These tests measure metals and other elements in drinking water, well water, wastewater and other samples. Each entry names the reference method and how the measurement works; results are reported in mg/L or µg/L as each test states.
| Test | Method |
|---|---|
| Metals by ICP-OES (EPA 200.7 and 6010D) | EPA 200.7 (water); EPA SW-846 6010D |
| Metals by ICP-MS (EPA 200.8 and 6020B) | EPA 200.8 (water); EPA SW-846 6020B (solids) |
| Mercury by cold vapor | EPA Method 245.1; EPA Method 1631 (trace); EPA 7471B (solids) |
| Total and dissolved metals | Total recoverable or dissolved, by the methods above |
| RCRA 8 metals | ICP and cold vapor methods above |
| Drinking water inorganic panels | Methods above |
Instruments
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The sample (acid digested for total recoverable metals) is sprayed into an argon plasma, where each element gives off light at its own wavelengths, and the intensity of that light is measured against calibration standards. Elements we test: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, thallium, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc, singly or as a scan. Sulfur and silicon (reported as silica if required) are run by the same ICP-OES procedure. EPA 200.7 is the water method; 6010D is the EPA SW-846 method for wastes and other samples. Mercury is measured by cold vapor (below). Reported as mg/L.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Atoms in the sample are ionized in an argon plasma, and the ions are separated and counted by their mass; it is used when lower concentrations need to be measured. Elements we test: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium and zinc, singly or as a scan. Zirconium is also measured by ICP-MS using the EPA 200.8 procedure. Water results are reported as µg/L. Solid samples are tested by EPA SW-846 Method 6020B.
EPA Method 245.1: the mercury in a digested sample is reduced to mercury vapor with stannous chloride and measured by cold vapor atomic absorption. A modified low-level version of 245.1 is also offered. Trace mercury uses EPA Method 1631: the sample is oxidized with bromine monochloride, the mercury is reduced and purged onto a gold trap, and it is measured by cold vapor atomic fluorescence. Water results are reported as µg/L, or ng/L for trace mercury. Solid samples are tested by EPA 7471B (cold vapor atomic absorption).
Sample basis
Total recoverable metals are measured on the whole, unfiltered sample after acid digestion. Dissolved metals are measured on a portion passed through a 0.45 µm filter. Tell us which your permit or program needs before you sample. These methods give the total amount of each element, not its chemical form: hexavalent chromium and arsenic speciation are separate tests.
Panels
The eight metals named in the federal hazardous waste rules: arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium and silver, measured in a liquid sample by the ICP and cold vapor methods above. Reported as mg/L.
The Phase II and V inorganic (IOC) panels, the primary inorganics panel and the plumbing test group these metals with other drinking-water tests on this page, run by the methods above. The plumbing test covers copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc. Tell us which panel your water system or county requires.
Contact us for containers and sampling instructions before you collect the sample, and tell us whether you need total or dissolved metals.
The method numbers on this page follow the published EPA and Standard Methods designations. These references describe the methods; the TNI LAMS registry lists each method’s code and revision.
Questions about a sample or a method, call 360-967-7010 or email [email protected].
