity patterns. This is a much less labour intensivemethod than the pipette and sieve technique whichnot only decreases TAT but also provides moreconsistent results that are highly reproducible.

MicrowaveThe lab has also purchased and installed a new box-

type microwave unit from CEM. The new unitcomplements the other microwave units in the lab and

will provide increased capacity and quicker TAT forclients. Similar to other microwave units in the lab, thenew CEM microwave oven is used with pressurized

DECEMBER 2012

O B I ELab Mascotsample cells and acids to facilitate quick, clean

digestions of solid samples, including soil, sediments,fish flesh, fish bones and vegetation.

Freeze DryerIn early 2012, the lab purchased a freeze dry system.

Freeze drying is a process whereby water or othersolvent is removed from frozen material by convertingthe frozen water directly into vapour without theintermediate formation of liquid water. The basis forthis sublimation process involves the absorption ofheat by the frozen sample in order to vaporize the ice,the use of a vacuum pump to enhance removal ofwater vapour from the surface of the sample, thetransfer of water vapour to a collector and the removalof heat by the collector in order to condense the watervapour. In essence, the freeze dry process is a balancebetween the heat absorbed by the sample to vaporizethe ice and the heat removed from the collector toconvert the water vapour into ice. The lab will use thefreeze dryer for certain samples or analysis or uponclient request. Contact the lab if you have anyquestions regarding freeze drying.

Mercury AnalyserMercury is a potent toxin that is found throughout

the environment. Chronic exposure to mercury canhave devastating consequences owing to itsneurological effects. A particular concern with mercuryis the impact of bioaccumulation. For example, traceconcentrations of mercury within a lake canaccumulate in the fish raising mercury concentrationsto levels that could potentially lead to chronic mercury

continued on page 2

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?If you are unable to answer this question, there

are simple and inexpensive options to ensure youare not in danger of drinking contaminated water.Testing can be conducted on water from the city ora privately-owned well in a rural setting, as well asa larger company or organization. Read our latestwhite paper on water testing on our new website(www.src.sk.ca) in the Environmental AnalyticalLaboratories section. n

1. What two elements may cause your water to be discoloured?

2. What is the first phase of root cause analysis?

3. What new equipment has the lab purchased this year: A Particle Size Analyzer B Freeze Dryer C Microwave D All of the above

Email your answers to analytical@src.sk.ca and include your:Name Company NameE-mail address Phone number Be sure to include December Contest in the Subject LineContest closes December 20, 2012For complete contest rules go to http://src.nu/drawrules

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

In August, the lab organized and raised nearly $1500.00 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation by riding the Heart & Stroke Big Bike.

RARE EARTHSTESTING

SRCs Environmental Analytical Laboratories offersan Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS) rare earth metals scan. The scan includesfourteen lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus scandium and yttrium.Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earthelements (REEs) because they are usually found inthe same ore deposits as the lanthanides and havesimilar chemical properties.

In nature, most REEs are not as uncommon astheir name would have you believe. The problem isthat the elements are scattered and not found inconcentrated deposits, which makes it moreeconomically challenging to mine these sites.

REEs are essential in the manufacturing of manyhigh-tech products such as laptops, smartphonesand LCDs. They are also a necessary component inmany of the green technologies such as solarpanels, wind turbines and batteries for hybrid cars.With modern technology changing, the demand forthese high-tech applications has increased, raisingprofile and demand for REEs. China supplies 97 percent of the worlds rare earth needs and with worlddemand exceeding what China can supply, otherglobal markets will likely develop.

Please contact the laboratory for furtherinformation. n

FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THIS NEWSLETTERAND YOU COULD WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE