WESSLING France becomes the first French laboratory to be accredited* for bioaccessibility testing

13 Feb 2024

WESSLING France, an analytical laboratory historically dedicated to environmental analyses, is the first French laboratory to be accredited* by COFRAC for soil bioaccessibility analyses. This accreditation underlines WESSLING expertise in the analysis of polluted sites and soils, and its commitment to technical innovation in the sector.

Since the beginning of 2024, WESSLING France's laboratory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (38) has been accredited* by COFRAC to carry out the UBM - Unified Barge Method test (standard NF ISO 17924). It is the first and only French laboratory accredited for soil bioaccessibility testing. The audit was carried out in autumn 2023, and accreditation was awarded to WESSLING France in January.

"We are proud to be the first COFRAC-accredited laboratory in France for bioaccessibility testing. This accreditation testifies to our commitment to innovation and to providing cutting-edge solutions for the remediation of contaminated sites", comments Jean-François Campens, President of WESSLING France.

The standardized UBM test is used to determine the oral bioaccessibility of arsenic, cadmium and lead. These are three metals frequently present in historically polluted sites. The bioaccessibility of these metals corresponds to the fraction released into the gastrointestinal juices of the human body and therefore available for absorption.

"Determining bioaccessibility using the UBM test provides a more realistic assessment of the health risk posed by soil polluted with heavy metals in the event of ingestion. Taking bioaccessibility into account can change the way polluted sites are managed, and the costs associated with their remediation", explains Stéphane Fievet, R&D Manager at WESSLING France.

The principle of metal bioaccessibility and the UBM test are still little-known. In addition to its accreditation, WESSLING France is one of the few French laboratories capable of carrying out the UBM test.

*Accreditation no. 1-1364, scope available at www.cofrac.fr.