Scientific Data on Environmental Risk Assessment Using QwikLite™ Published in Primary Journal
Carlsbad, California, December 6, 2007 — Assure Controls, Inc announced that the latest issue of Marine Pollution Bulletin (Vol. 54 Issue 12 December 2007) published the scientific manuscript entitled "The Use of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates as an Environmental Risk Assessment Tool".
The scientific paper describes multiple environmental projects that were completed by the Environmental Sciences and Applied Systems Branch of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego), along the western coast of the U.S. with an innovative technology developed by the Navy. The technology (QwikLite™), uses marine plankton (bioluminescent dinoflagellates) as indicators of harmful contaminants in water and sediment samples, a routine but time consuming process for environmental risk assessment. The methods and results of six different environmental projects conducted from 1989 through 2006, using bioluminescent dinoflagellates and other conventional bioassays in various media are presented and discussed in the published article. All toxicity tests were conducted according to EPA methods 600/4-85/013 and EPA method 600/4-87/028. QwikLite™ used ASTM method E 1924-97.
The publication process began in 2006, using a grant provided by the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology. The data from the field studies, including the computer files, lab and project books were inventoried and assembled into one location. Then comprehensive statistics and analysis were done for the publication. The data was collected from both private and government environmental projects, the results used by agency officials and environmental consultants to meet the objectives of each study. Subsequent work has continued to establish the accuracy, sensitivity and correlation of QwikLite™ technology to alternative methods.
In 2005, Assure Controls developed miniature optics and electronics for use in the QwikLite™ Testing System which employ disposable test kits containing live plankton to provide fast and accurate contaminant testing of water and sediment samples.
Marine Pollution Bulletin is one of the primary journals to introduce new forms of measurement and analysis for the marine pollution industry. Only two volumes are published annually, and the journal is increasingly recognized, not just by the wider scientific community, but also by environmental policy makers at national and international levels.
There are other publications anticipated in the near future on the use of QwikLite, the comparison to other instrumentation, and then more comparisons regarding plankton as a sensitive and easier to use bio indicator species. The lead author on the twelve page Marine Pollution Bulletin article is Dave Lapota, PhD; with Alexandra Osorio, Connie Liao, and Bryan Bjorndal contributing authors; all were affiliated with Assure Controls during the publication process.
The company is in the process of seeking the permission to release this article for our commercial purposes. To obtain a reprint of the article contact: Mickele Hughes Bragg, Product Manager (mhughes@assurecontrols.com).
Founded in 2005, Assure Controls is a product development and marketing company with specialized measurement and reporting expertise for environmental water applications. Assure is headquartered in Vista, California with manufacturing and distribution in Hong Kong as well as the U.S. For more information, visit www.AssureControls.com.
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