Semi Volatile Organic Compound Testing – over 100 reasons why you can’t go wrong!

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC's) are a group of compounds that can lead to adverse effects on both animal and human health.  Exposure can arise from direct product use, the indoor environment and contaminated water sources.

Classes of SVOC's include:

  • Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – originate from by-products of petroleum processing or combustion;
  • Phenols - many uses such as chemical intermediates, plastics processing, wood preservatives, tanning agents, pesticides, antiseptics, antioxidants, pharmaceuticals, dyes and can also occur as disinfection by-products in water;
  • Phthalates - used as plasticisers in rubber and plastic materials;
  • Pesticides (organochlorine, organophosphate and triazines) – originate from agricultural run-off;
  • Anilines - used in the manufacture of industrial chemicals.

The AWQC has recently developed a NATA accredited analytical method based upon US EPA Method 8270 to detect and quantify over 100 SVOCs in extracts prepared from surface and ground waters, treated and raw waters and seawater samples. Table 1 lists the analytes that can be reported together with their associated limit of reporting (LOR) values.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

Acenaphthene

Acenaphthylene

Anthracene

Benz[a]anthracene

Benzo[b]fluoranthene

Benzo[k]fluoranthene

Benzo[ghi]perylene

Benzo[a]pyrene

Chrysene

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene

Fluoranthene

Fluorene

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene

1-methylnaphthalene

2-methylnaphthalene

Naphthalene

Phenanthrene

Pyrene

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

<0.4

<0.2

<0.2

<0.2

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Phenols

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol

2-Chlorophenol

2,4-Dichlorophenol

2,6-Dichlorophenol

2,4-Dimethylphenol

2,4-Dinitrophenol

2-Methylphenol (o-Cresol)

3-Methylphenol (m-Cresol)

4-Methylphenol (p-Cresol)

2-Nitrophenol

Pentachlorophenol

Phenol

2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorophenol

2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol

2,3,5,6-Tetrachlorophenol

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Phthalates

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

Bis(2-n-Butoxyethyl)phthalate

Bis(2-Ethoxyethyl)phthalate

Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate

Bis(2-Methoxyethyl)phthalate

Bis(4-Methyl-2-pentyl)phthalate

Butyl benzyl phthalate

Di-n-butyl phthalate

Dicyclohexyl phthalate

Diethyl phthalate

Dihexyl phthalate

Diisobutyl phthalate

Dimethyl phthalate

Dinonyl phthalate

Di-n-octyl phthalate

Dipentyl phthalate

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Organochlorine Pesticides

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

Aldrin

a-BHC

b-BHC

d-BHC

g-BHC (Lindane)

a-Chlordane

g-Chlordane

Chlorthalonil

Chlorpyrifos

Dacthal

p,p’-DDD

p,p’-DDE

p,p’-DDT

Dieldrin

Endosulfan 1

Endosulfan 2

Endosulfan sulfate

Endrin

Heptachlor

Heptachlor epoxide

Methoxychlor

Trifluralin

Vinclozolin

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Organophosphorus & Triazine Pesticides

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

Atrazine

Azinphos-methyl

Carbophenothion

Chlorfenvinphos

Coumaphos

Crotoxyphos

Diazinon

Dichlorvos

Dicrotophos

EPN

Ethion

Fenthion

Fenitrothion

Hexazinone

Leptophos

Malathion

Methyl parathion

Mevinphos

Monocrotophos

Naled

Parathion

Phosalone

Phosphamidon

Prometryn

Simazine

TEPP(Tetraethyl pyrophosphate)

Terbufos Tetrachlorvinphos

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Anilines & Dibenzofuran

Limit of ReportingUnit of Measure

Aniline

Benzidine

4-chloroaniline

Dibenzofuran

2-nitroaniline

3-nitroaniline 4-nitroaniline

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

µg/L

Table 1: Analytes that can be reported as part of AWQC’s new NATA accredited SVOC method

Samples should be collected in 1L amber glass bottles, with no air gap and transported to AWQC on ice ready for analysis.