Despite the beautiful and pristine nature of Switzerland, the largely unscathed environment cannot be taken for granted. Our soil, waters and air must be appropriately protected or restored if they have been contaminated with pollutants.
It is the responsibility of experts to assess the degree of pollution of various environmental compartments and, depending on the situation, define remedial measures, monitor their implementation and control their success.
For decades, our accredited laboratories have supported experts, authorities and companies by providing various chemical analytical services in the following areas: groundwater, drinking water, surface water, wastewater, soil, overburden, waste, sludge, air and exhaust air. These materials are analysed for both inorganic and organic pollutants as well as substances, like heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.), aliphatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We use the latest analytical methods, such as spectroscopy and chromatography, and highly complex equipment, including automatic titrators, fully automated multichannel photometers, high-resolution mass spectrometers or robots for automated sample preparation.
Construction materials and interior air represent special kinds of environmental samples. Not only asbestos, but also other harmful chemical substances may pose a health hazard to building occupants and to construction workers during renovations and demolitions. Thus, our member labs are not only committed to environmental protection, but also to safety and occupational health.
