When the Trouble Call Program responds to an incident, a field investigation attempts to determine if there is a responsible party, type of incident, and if there are health and other environmental impacts to the surrounding area.  If samples are collected, staff at the King County Environmental Laboratory are notified immediately.  This prompt coordination with the lab assures us that the lab has the capacity and immediate resources to analyze these unscheduled samples.

Samples that are collected by this program assure the end users of the data  (agencies with enforcement) that the results are defensible and that the samples were collected using appropriate chain-of-custody and standard operating procedures.  Trouble Call results may be fast tracked with turn around times for some samples available within 24 hours.

Samples collected by individuals outside of the Trouble Call Program and delivered to the lab without prior authorization, or collected in unacceptable containers may be rejected.

Typical analyses of samples may include:

• Microtox
• Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids
• Nutrients including ammonia and phosphorus
• Algae identification and and Microcystin toxicity
• Hydrocarbon identification for lube oil, diesel or gasoline
• Analysis for fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria
• Herbicides
• PCB's
• Semi-Volatile and Volatile Organic Compounds
• Heavy Metals including Mercury

For questions about this Web page, please contact Diane McElhany, Environmental Programs Section Manager, King County Environmental Lab.