Stepnogorsk Environmental Monitoring Laboratory

First Annual Chemical Science and Commercialization Conference
Presentation

About: The ML focuses on the resolution of environmental problems. Current ML clients include: the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and enterprises producing chemical and biological pesticides.

Goal: To provide every client with test and measurement results of high quality, meeting the required precision and thoroughly documented.

Services: Analysis of the content of microorganisms and organic and inorganic substances and in water, soil, bottom sediments, plants, and in final consumer products.

History: ML BEC was founded in 1998 in the frameworks of the Kazakhstani -- American Program on Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and was initially designed for microbiological and specific control over the demolition of special facilities and the infrastructure of the biological defense enterprise JSC "Biomedpreparat".

With time, the laboratory transformed into an environmental monitoring laboratory capable to perform chemical (organic and inorganic) and microbiological monitoring of objects and territories in different regions of Kazakhstan in three different basic matrices of the environment -- water, soil and bottom sediments.

International Collaboration

The laboratory participates in a number of ISTC projects on environmental monitoring, including the remediation of the environment contaminated with heavy metals and durable chemical pesticides (K-756, K-487, K-750).A new project has recently been submitted to the ISTC that proposes to isolate oil hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms from oil-contaminated soils in the Atyrau oil extracting region (Kazakhstan).

Laboratory facilities

The laboratory currently has the equipment necessary to monitor contamination caused by chlorophosphoro-organic pesticides, PCBs, heavy metals, industrial strains producing biologically active substances (BAS), biopesticides, and other contaminants. This equipment includes: HPLC, GC, ECD/FID, AAS, UV/Vis spectrometry, PCR, equipment for realization of different specific reactions, and equipment for sample preparation and extraction of target chemicals from water and solid samples. In addition, in conjunction with a proposed ISTC project on analysis of oil contamination of the Ural River near the city of Atyrau, the laboratory plans to procure a GC/MS complete with a paraphrase sample injection system.

All measuring equipment of the laboratory has received metrological certification from the RK State Standardization Agency and complies with GLP requirements.

The laboratory has gone through the accreditation formalities for certification in the sphere of environmental studies for compliance with RK State Standard ISO 17025. In the frameworks of the ISTC project K-338, the laboratory is to receive international accreditation in ISO 17025 (A2L2) by the end of the year 2004.

ML BEC does not possess its own vivarium, but some of laboratory personnel have experience with laboratory animals, including working with dangerous diseases.

The laboratory is complete with 10 computer stations which are in essence the management and data processing systems.

JSC "Biomedpreparat -- Engineering Center" and Monitoring Laboratory are seeking contacts with industrial enterprises, producers of high-tech biotechnological products (industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc.), as well as with the companies developing modern analytical equipment and methods of environmental studies.

The List of Leading Personnel of Monitoring Laboratory and Their Qualification Training

Ponomarenko Aleksandr Stepanovich , Sampling Group Leader

  1. Preparation and Planning of Sampling Works (June 10 - August 6, 2000)
  2. Realization of Samples at Environmental Objects (NAREL Laboratory, Montgomery, February 7 - March 7, 2001)
  3. Realization of Researches Concerned with Radioactive and Conventional Contamination (MARSSIM Program September 19 - 21, 2000)

Kolysheva Olga Ivanovna , Organic Analysis Group Leader

  1. Training Certificate in Gas Chromatography (NAREL Laboratory, Montgomery, February 7 - March 7, 2001)
  2. Training Certificate in Analysis of Residual Pesticides via Gas-Liquid Chromatography and High Precision Liquid Chromatography (Environmental Effect Research Laboratory, Darem, February 7 - March 7, 2001)

Kravchenko Elena Vladimirovna , Inorganic Analysis Group Leader

  1. Training Certificate in Operation of Atomic-Absorption Spectrometer (EPA Laboratory, Las-Vegas, Jule 10 - August 10, 2000)
  2. Perkin Elmer Professional Training Certificate in Atomic Absorption issued in Training Center, Atlanta (Jule 17 - 21, 2000)

Zolotova Nadezhda Vladimirovna , Quality Control Officer (GLP control)

  1. Training Certificate in Organization of Required Laboratory Control complying with EPA and GLP requirements (NAREL Laboratory, Montgomery, February 7 - March 7, 2001)

Kosinov Aleksandr Nikolayevich , Leading Officer

  1. Realization of Researches Concerned with Radioactive and Conventional Contamination (MARSSIM Program September 19 - 21, 2000)
  2. Training Certificate in Microbiology and Toxicology (New-Mexico University, June, 7 - 27, 1999)