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- Publications
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- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
- Our contracts
- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
Our online presence
Contact
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- Environmental testing and analytical services
On this page
Environmental testing and analytical services
We provide a wide range of environmental testing services including:
- water resources
- site assessments and remediation
- waste treatment and management
- air emissions and pollution control
- mining resources monitoring
Our capabilities
As Australia’s peak measurement body, the National Measurement Institute (NMI):
- offers a comprehensive range of professional, impartial and high quality measurement services, including specialised and crisis response testing
- is a trusted service provider to government, industry and academia, supporting major strategic programs and industry-led research
- partners with leading organisations locally and internationally
- delivers measurement that is meaningful, impactful and at the forefront of measurement science
We lead metrology in many important areas, from per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) to micro-plastics in water. We apply our range of specialist capabilities and novel technologies to our services. This includes ultra-trace environmental testing for dioxins and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs).
Our certifications and accreditations
We have a strong commitment to quality. Our laboratories hold a range of certifications and accreditations including:
- National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation for:
- ISO/IEC 17025: General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
- AS/NZS ISO 9001: Quality management systems
- Therapeutic Goods Administration licence to manufacture therapeutic goods
Our core testing services
Learn more about our core testing services. We can test a wide range of matrices and analyse aqueous, solid, air and biota samples.
You can also email customerservice@measurement.gov.au to discuss your specific needs.
We also calibrate environmental monitoring stations.
Our specialist testing services
Contact us to discuss how we can tailor our capabilities to meet your specific analysis requirements.
Dioxins, furans, PCBs and PBDEs
Read more about our analysis of POPs in a range of materials at ultra-trace levels.
Organotin in the marine environment
Read more about our NATA-accredited method and state-of-the-art technology we use to determine monobutyltin, dibutyltin and tributyltin.
PFAS
Read about our methods for detecting PFAS including; PFOS, PFOA, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS), 8:2 FTS, and their related precursors in water, soil and biota.
Glyphosate analysis
Read about our method for the determining glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and glufosinate in water (drinking, recycled, ground and catchment), soil and foliage.
Trace metal testing in complex matrices
Read about how we accurately measure trace metals in complex matrices using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (collision cell ICPMS).
Total recoverable hydrocarbons reporting
Read about how we can help you meet your reporting requirements against the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measures.
Ultra-trace pesticides
We have developed sensitive and highly selective tests to determine a large range of environmentally important pesticides at trace and ultra-trace levels in water and soil.
High resolution measurement and environmental water contamination
We are one of the first laboratories in Australia to use ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC QTOF-MS) technology to screen targeted and non-targeted organic contaminants.
Clandestine drug laboratories
We analyse for methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at the limits of reporting which are at, or below, the investigation levels in the Australian Government’s Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines [4.9MB PDF].
Light hydrocarbons and permanent gases
We use an automated system to analyse light hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane and hexane) to the limits of reporting. These elements are connected to groundwater contamination from coal seam gas extraction.
1,4 Dioxane
We analyse 1,4-Dioxane which is a colourless flammable cyclic ether compound used as a laboratory solvent and in niche industrial applications. It has high mobility and moves rapidly from soil to groundwater.
Low level nutrient in marine and estuarine waters
We test for low level ammonia in fresh and seawaters. This includes ammonia testing for potable, surface, ground, saline, brackish and domestic waters as well as agricultural runoffs, rivers and seawaters.
Aldehydes and ketones in the environment
Aldehydes and ketones are volatile, toxic and hazardous with a high risk of air contamination. We use our methods to monitor workplace air, indoor air, exhaust air and emissions to the atmosphere.
Coal seam gas (CSG)
We offer fit-for-purpose measurement expertise and solutions for environmental impact assessments and regulatory compliance verification covering a full range of chemicals parameters applicable to CSG extraction. You can apply our laboratory-based water and chemical testing capabilities to baseline quality testing of:
- groundwater
- CSG-produced water
- processed water prior to its re-injection, re-use or release to the environment
Nanomaterials
Engineered nanoparticles—particularly in textiles, surface coatings and personal-care products—can enter the environment via domestic and industrial waste water streams. We can detect and characterise nanomaterials and work with you to develop methods to use in complex environmental matrices.
Find out more about our work on nanometrology.
Consultancy
We work with clients to provide solutions to problems in chemical analysis. Our work depends on our specialised metrology facilities that are unique in Australia.
Training services
We deliver training for:
- Analytical method validation
- Estimating measurement uncertainty for biologists
- Estimating measurement uncertainty for chemists
See training and assessment to find out more.
Turnaround times
Our standard turnaround time is 5-30 days.
We also offer 1, 2 and 3 working day turnaround times where agreed.
Submitting samples
Find out how to submit your environmental testing samples.
This includes advice on how to preserve samples, containers to use and holding times.
Request a quote or discuss your requirements
Contact us for a quote or to discuss how we can tailor our services to meet your analysis requirements.
- Email customerservice@measurement.gov.au
- Read our terms and conditions
- For general enquiries phone: 1300 722 845
Read more
- Find out more about our analytical services
- Find out about our chemical reference materials
Connect with us
- Join us on Facebook @NMIAustralia
- Follow us on Twitter @NMIAustralia
- National Measurement Institute of Australia on LinkedIn
Contact us
- Email: customerservice@measurement.gov.au
- For general enquiries or updates on your work order phone: 1300 722 845
See also
- Find out about the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Related news

- National Measurement Institute
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 64602