Toxicity Identification Evaluations

When a sample has tested toxic (acutely or chronically), the sample can be sub-sampled and each sub-sample can be manipulated chemically or physically to remove or render harmless key contaminant groups. For instance, Sodium Thiosulfate can be used to reduce oxidants to non-toxic forms or EDTA can be used to bind heavy metals. Typically over 12-16 different sample manipulations are performed. To each manipulated sample, test organisms are introduced. Keeping in mind that the non-manipulated sample was toxic, we are able to observe which manipulated samples are now non-toxic...noting which contaminant groups were neutralized. Following the basic identification of the toxicant group, additional studies are performed to support a weight of evidence approach to verify and identify the causative toxicant(s).