Massachusetts
Pesticide Analysis Laboratory (MPAL)
Where can water and soil be tested to analyze for possible
pesticide or environmental contaminants?
The Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory (MPAL) provides
analytical services and scientific expertise for the regulation
and enforcement of pesticide use in Massachusetts. MPAL operates
under a cooperative agreement between the Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources 
and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA/OPP)
.
Established in 1981, MPAL has been administered and operated through
the Department of Entomology, College of Natural Resources and the
Environment at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
MPAL is able to analyze most commonly used pesticides including
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and in many cases, their metabolites
using state-of-the-art liquid and gas chromatographic techniques.
Methods are available for common sample matrices such as soil, water,
air, and plant material, and can often be adapted for the analysis
of pesticides in more unusual matrices. The situation of MPAL at
the University of Massachusetts' Amherst campus provides our analytical
staff with immediate access to the most up-to-date methodologies
and allows our staff to interact with other chemists, biologists,
toxicologists, and scientists with related expertise. MPAL is available
for contract work related to land use, historical pesticide use,
the monitoring of pesticide fate in active use areas such as golf
courses, greenhouses, nurseries, etc. However, if your interest
in pesticide analysis is related to a suspected misuse of pesticides
please call the Massachusetts Pesticide Bureau at (617)626-1778
to determine if you have a case for investigation under the Massachusetts
Pesticide Control Act. Otherwise, please consider the following
questions before contacting MPAL.
Pesticide Analysis Questions:
- What pesticides are you looking for and in what kind of
a matrix (i.e. soil, water, etc.)? In general, the cost of
the analysis increases with the number of pesticides, if they
are known. If the pesticides are unknown it is a much more
difficult and expensive proposition. Pesticides screening
methods are available for a number of pesticide classes. While
a screen can eliminate a significant number of pesticides
as a cause for concern, it does not allow for a comprehensive
determination that no pesticides are present.
- Have you consulted MPAL before taking any samples? Proper
sampling is essential in order to provide a meaningful result.
Sampling techniques depend on the sample matrix, and also
upon what questions are being asked. In some cases, the only
concern is whether or not there is a pesticide present. In
other cases, more appropriate questions are how much pesticide
is there, how persistent is it, will it move, and what kind
of an exposure risk does it represent, and how toxic is it
to humans?
For consultation and pricing contact:
Raymond Putnam
Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory
420 Morrill North
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
phone: (413) 545-4369
fax: (413) 545-2115
Additional
Information
New
England Registration Agencies
Worker Protection Standard
Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory
(MPAL)
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