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The Environmental Health Laboratory (EHL)

The Environmental Health Laboratory (EHL) provides analytical services in support of the Department of Environmental Health in its mandate of monitoring and controlling environmental conditions that may adversely affect human health. It assists Environmental Health personnel with the carrying out of audits or investigations, collecting samples, analysis and the provision of data and recommendations. The EHL strives to ensure that such information obtained is accurate, precise, legally defensible and produced in a timely fashion.

The role of the laboratory also includes cooperation with various other Government Departments including Public Health, Agriculture, Education and Tourism, as well as the general public and the private sector. The EHL provides services on all three Cayman Islands; the main laboratory is located in Grand Cayman with a smaller satellite lab sited in Cayman Brac.

Methods employed by the laboratory are industry standards including the Standard Methods for The Analyses of Water and Waste Water (APHA), FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual, AOAC Official Methods of Analysis, and methods approved by the UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Traditional as well as rapid methods of analyses are employed. Some needed analyses are beyond the capabilities of the EHL and US-accredited laboratories carry out these analyses on the behalf of the EHL and its clients.

Testing and Monitoring Programmes

The EHL also carry out routine monitoring programmes supporting the work of Environmental Health Officers and Solid Waste Management teams. These programmes are

Potable Water
Recreational Water
Dialysis Feed Water
Food Safety Testing

Indoor Air Quality
Ambient Air Quality
Landfill Monitoring
Hazardous Waste Characterization

Used Oil Testing
Legionella Testing
Wastewater
Case by Case

The DEH Laboratory performs the following functions:

Conducts analytical services that form part of the DEH monitoring programs relating to environmental health. Example of analytical services offered are potable water, recreational water (swimming pools, spas and beaches), wastewater, surface and groundwater for landfill and other pollution monitoring, indoor air quality, environmental noise and food safety programs.
Conducts environmental impact assessments with relation to environmental health issues.
Provides assistance in the preparation of disaster preparedness plans and plans for the mitigation of accidental environmental disasters.
Provides analytical services to the food sanitation monitoring program to improve the Islands’ food hygiene practices.
Responds to HAZMAT emergencies by providing technical support.

Potable Water

Drinking water at public buildings, schools, day care centres, medical centres, homes for the elderly and food and tourism establishments is tested periodically to meet World Health Organization basic guidelines. This includes the municipal or city water, bottled water coolers and water used for potable purposes from other sources such as rain water catchment, wells or reverse osmosis plants. The drinking water programmes focus on testing at point of use i.e. from the tap, though periodic inspection and testing of water suppliers is also part of this programme.

Recreational Water

Recreational water refers both to water in man-made facilities such as swimming pools, spas or water parks as well as natural bathing beaches. For the former, the programme conducts testing in chemistry and microbiological parameters as described in the Model Aquatic Health Code (CDC) and the World Health Organization Guidelines. Beach monitoring consists of microbiological testing as well as periodic hygiene surveys that seek to identify point sources of pollution such as industrial or wastewater outfalls.

Dialysis Feed Water

For those facilities providing dialysis services, the EHL conducts testing on the feed water systems that provide pure water to the machines.

Food Safety Testing

Mostly focused on ready-to-eat food and environmental samples in food premises, in this programme the EHL works with the food safety officers to provide testing that supports the inspection and licensing process to ensure safe conditions for the preparation and sale of food in the Cayman Islands.

Indoor Air Quality

This programme is focused on public buildings and conducts indoor air quality assessments that sample for mould, dust and other irritants as well as physical parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and ventilation that affect the comfort of the occupants.

Ambient Air Quality

This is a new programme collecting baseline date for ambient air quality - samples for the products of combustion, dust and other pollutants in outside air.

Landfill Monitoring

A surface and groundwater monitoring programme which trends the impact of the three landfills in the Cayman Islands on the surrounding environment. Samples are collected annually or biannually and shipped overseas for analysis for a wide range of priority pollutants which are usually monitored around landfills.

Hazardous Waste Characterization

Basic testing is conducted on unknown hazardous materials to enable characterization into items that can be safely landfilled, incinerated or those that need to be shipped overseas for disposal at a hazardous waste facility. Also provides technical support for handling, storage, packing and shipping for these items as well as provides training for persons to enable them to handle the items safely.

Used Oil Testing

Recycling of used motor oil is one way of reducing the disposal burden to the department of this waste. By conducting testing on used motor oil deposited at the landfill, the EHL assist in the separation of good used oil that can be recycled from contaminated oil which must be disposed of, at great expense, as hazardous waste.

Legionella Testing

The incidence of Legionnaires’ disease has been on the rise recently worldwide and Tourism-Associated Legionnaires’ Disease is of particular concern in the Cayman Islands with its tourism industry reopening. The EHL can currently conduct tests for Legionella pneumophila which causes about 90% of human cases.

Wastewater

Local wastewater monitoring is conducted by the Water Authority-Cayman. However, the EHL does do wastewater effluent compliance testing for some cruise ships that visit the George Town Port during the winter season.

Case by Case Basis

In addition to the routine monitoring programmes, the EHL will also, on a case by case basis,

Respond to incidents or complaints re environmental noise pollution.
Carry out indoor air quality assessments.
Respond to hazardous materials emergencies and advise on disposal.
Assist with investigation of outbreaks of food borne illness.
Assist during hurricanes or other natural disasters, ensuring that water and food supplies are wholesome and safe for the public.
Provide training and advice in the maintenance of cisterns and testing of emergency water supplies.

Environmental Laboratory - Department of Environmental Health