PALO ALTO, Calif., and HERISAU, Switzerland, May 9,
2005
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and Metrohm AG
today introduced a high-sensitivity solution to
easily detect and differentiate chromium (III), an essential nutrient,
from toxic chromium (VI). Also
known as hexavalent chromium, chromium (VI) is a potent
toxin associated with lung cancer, kidney and liver damage, and skin and immune
system disorders.
Chromium (VI) is the toxin at issue in Erin Brockovich's
well-known legal battle in the 1990s, resulting in
one of the biggest civil class-action settlements in
U.S. history. (The story was also made into a popular Hollywood
movie.) The two forms of chromium are often present together
and can be found in landfill materials and groundwater
and as airborne dust particles.
The analytical method announced today uses the new
Agilent Chromium Speciation Kit, which features a proprietary
Agilent ion chromatography column, the Agilent Integrated
Sample Integration System, and Metrohm's non-metal pump module.
It can be used with any Agilent inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The new method has several
advantages over conventional chromium detection techniques,
such as UV/Vis spectroscopy. Those advantages include
higher sensitivity (down to parts per trillion), improved
specificity, and better reproducibility in high matrix samples,
such as hard drinking water.
Measurement of chromium toxicity is required in a wide
range of samples, including drinking water, food, clinical
specimens, and electrical and electronic equipment
and waste. The World Health Organization has provided
a provisional guideline value of 50 parts per billion for total chromium
in drinking water, but WHO has also suggested that "because
the health effects are determined largely by the oxidation
state, different guideline values for Cr (III) and Cr (VI)
should be delivered."(1)
" Regulatory agencies and laboratories now have a powerful
new tool to identify and quantify toxic chromium at lower
levels to address potential health risks," said Mike
McMullen, vice president and general manager of Agilent's
Chemical Analysis Solutions unit. "This method is
simple, reliable and fast and works with a wide variety
of sample matrices. The system is flexible and will help
customers meet an increasing range of regulatory demands
for chromium (VI) measurement."
Further information is available by requesting Agilent's "Chromium
Speciation in Natural Samples by Ion Chromatography (IC)
ICP-MS" application note, publication 5989-2481EN.
This note is available without charge from any Agilent
sales office or at www.agilent.com/chem/environmental.
(1) "Chromium in Drinking-Water," background
document for development of World Health Organization
Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. WHO/SDE/WSH/03.04.04
Contact:
Stuart Matlow
+1 408 553 7191
stuart_matlow@agilent.com
About Metrohm AG
Metrohm provides quality instruments and services for
chemical ion analysis. Headquartered in Herisau,
Switzerland, Metrohm and its distributors worldwide provide
top-class
service and instrumentation for all fields of chemical
ion analysis.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology
leader in communications, electronics, life sciences
and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees
serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent
had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year
2004. Information
about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
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