LCS Laboratory Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy to our analytical services for the detection of heavy metals in bulk materials and airborne particulate samples. This capability is now available to industrial hygiene consultants, air sampling specialists, and environmental professionals who require reliable metals data for occupational and environmental air monitoring, as well as soil and sediment characterization.
What is XRF Analysis
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is an elemental analysis technique in which a sample is irradiated with primary X-rays. Atoms within the sample absorb this energy and, in turn, emit secondary (fluorescent) X-rays at wavelengths characteristic of each element present. By measuring the energy and intensity of these emitted X-rays, the laboratory can identify which elements are present in a sample and quantify their concentrations.
At LCS Laboratory, XRF analysis is performed in accordance with established reference methods:
- EPA Method IO-3.3 (Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Inorganic Compounds in Ambient Air) — X-ray fluorescence analysis of metals collected on air sampling filters, applicable to particulate matter samples such as those collected on PVC, mixed cellulose ester, or PTFE filter media during occupational and ambient air sampling.
- EPA Method 6200 (SW-846) — Field portable and laboratory XRF for the determination of elemental concentrations in soil, sediment, and other bulk solid matrices.
- NIOSH Method 7702 (NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 4th Edition) — Lead by Field Portable XRF, using L-shell excitation from a Cadmium-109 source. This method is specific to lead on 37-mm mixed cellulose ester filters and is widely used for exposure assessment on lead abatement, demolition, and renovation projects where rapid, on-site or laboratory turnaround is needed.
Together, these methods cover the sample types routinely submitted by industrial hygiene and environmental consultants, including air sampling filters from personal and area monitoring, settled dust wipes, and bulk soil or sediment samples.
Why XRF is Worth Considering for Your Next Project
Lower cost. XRF analysis is priced approximately 30% lower than comparable metals analyses performed by ICP or AAS. For projects involving large batches of filters or bulk samples, this cost difference can be significant without any compromise in method validity, since XRF is itself a recognized reference method for these matrices under EPA IO-3.3, EPA 6200, and NIOSH 7702.
No acid digestion required. Unlike ICP and AAS, which require the sample to be digested in strong acids prior to analysis, XRF measures the sample directly. This eliminates the use of hazardous digestion reagents, reduces chemical waste generated by the laboratory, and removes digestion as a potential source of analytical error or incomplete recovery.
Non-destructive analysis. Because XRF does not consume or alter the sample, the same filter or bulk sample remains available for additional testing after XRF analysis is complete. NIOSH 7702 explicitly builds on this property: samples analyzed by field portable XRF can subsequently be sent to a laboratory for confirmatory analysis by GFAAS (NIOSH 7105) or another method, if needed. This is not possible with ICP or AAS, where the sample is dissolved during digestion. For consultants managing limited sample volumes or filters that must also be analyzed for other contaminants, this preserves options that would otherwise require a second, redundant collection event in the field.
Results independent of chemical form. XRF measures the total elemental concentration of a metal present in the sample, regardless of its chemical speciation. This means the method is not affected by the compound in which the metal occurs. Even when a metal is present in an acid-insoluble form — such as iron carbide, which can resist complete dissolution during acid digestion and lead to low bias in ICP or AAS results — XRF reports the true total metal concentration present in the sample. NIOSH 7702 notes this same advantage for lead: the method is applicable to all elemental lead forms, including lead fume and other lead-containing aerosols, without the speciation-dependent bias that acid digestion methods can introduce.
Sample Matrices We Analyze
- Air sampling filters (PVC, MCE, PTFE) for occupational exposure and area air monitoring, including 37-mm MCE filters for lead per NIOSH 7702
- Settled dust and surface wipe samples
- Bulk soil and sediment samples
- Other particulate and bulk solid matrices, upon request
Get in Touch
If you have an upcoming project that involves metals analysis of air samples, dust, soil, or sediment, we invite you to contact LCS Laboratory Inc. to discuss whether XRF analysis is the right fit for your scope of work. Our staff can review your sample matrix, project requirements, and turnaround needs to help you determine the most appropriate and cost-effective analytical approach.
We look forward to supporting your next air sampling or bulk material characterization project.
