Waters Selects MTM Research Center at Orebro University for Center
of Innovation Honors
MILFORD, Mass., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At a ceremony
at the School of Science and Technology at Orebro University
(Orebro, Sweden) Waters announced
the selection of the MTM Research Center for its Centers of
Innovation Program for research in the field of persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) now regulated under provisions of the Stockholm
Convention. The MTM Research Center under the direction of
Professor Bert van Bavel has earned
a reputation for excellence in the area of POPs analysis and the
development of analytical methods for tracking quantities of POPs
in the environment and for quantifying human exposure to these
harmful contaminants. His research also supports the United Nations
Environment Programme aimed at building capacity for POPs analysis
by training scientists and advising laboratories in
state-of-the-art methods.
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POPs are released into the air, water, and soil/sediments
primarily from the incineration of municipal wastes, combustion of
fossil fuels or as byproducts of metal, pulp and paper
manufacturing processes. Once in the environment, they don't
disappear. POPs have been linked to numerous diseases including
cancer, insulin resistance, and are believed to be endocrine
disruptors.
Speaking at a ceremony on campus, Matilda Ernkrans, a Member of
the Swedish Parliament and the Chair of the Committee on the
Environment said, "Waters establishment of a Center of Innovation at the MTM Research
Center is an important contribution to environmental research and a
great recognition making me very proud." She told the audience that
she's concerned about the combined effects of POPs on human. "Last
year, two MTM scientists tested my blood and found traces of
dangerous chemicals including PCBs and DDT, chemicals which have
been forbidden for a long time and are still circulating in the
environment," she said. "There are many of us who want to know more
so we can have a better understanding of the risks we are being
subjected to, and that is why the work that is being carried out
the MTM Research Center with support from Waters, is so
important."
"The establishment of a Center
of Innovation at MTM Research Center initiates a new phase in our
collaboration with Waters. It means we will be able to put more
resources on projects we design together and gives us access to the
most modern technology which is very important for us," said
Professor Bert van Bavel. "As a
reference laboratory for UNEP we need to have top-of-the-line
instrumentation to keep our status and to keep us at the forefront
of science. We're looking forward with excitement to a fruitful
collaboration and to achieving the ambitious goals we have set for
ourselves."
"At Waters we believe in the Science of What's Possible™ and the
idea that there is nothing that science can't help solve. We are
very lucky to have found at Orebro University in the MTM Research
Center a partner that shares our belief in science and education.
Using science to help safeguard our environment is a challenge
worth investing in," said Andre
Ayache, Vice President and General Manager, European
Operations, Waters Division.
The MTM Research Center is currently investigating LC/MS as a
tool for more sensitive, selective and efficient methods of POPs
analysis, particularly fluor compounds. To take its research to the
next level, it recently took delivery of a benchtop
ACQUITY® I-Class UPLC® System and
Xevo® TQ-S Mass Spectrometer equipped with an APGC ion
source.
The Waters® Xevo TQ-S tandem mass spectrometer
represents a step change in targeted quantitative UPLC/Multiple
Reaction Monitoring (MRM) analysis. This system is capable of
accurately measuring target compounds in complex samples at
femtogram levels or below.
The Xevo TQ-S features new StepWave™ ion-transfer technology, a
revolutionary off-axis design for dramatically increasing the
efficiency of ion transfer from the ion source to the quadrupole MS
analyzer while at the same time actively eliminating undesirable
neutral contaminants. This gives the Xevo TQ-S impressive
class-leading sensitivity. When compared to earlier generation mass
spectrometer models the chromatographic peak areas are typically
more than 30 times bigger and the signal-to-noise ratios are
typically 5 to 10 times better.
The APGC source is unique in that it allows scientists to make
exact mass LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS measurements on a single Xevo TQ-S
Mass Spectrometer eliminating the need to dedicate a mass
spectrometer for LC/MS/MS work and another to GC/MS/MS work.
About the MTM Research Center
The Orebro University MTM Research Center is one of three
European Union Reference Laboratories supporting United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) efforts to build capacity among the
network of worldwide independent and government laboratories
supporting the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants which legally binds parties to the Convention to
track 22 POPs in the environment and reduce or eliminate their
release. Presently 178 of the 191 United Nations member countries
have signed the Convention. Analytical methods developed by the MTM
Research Center and others are now used by more than 200
laboratories to monitor levels of POPs in marine wildlife, food,
water, and human blood, breast milk, and tissue as part of a global
monitoring program administered by the UN.
Swedish scientists have been on the forefront of research into
POPs ever since a Swedish chemist became the first to identify PCBs
in eagles as early as 1964. While at Umea University, Professor
van Bavel was a member of a research
group that became one of the first to discover the presence of
brominated flame retardants in whales and, later, in humans. Flame
retardants are commonly used in clothing and upholstery.
About Waters Centers of Innovation Program
Waters Centers of Innovation Program recognizes and supports the
efforts of scientists facilitating breakthroughs in health and life
science research, food safety, environmental protection, sports
medicine and many other areas.
Professor van Bavel joins 18
other researchers and research centers recognized by Waters'
Centers of Innovation Program. The others include Professor Jeremy
Nicholson, Imperial College London; Professor John Engen,
Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.; Professor James Scrivens,
University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Professor David Cowan of
Kings College London; Professor Arthur
Moseley of Duke University,
Durham, North Carolina; Professor
Julie Leary of the University of
California – Davis; and Professor Albert J. Fornace, Jr.,
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, D.C.; Professor Marcos
Eberlin, University of Campinas, Brazil; Professor Ganesh Anand, National University of Singapore; Dr. Konstantinos
Petritis, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona; Dr. Joseph Dalluge,
University of Minnesota; Prof. Sarah
Trimpin, Wayne State University; Dr.
Frank Gonzalez, National Cancer Institute; Dr. Devin Peterson,
University of Minnesota; Caroline West and Eric Lesselier, University of
Orleans; Professor Vladimir Shulaev, University of North Texas; Professor Pauline Rudd,
National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training; and Dr.
Amit Kumar Mandal, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India.
These leading scientists, in partnership with Waters, are using
liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to help shape the
future of scientific research and unlock the mysteries of
science.
About Waters Corporation (www.waters.com)
For over 50 years, Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) has created
business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations by
delivering practical and sustainable innovation to enable
significant advancements in such areas as healthcare delivery,
environmental management, food safety, and water quality
worldwide.
Pioneering a connected portfolio of separations science,
laboratory information management, mass spectrometry and thermal
analysis, Waters technology breakthroughs and laboratory solutions
provide an enduring platform for customer success.
With revenue of $1.85 billion in
2011, Waters is driving scientific discovery and operational
excellence for customers worldwide.
Waters, ACQUITY, UPLC, Xevo, StepWave and UltraPerformance
Convergence Chromatography are trademarks of Waters
Corporation.
SOURCE Waters Corporation