ATLANTA (March 14, 2011) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader
in serving science, today announced the opening of its Center of Excellence
for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Staffed with experts in POPs
analysis, the new center will support laboratories that research, measure
and monitor dioxins and other POPs found in food and the environment. The
center provides access to highly productive, value-added methods for
identifying some of the most difficult to detect POPs. The first method
developed by the center provides an integrated workflow that includes
instruments, software and consumables used in screening to confirmation. The
workflow will be available within Thermo Scientific booth 2835 during
Pittcon 2011, being held March 13-18, in Atlanta.
Hans Joachim Huebschmann, technology manager for GC/MS at Thermo Fisher Scientific (left) and Kyle D'Silva, product manager for GC/HRMS at Thermo Fisher Scientific (right)
POPs are chemical substances produced by human activity and they are widely
distributed in the environment by natural processes, persisting for many
years after forming. POPs, such as dioxins, can be toxic to living organisms
(including humans) as they accumulate in soft tissues, and contaminants can
become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. As a result of
their impact on health and the environment, the Stockholm Convention on
POPs, administered by the United Nations Environment Program, has been
signed by more than 160 nations to protect human health, wildlife and the
environment.
Listed or proposed POPs specified in the Stockholm Convention include:
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Toxaphenes
- Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)
- Perfluorinated compounds
- Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
- Chlorinated paraffins
The Thermo Fisher Center of Excellence for POPs, located in Bremen, Germany,
is an industry-wide resource equipped with the latest technology and
expertise to support collaborative projects, serving as a knowledge hub for
POPs analysis and development of effective POPs methodologies. The center
will also partner with industry and governmental laboratories to improve the
quality and efficiency of worldwide POPs monitoring.
Thermo Fisher has already developed an integrated POPs workflow solution at
its new center for routine, high-throughput sample analysis in POPs
laboratories. The solution incorporates Thermo Scientific consumables, a
Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum XLS triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS for highly
selective and fast screening and a Thermo Scientific DFS High Resolution
GC-HRMS for high confidence, confirmatory analysis according to
international regulations.
POPs analysis requires that large volumes of data must be reviewed,
interpreted and reported. The new POPs workflow solution includes Thermo
Scientific TargetQuan software, designed specifically for large-scale data
processing in this type of analysis. The software creates a direct
connection to Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS (laboratory information
management system) to offer sample and measurement traceability and complete
laboratory management.
"Our scientists have developed turnkey methods for low-level screening, from
fast, simplified sample clean-up to the confirmation analysis of
non-compliant samples," said Hans-Joachim Huebschmann, technology manager
for GC/MS at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The new POPs Center of Excellence
provides training for correct analytical method setup, selection of the
separation columns and data handling."
"With the combination of TSQ QuantumT XLS triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS and DFS
High Resolution GC-HRMS, we provide the necessary analytical tools for
efficient environmental and food safety control," said Kyle D'Silva, product
manager for GC/HRMS at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our goal is to support
food manufacturers as well as governmental control and environmental labs in
responding with the necessary sensitivity and accuracy required for these
challenging analyses."
For information on existing Thermo Fisher Scientific methods for detecting
dioxin in food and animal feed visit www.thermoscientific.com/pops.
For more information about the new Thermo Fisher POPs Center of Excellence
and integrated POPs workflow solution, please visit Thermo Scientific booth
2835 at Pittcon 2011. Alternatively, please call +1-800-532-4752, e-mail
[email protected] or visit www.thermoscientific.com/pops.
For access to all Thermo Fisher Scientific news and product photos related
to Pittcon 2011, please visit the online media room at www.thermofisher.com/pittcon11.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier,
cleaner and safer. With revenues of nearly $11 billion, we have
approximately 37,000 employees and serve customers within pharmaceutical and
biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities,
research institutions and government agencies, as well as in environmental
and process control industries. We create value for our key stakeholders
through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, which
offer a unique combination of continuous technology development and the most
convenient purchasing options. Our products and services help accelerate the
pace of scientific discovery, and solve analytical challenges ranging from
complex research to routine testing to field applications. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
Media Contact Information:
Lindsay Baldry
+44 1477 539539
[email protected]
Secondary Contact Information:
Michael Nelson
+1 512-251-1527
[email protected]