Image: NJ PHILIS assets deployed to St. Albans Time Critical Removal Site, Region 1
Portable High Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification Systems (PHILIS)
The PHILIS units are mobile laboratory assets, managed by OEM's CBRN Consequence Management Advisory Team (CMAT). PHILIS are the only mobile lab assets under the EPA's Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN) and are designed to detect Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs), including Fourth Generation Agents (FGAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) in environmental samples, with detection limits down to sub-ppb/ risk/health-based clearance levels. More information can be found on the factsheet here or website here. PHILIS can be requested by calling the 24/7 CMAT Phone Duty Officer at (202) 250-8770 or EPA HQ’s 24/7 Emergency Operations Center at 202-564-3850.
The PHILIS labs are stationed in Edison, NJ and in Castle Rock, CO. They can be rapidly mobilized and can drive to any location within the continuous U.S. The PHILIS labs are fundamental to EPA’s chemical agent response missions and are part of ERLN ultra-dilute CWA standards program. PHILIS can generate analytical data within 24 hours or less of being on-site. The PHILIS labs participate in ongoing ERLN methods validation studies, regional EPA field exercises, interagency exercises; additionally, they have been deployed to industrial accidents, natural disasters, and Superfund sites to perform on-site environmental analysis at the request of EPA regional OSCs. All PHILIS assets are designed to operate self-supported in the field for a minimum of 4 days before re-stocking and refueling is required.
The PHILIS labs are designed for "all-hazards response" with NELAP certification for VOCs, SVOCs and PBC analysis (methods 8260, 8270 and 8082a, respectively, and TO-15 & TO-17 for air toxics. PHILIS is accredited for drinking water methods 524.2, 524.3, 525.2 and 552.3 for VOCs, SVOCs and Halo-acetic acids. PHILIS has developed LC/MSMS methods for opioids, herbicides, explosives, and other toxic compounds. Air, soil, water, and wipe samples can be analyzed. Sample capacity is approx. 20-100 Toxic Industrial Chemical (TICs) or Chemical Warfare Agent samples per 24-hr. period. Full CLP-reviewable data packages can be generated for EPA methods, although PHILIS is not a CLP lab. PHILIS labs manage data via a Promium LIMS system and can generate selected SEDD deliverables, which are Scribe compatible, and can generate "EXES" compatible files for robust data validation. PHILIS labs are calibrated and set up to analyze for CWAs, including G-agents, sulfur mustard (HD) and VX, and A230, 232, and 234 of the FGAs, in environmental samples, while on site.
