Our specialists monitor surface-, process – and effluent water quality all over the country in a variety of different flowing, stagnant, and operating water resources. Modern equipment is used to sample water according to internationally accepted methodologies to avoid cross-contamination, preserve the state of water chemistry, and ensure accurate analysis. ENVASS utilises both physical water sampling techniques as well as advanced & automated in-stream analysis equipment, operating with GPS tracking, quality probes, and data loggers. All physical samples are analysed at SANAS-accredited laboratories to ensure accuracy and provide assurance of absolute independence and scientific integrity.

Dust can become a nuisance when the amount of dust generated by certain activities, affects the performance of other activities or if the natural environment is negatively affected by the dust fallout. This includes human health and well-being as a priority. When dust-generating activities are unregulated it will only become a much larger issue which will ultimately lead to major pollution of the receiving environment. ENVASS monitors mining, construction, railway, cement production, stockpile sorting facilities, and more on a monthly basis and in at least 5 of South Africa’s provinces, with ample resources for expansion. ENVASS does all possible analyses on dust, tailored to client requirements. All results are from a reputable SANAS-accredited laboratory.

Toxicology is the scientific study of adverse effects that occur in living organisms due to chemicals. It involves observing and reporting symptoms, mechanisms, detection, and treatments of toxic substances, in particular, in relation to the poisoning of the aquatic system(s). ENVASS utilises accredited laboratories for standard internationally accepted toxicology methods in order to conduct acute and short chronic toxicity testing and hazard classification on water, based on 4 trophic levels (4 taxonomic groups – depending on the client’s needs) on the requested sites/samples.

Acute (and short-chronic) toxicity testing is applied by exposing biota to water sources in order to determine the potential risk of such waters to the biota/biological integrity of the receiving water bodies. A risk category is determined based on the percentage of mortalities (or inhibition stimulation) of the exposed biota. Common tests include standardised acute and chronic toxicity tests lasting 24–96 hours (acute test) to 7 days or more (chronic tests).
These tests measure endpoints such as survival, growth, and reproduction, that are measured at each concentration in a gradient, along with a control test.

After toxicology tests are performed by the laboratory the following categorisations can be made:

CLASS I | No acute hazard - none of the tests shows a toxic effect.
CLASS II | Slight acute hazard - a statistically significant percentage effect is reached in the least one test, but the effect level is below 50%.
CLASS III | Acute hazard - the 50% effect level is reached or exceeded in at least one test, but the effect level is below 100%.
CLASS IV | High acute hazard - the 100% effect is reached in at least one test.
CLASS V | Very high acute hazard - the 100% percentage effect is reached in all the tests.