Laboratory analytics services
Our chemical analysis services include the determination of elements and organic substances from different types of environmental samples, as well as the physical-chemical analysis of water. Our biological analysis services cover a wide range of ecotoxicological tests and the handling of biological samples.
The laboratory of the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) has been accredited as a testing laboratory (T003) by FINAS accreditation services since 1992. Our operations meet the requirements of the SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17025, FINAS T003 standard. In addition, our expert staff and modern equipment ensure reliable analysis results. We continuously develop our operations to meet the needs of environmental research and monitoring. Up-to-date information on our accredited competence area can be found on the website T003 (FINAS).
We serve government agencies, research institutes, universities, and companies by providing solutions for environmental research and monitoring activities. Our analysis services are primarily aimed at various collaborative projects, but we also offer services to external clients. The analysis of individual samples is agreed upon on a case-by-case basis.
We ask private individuals to turn to municipal and private laboratories for analysis services.
Chemical analysis
To produce high-quality analytsis, our laboratory equipment includes:
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometers (GC-FID/MS, GC-MS/MS)
- Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometers (LC-MS/MS)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometers (ICP-MS and ICP-MS/MS)
- X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (TXRF)
Our methods are suitable for environmental sample matrices such as water, soil, sediment, sludge, fish, plants, and collectors.
More information on analysis services:
Physico-chemical analysis
Natural water, wastewater, brackish water:
- Absorbance, 254 nm
- Absorption coefficient, 400 nm and 750 nm
- Chlorophyll a
- Alkalinity
- Ammonium nitrogen
- Acidity
- Fluoride
- Oxygen saturation
- Dissolved oxygen
- Chemical oxygen demand, CODMn
- Total solids
- Loss on ignition of total solids
- Chloride
- Total inorganic carbon (TIC)
- Total phosphorus
- Total organic carbon (TOC)
- Total nitrogen
- Nitrate and nitrite as nitrogen
- Nitrate as nitrogen
- Nitrite as nitrogen
- Dissolved organic carbon
- pH
- Silica
- Turbidity
- Sulfate
- Electrical conductivity
- Color
Elemental analysis
Natural water and waste water
ICP-MS
- Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn
CV-ICP-MS
- Hg
Soil, sediment, sludge
ICP-MS
- Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg*, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, Zn
CV-AAS
- Hg*
Biological tissue samples (liver and muscle)
ICP-MS
- Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg*, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, Zn
CV-ICP-MS
- Hg*
CV-AAS
- Hg*
Plant samples (plants, mosses, lichens)
ICP-MS
- Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg*, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, Zn
CV-ICP-MS
- Hg*
Particulate samples
ICP-MS
- Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn
*Mercury can be determined using several different measurement techniques. The choice of technique depends on the concentration, sample matrix, and the available sample amount.
Organic analysis
- Phthalates
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
- Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCD)
- Hormones
- Artificial sweeteners
- Pharmaceuticals
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
- Triclosan and methyltriclosan
- Hydrocarbons (>C10-C40, >C10-C21, >C21-C40)
Ecotoxicological tests
Our laboratory offers services for assessing the biological effects of various samples. In addition to environmental samples, we can study the effects of chemicals and various extracts and evaluate their ecological risk. Some of the ecotoxicological tests are accredited. Our test selection includes:
- Water and sediment tests
- Soil tests
- Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity tests
Handling of biological samples
Our laboratory service range includes the following biological sample handling:
- Preparation of fish
- Preparation of plants
- Preparation of diatoms
- Picking of benthic animals
- Identification of algae
Contact information:
- palvelu@syke.fi
[palvelu = asiakaspalvelu.sykelab] - Suomen ympäristökeskus (Syke),
Tutkimusinfra, Näytteiden vastaanotto,
Mustialankatu 3, 00790 Helsinki - Physico-chemical and Elemental analysis: Group Manager Mika Sarkkinen
- Organic analysis: Group Manager Katarina Björklöf
- Ecotoxicological analysis: Group Manager Katarina Björklöf