Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced a collaboration with SGS in Canada has resulted in a new GC/TQ method, the SGS AXYS Method 16130, approved by the US EPA as an alternative method for the future regulation and detection of dioxins. 

Dioxins are a group of chemical compounds that are considered persistent environmental pollutants. These are a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health. They can cause problems with reproduction, development, and the immune system. They can also disrupt hormones and lead to cancer.

These chemicals are listed as persistent organic pollutants under the United Nations Stockholm Convention and are therefore regulated globally, meaning that accurate, reliable testing methods for dioxins are essential.

The previous US EPA dioxin testing method, EPA 1613B, required the use of magnetic sector instruments. These aging platforms are both difficult and expensive to use and maintain and therefore suffer from decreasing vendor and instrument availability.

This new technology is already widely used in contract testing labs and is less expensive to purchase, operate, and maintain, increasing the number of laboratories able to perform this testing.

The newly approved Agilent SGS AXYS Method 16130 is set to become a key testing solution for environmental laboratories testing regulated contaminants.