ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Other Environmental Testing
From April 19-May 4, APHL surveyed
environmental laboratories and public
health lab environmental units in all 50
states to determine their operating status
and how COVID-19 was affecting testing
of environmental matrices such as water,
air, soil and biota. Out of 46 respondents
representing 39 states (some states have
multiple environmental labs), just over
half were fully operational (n=24), about
20% (n=8) had reduced testing, 25% (n=12)
had essential testing, and less than 5%
(n=2) were closed.
If testing had decreased, most statedefined
high-priority tests were:
• Drinking water
• Regulatory compliance samples
• Acute health risk
• Emergency testing
• Proficiency tests
• Harmful algal blooms
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The majority of laboratories were still
fully testing drinking, ground, recreational
and well water, air and biota, with a
56-69% range for all environmental
matrices. Wastewater testing was most
likely to be reduced (27%, n=8) and if
laboratories did test surfaces, the majority
(56%, n=9) stopped.
About 80% (n=37) of laboratories
started practicing social distancing;
approximately 50% (n=24) have
implemented masks, staggered work
schedules, alternate work schedules and
enhanced decontamination procedures;
and about a quarter supplied personal
protective equipment for non-laboratory
staff. Other practices include:
• Increasing daily temperature checks
• Air ventilation in common areas
• Developing new sample drop-off
protocols (no public access to building,
drop-off limited to certain days, mail-in
only)
• Allowing employees to leave when
work is completed
• Increasing flexibility for employees to
use leave.
Of the 29 laboratories that responded
about supply chain issues and their effects
on operations, approximately 60% (n=17)
had issues. Shortages were primarily
cleaning supply/decontamination
chemicals, gloves and personal protective
equipment. Conversely, many laboratories
had ample material supply due to
decreased sampling, but they wondered
how this might change if there was a need
to collect those missing samples.
Of the 22 laboratories that had reduced
testing, essential testing or closed
statuses, only one-third of them referred
testing such as high-demand or rapid hold
time samples out to a contract laboratory.
Otherwise environmental labs were able
to keep up with the demand. Because of
this, many had not heard any concerns
about the effect of decreased testing on
current or future environmental health
hazards. In fact, one laboratory mentioned
they received media attention from their
continued air quality monitoring that
demonstrated a decrease in air pollutants
due to stay-at-home orders. The few
laboratories that did mention concerns
included state environmental agency
inspection reductions and unmonitored
surface water and the effect on long-term
datasets.
At the time of the survey, about 65%
(n=24) of laboratories did not have a target
date or plan for increasing testing services
due to scheduling uncertainty related to
COVID-19. Approximately 35% (n=15) were
planning to resume back to normal in
May or June, mainly because their clients
(state programs) were planning to re-start
sample collections. As far as overall
challenges experienced by environmental
labs during this time, they closely
mirrored the rest of society: staff working
challenges due to high-risk COVID-19
contraction factors, child/elderly care
needs, or wanting to avoid exposure in
general. •
References
1. Wan W, Long H. ‘Cries for help’: Drug overdoses
are soaring during the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington Post. 2020 Jul 1; Available from: https://
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/01/
coronavirus-drug-overdose/
2. The Consequences Of COVID-19 On The Overdose
Epidemic: Overdoses Are Increasing. Washington, D.C./
Baltimore, MD Area: Overdose Detection Mapping
Application Program (ODMap); 2020 May p. 5.
Available from: http://www.odmap.org/Content/docs/
news/2020/ODMAP-Report-May-2020.pdf
Of the 29 laboratories that responded about supply chain issues and their
effects on operations, approximately 60% (n=17) had issues. Shortages were
primarily cleaning supply/decontamination chemicals, gloves and personal
protective equipment.
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Summer 2020 LAB MATTERS 17