In partnership with Statvis — an environmental software company providing the tools to manage and remediate contaminated sites — AGAT Laboratories now offers a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) report card along with PAH analysis to provide clients with insights into their sample data. By leveraging PAH fingerprinting technology and data visualization, Statvis’ proprietary software allows environmental consultants to accurately identify the origin of PAHs. PAH fingerprinting is especially useful when there may be multiple sources of PAHs and it supports investigations in answering source, risk, and responsibility questions.
What exactly is PAH fingerprinting? In this article, we’ll outline the technology, explore how it’s been used since its breakthrough, and how environmental consultants are getting the most out of their data with the help of visualization.
PAH Fingerprinting: An Insight into Source and Spatial Patterns
Statvis says fingerprinting PAHs helps environmental consultants compare samples to potential sources and background samples from their sites. They go on to say you shouldn’t assume PAHs are automatically coming from what you were hired to look at. As PAHs are a large group of compounds released to the environment, from both natural and human-made sources, fingerprinting provides a greater insight into specific PAHs such as those from oil spills, waste incineration, and other industrial activity. By identifying sources, we can begin to have a greater understanding of spatial patterns, and ultimately answer those questions with more certainty — is it a risk? And who is responsible?
While relatively modern technology, chemical fingerprinting has been referenced across a variety of studies looking at the development of chemical analysis methodologies. One study looking at the development of oil hydrocarbon fingerprinting and identification techniques found “successful forensic investigation and analysis of oil and refined product hydrocarbons in contaminated sites and receptors yield a wealth of chemical fingerprinting data.” The data in combination with historic, geological, and environmental information, in many cases, helps settle legal liability. Furthermore, the same study goes on to highlight additives in refined products can be used in source identification. The study concludes “chemical fingerprinting is a powerful tool for hydrocarbon source identification and differentiation, when it is applied properly.”
Another study, which looks at the 1989 Exxon Valdel oil spill, suggests advances in environmental chemistry and data interpretation techniques, such as chemical fingerprinting, contributed to a better understanding of biological impact. Ultimately, the study found the spilled oil only accounted for a small increment on the natural hydrocarbon background in subtidal sediments. And further studies into PAH contamination in Sydney, Nova Scotia, at the Sydney Tar Ponds site, found PAH contamination of Sydney Harbour sediments and urban soils were largely unrelated to historic coking operations or recent remediation of the site, but rather a legacy of extensive use of coal for a variety of activities. PAH fingerprinting identified new insights to provide researchers and environmental decision makers with the tools required to assess and mitigate potential sources of PAHs in the environment.
Chemical fingerprinting’s forensic-style interpretation goes beyond EPA’s 16 priority pollutants moving the question from “how much is there” to “where did it come from.” With this investigative approach, PAH fingerprinting provides source attribution, weathering insight, and has the potential for litigation-grade evidence. Furthermore, diagnostic ratios can indicate whether contamination is more likely petroleum-derived, for example. Ultimately, PAH fingerprinting provides further insight into pollutants and contamination than routine EPA method analysis alone.
How PAH Data Visualization Supports Communication
In addition to PAH fingerprinting methods, the PAH Report Card from AGAT Labs contains histogram references, diagnostic ratios, and maps in easy-to-digest visual formats. Data visualization is a graphical representation of information. It helps consultants build narratives and communicate their findings to stakeholders, clients, and governments.
According to Deloitte, data visualization helps in identifying patterns that are otherwise not noticeable in raw data. By being able to communicate sample data in an easily accessible way that almost anyone can understand, environmental consultants can make use of graphics to begin to build narratives and turn complex datasets into clear visuals. According to Acceldata, data visualization also supports faster decision-making. Especially in high-risk scenarios where actions must be taken if PAHs are present, obtaining insight sooner — where raw data wouldn’t reveal the picture alone — can be critical.
In an article published on Harvard Data Science Review, it’s suggested graphics are most memorable and useful when they’re used to complement text and further information. Data visualization, in this case, adds further context and supports narratives especially in situations where consultants are presenting their findings. In addition, graphics support communication between a variety of audiences of differing understanding. Therefore, PAH data visualization is a helpful tool in boardrooms to communicate source and spatial patterns with ease.
What is the PAH Report Card?
Combining AGAT’s expertise for reliable and defensible analysis with Statvis’ proprietary software and a deep understanding of chemical fingerprinting, the PAH Report Card offers additional insights into source and spatial patterns. Delivered by AGAT via PDF along with raw data, the PAH Report Card is loaded with insightful information about your sample data including visualization of maps (when GPS data is available), diagnostic ratios, and histograms in comparison to reference library samples as well as source and background.
AGAT clients who wish to add a PAH Report Card can do so to any PAH analysis and do not need to be a Statvis user. However, current Statvis users can easily upload their results to the Statvis platform. Statvis users also gain access to a wealth of tools to support data visualization. Zoom in and out of areas of concern on an interactive map, select multiple samples to compare results in histograms, and see trends over time.
Ultimately, insights — whether through Statvis or the PAH Report Card — provide a greater understanding of PAH data from the moment results are available from the lab and speed up workflow in those critical moments.
Visit agatlabs.com/statvis to learn more about the PAH Report Card.
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