Greater Demand For Credible, Local Testing Spurs Growth

Local environmental laboratory X-Lab Earth Science plans to expand its sup-port for air-quality testing companies servicing the mining and minerals industry as demand grows for accredited data analysis in this sector.

- Johane Turkstra

X-Lab MD Quentin Hurt highlights that its ISO 17025-accredited laboratory in Randburg, which has been operating as X-Lab since last year, has a strong focus on air-quality testing support. “We have a history of testing air quality and air testing is not well serviced in South Africa, so it is a specialisation that the laboratory developed.”

Therefore, the company has undertaken many equipment upgrades and has confirmed that its equipment is working effectively to accurately test the air quality of various companies. By analysing data from tests, X-Lab can verify whether companies comply with Southern Africa’s air-quality regulations.

Hurt attributes the increasing demand for air-quality testing services to pressure from communities, companies’ commitment to environmental compliance and changes to legislation regarding waste streams and their disposal.

“Interest in air-quality testing has been driven by high-profile cases across the country. In Durban, for instance, odours perceived to emanate from a landfill have spurred unprecedented community complaints. These situations create public awareness about air pollution and how it affects communities.”

He explains that the level of concentration of various harmful substances being tested for by X-Lab is also increasingly becoming lower, noting that as people are becoming more aware of environmental issues and the impact of toxins on their health, they focus more on environmental protection.