December 24th 2024.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recently found itself in hot water as a result of some troubling discoveries within their state laboratory. Due to an ongoing investigation into manipulated data, a second chemist has been suspended and all water testing has been halted. This comes after state health officials announced on December 20th that another chemist had been found to have manipulated quality control data, leading to lapses in method 200.7, which is used to test for certain metals in water.
In response to these troubling findings, the laboratory director has placed the chemist on administrative leave and the CDPHE has taken swift action to address the issue. As a precautionary measure, they have suspended water testing in the chemistry program at the state laboratory and are working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine the next steps. While there is currently no evidence of an imminent threat to public health, the agency is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the integrity of their laboratory operations.
To mitigate any potential risks, the CDPHE has decided to outsource EPA-certified metal and nitrate testing to commercial, accredited laboratories. Additionally, testing for non-EPA-related methods will be transferred to a different CDPHE lab. If further testing is needed, it will be done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other state laboratories. Dr. Ned Calonge, the CDPHE's chief medical officer, emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of their laboratory operations and stated that they are fully evaluating the culture and practices of the lab in light of these recent discoveries.
This is not the first time the CDPHE has come under scrutiny for their testing methods. In November, the EPA revoked their testing certification after an investigation found that a chemist had intentionally disregarded protocol in a method used to test for traces of metals. This latest incident may have impacted as many as 3% of the state's 2,000 public water systems, according to state health officials. The EPA has also stated that 69 regulated water systems have been affected and some may need to be resampled to confirm compliance with federal standards.
According to a letter from the EPA to the CDPHE, there have been issues with testing data going back five years. Despite the laboratory's initial discovery in June 2022, no action was taken by the lab's director or the EPA at the time. This has raised concerns about the culture and practices of the lab, and the CDPHE is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their testing methods. As the investigation continues, the agency will work closely with the EPA and other state laboratories to ensure the safety and well-being of the public.
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