Chemistry Cluster, Linz (CC CLUS)

The Chemistry Cluster, Linz, is one of several analytical competence centres of AGES GmbH.

Core functions and capabilities

• Mycotoxins
• Vitamins
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

The Chemistry Cluster, Linz, also acts as National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Mycotoxins and as NRL for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

The Chemistry Cluster is also accredited as inspection agency according to EN ISO/IEC 17020 for both passive biomonitoring (e.g., using meadow grass and tree leaves) and active biomonitoring (using the standardised grass culture).

The experts of the Chemistry Cluster, Linz, have many years of experience in these areas and make their know-how and analytical capabilities available in the following areas:

Focus on mycotoxins

The following mycotoxins can be determined in cereals, feed stuffs, and food:

• A-trichothecenes: T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin
• B-trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin), nivalenol, fusarenon-X, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol
• Zearalenone
• Fumonisin B1 and B2
• Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2
• Ochratoxin A
• Patulin
• Moniliformin
• Ergot alkaloids (ergocristine, ergotamine, ergocryptine, ergometrin, ergosine, ergocornin)

For more information, please refer to the Mycotoxin Report.

Focus on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The following 15 PAHs (list of the US EPA) are determined from soil, plants, compost, sludge, fertilisers, feed stuffs, and food:

• Benzo(a)pyrene, fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene; dibenz(a,h)anthracene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, naphthalene, fluorene, and acenaphthene.

In addition, the following PAHs recommended by the EU (EU Priority PAHs) are determined in certain foods:

• Benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(c)fluorene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, cyclopenta(c,d)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, dibenzo(a,i)pyrene, dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, and 5-methylchrysene

For more information, please refer to the PAH Report.

Focus on vitamins

In the area of feeds and foods, the following vitamins are currently analysed by the Chemistry Cluster, Linz:

• Vitamin panels: Vitamin A, ß-carotene, vitamins D3 and D2, and vitamin E; vitamin B12
• As added/water-soluble vitamins: vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12; vitamin C; niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinic acid amide), pantothenic acid, and folic acid.

For more information, please refer to the Vitamin Report.

Focus on biomonitoring

Based on more than 20 years of experience in the field of passive biomonitoring (e.g., using meadow grass and tree leaves) and active biomonitoring (using the standardised grass culture), e.g., for immission measurements in the vicinity of industrial plants, immission measurements as part of Environmental Impact Assessments, or the determination of emissions caused by road traffic, we have derived natural reference ranges for certain elements and organic compounds (e.g. PAH), which are necessary for the evaluation of immission measurements.

For more information on these standard reference ranges, please refer to the Active and Passive Biomonitoring Report.

Contact

Dr. Richard Öhlinger, Head of the Chemistry Cluster, Linz
Phone: +43 (0)50555-41500, Email: richard.oehlinger@ages.at

Dipl.-HTL-Ing. Wolfgang Brodacz, Deputy head of the Chemistry Cluster, GC Analysis
Phone: +43 (0)50555-41510, Email: wolfgang.brodacz@ages.at

Ing. Elisabeth Kiendler, HPLC Mycotoxin Analysis
Phone: +43 (0)50555-41540, Email: elisabeth.kiendler@ages.at

DI Armin Raditschnig, HPLC Mycotoxin Analysis
Phone: +43 (0)50555-41511, Email: armin.raditschnig@ages.at

Ing. Jean-Pierre Sageder, Vitamin and PAH Analysis and Biomonitoring
Phone:+43 (0)50555-41530, Email: jean-pierre.sageder@ages.at