The Column-02-22-2012

The level of pollutants present in water bodies is most commonly judged against set environmental quality standards (EQSs) that vary among different countries.

Banned substance use in sports still remains a controversial and highly publicized subject. A team of scientists from the Italian Sports Medicine Federation in Rome, Italy, has developed a screening procedure specifically designed for the detection of saccharides and polyalcohols in human urine, focusing specifically on dextran, hydroxyethyl starch and mannitol.

Incognito laments the lack of knowledge of some analytical scientists and calls for more opportunities for professional development in 2012.

A team of scientists has conducted an experiment using capillary-scale ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection to analyse gunshot residues, sweat and latent human fingerprints.

The 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Professor Milos V. Novotny, Indiana University, Indiana, USA.

A recent discovery in the Atai mountains of southern Siberia has presented some of the oldest known evidence of dog domestication.

Pittcon is returning to the sunny city of Orlando, the fourth largest airport destination in the United States.