Contamination of water supplies with organic pollutants such as cyanotoxins, PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors is one of the most important global problems. Recent EU Directives propose determining these target pollutants in drinking and surface water and setting their maximum concentrations. Resulting from the above, it is mandatory to monitor these analytes using appropriate methods. The development of new, advanced analytical methods can enable sensitive, reliable determinations even at the ppt level. The specialized scientific services of the Laboratory of Environmental Analysis, NCSR “Demokritos” (LEAD) can be summarized into the following: Development of advanced analytical methods for the determination of trace organic/emerging pollutants in waters, food and environmental samples (e.g., cyanotoxins, cyanobacterial metabolites, compounds that give taste and odor in water, explosives, etc.). The Lab has included in its scope of accreditation, according to ISO 17025:2017, the following tests: (a) Determination of multiple cyanotoxins of different groups (microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a) in water and biomass using LC-ESI-MS/MS, (b) Identification and quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in waters using LC-APPI-MS/MS, and (c) Determination of explosives in soil using an HPLC-PDA method based on ISO11916-1 & USEPA 8330.

LEAD has been involved in cyanotoxin research since 2005 and is currently the only laboratory in Greece in this field, with significant contributions through published papers and collaborations in Greece, Europe and the USA.  It has also established itself as the national laboratory for cyanotoxin analysis by extending its scope of accreditation (ISO 17025) and as a national focal point for cyanotoxin research, with the research team internationally recognized as pioneers and experts in the field of cyanotoxin analysis. In this frame, LEAD offers its services to the public and/or private sectors by conducting analyses of cyanotoxins and related compounds.

Recently, LEAD has expanded its accredited services by adding the analysis of primary and secondary explosives to its accreditation system. Using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, we achieve precise determination of explosive compounds in complex environmental samples (soil, mortar, and water).