FROM THE BENCH and public health laboratories considering implementation of freshwater cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin testing . Federal , state and World Health Organization guidelines have been updated , as well as sections on sampling , methods , method limitations , partnerships , reporting and public messaging .
• Partnership members collaborated on “
Ethics Training is Essential for Environmental Laboratories ,” published in the November 2021 issue of Journal AWWA , to emphasize the importance of ethical practices for laboratories producing data used for public health purposes . Proper ethical practices help laboratories provide proof of data accountability and establish acceptable practices for laboratories to produce reliable and defensible data . It highlights steps to be taken to better ensure ethical laboratory practices , such as ethics training , data review , policies , codes of ethics and internal audits . This article , along with other ethics resources , can be found on
APHL ’ s Environmental Laboratory Ethics Resources Page .
• In 2022 , members collaborated with the
American Public Health Association and
American Council of Independent Laboratories on “
The Vital Role of the Environmental Laboratory as Public Health Laboratories ,” published in the March 2022 issue of WE & T . It outlines how state and local environmental , agricultural and food laboratories , and commercial laboratories are all integral parts of the public health system . While not commonly viewed in this light , the COVID-19 pandemic has brought wastewater surveillance to the forefront as a public health tool and has highlighted many other public health-related programs these laboratories participate in . It calls for a shift in this understanding by acknowledging and valuing their role in producing quality data that provide the foundation for public health decision making .
Lab Chats
WEF started Lab Chats in 2021 , connecting laboratory analysts across the United States to discuss a specific analysis . The first Lab Chat , covering total suspended solids , was attended by about 30 WEF members . Analysts were able to describe how they have the total suspended solids ( TSS ) analysis set up in their laboratories as well as ask questions about best practices . APHL members were invited to the second event in May 2022 , which covered biochemical oxygen demand . This event was attended by over 50 WEF and APHL members and saw a high participation level as individuals asked questions and received input from laboratories all over the US . These hourlong events are planned to continue every quarter , and have provided an avenue for scientists to network , share ideas , questions and solutions on how to make processes in their own laboratories more effective .
References :
2 . Adams H , Wangsness K , Johnson M , Olund S , Loudon J , Hertz C , Morin E . ( 2021 ) Ethics Training is Essential for Environmental Laboratories . Journal AWWA . 113 ( 9 ): 40-48 .
https :// doi . org / 10.1002 / awwa . 1805
3 . Adams H , Morin E , Rhode S , Turner E , Golden Z ., O ’ Neal T , Olund S , Wangsness K , Friedman D , Sanderson A , Bradshaw R , Randolph R , Robb K , Hansen K . ( 2022 ) The Vital Role of the Environmental Laboratory as Public Health Laboratories . Water Environment & Technology . 34 ( 2 ): 32-37 .
https :// www . waterenvironmenttechnologydigital . com / waterenvironmenttechnology / march _ 2022 / MobilePagedArticle . action ? articleId = 1771725 # articleId1771725
Water and wastewater industry stakeholders may not always think of themselves as being a part of public health , but their data contributions are vital for protecting public health . The resources that have been produced from this partnership have been circulated to over 145,000 scientists , engineers , consultants , administrators , and water and wastewater system operators . If only a small fraction of these individuals use these resources and start to view their work through a public health lens , the industry will change for the better .