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Monday 08:30 - 16:30 Tuesday 08:30 - 16:30 Wednesday 08:30 - 16:30 Thursday 08:30 - 16:30 Friday 08:30 - 15:00

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The Department of Analytical Services Antigua and Barbuda

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The Department of Analytical Services Antigua and Barbuda

To assure the protection of human health and the environment

The Analytical Services Division is comprised of the Government's central Analytical Laboratory with two facilities: (1) Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Tissue Culture, Soils Unit, and Vector Studies labs located at Dunbars, Friars Hill; (2) Chemistry laboratory located at the Point Wharf fisheries complex. The Division is committed to providing relevant, accurate, timely, and reliable analytical quality control, diagnostic and advisory services, to both public and private sector agencies. The Department fulfils the role of the central analytical service of Antigua and Barbuda for non-clinical analyses. Additionally, the Division performs the duties of a technical secretariat to various multilateral environmental and chemical agreements, providing scientific and political guidance as it relates to said regional and international Conventions.

18/09/2026

Farmers Guide to combating UPOPs

Farmers are on the front lines of defense in protecting our environment from Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs). This carousel highlights practical steps that can make agriculture more sustainable while reducing harmful emissions.

By adopting organic farming methods, managing waste responsibly, and using sustainable pest controls, farmers can significantly reduce UPOP emissions from the field. Practices like crop rotation and soil conservation strengthen ecosystems while limiting pollution.

Water conservation and the adoption of renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, also reduce reliance on fossil fuels, further decreasing UPOPs. Additionally, training and knowledge-sharing in ecological agriculture ensure that farmers are prepared to lead this transformation.

The result is clear: healthier soils, cleaner water, and resilient farms that serve as models of sustainable agriculture.

Together, we can support an agriculture that feeds both people and the planet, while eliminating the risks posed by UPOPs.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

18/09/2026

Safe Storage of Hazardous Waste: A Critical Step in Environmental Protection

As part of our series on Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) and Best Available Techniques (BATs), today we focus on the safe storage of hazardous waste. This is not optional —it is essential for protecting ecosystems, communities, and future generations.

Why Proper Storage Matters.

Prevents Contamination: Secure! storage reduces the risk of leaks and spills that pollute soil, water, and air.

Reduces UPOPs: Prevents unsafe disposal and open burning, both major sources of Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs).

Protects Communities: Minimizes public exposure to toxic and hazardous substances.

Implementing BEPs and BATs

Facility Design: Storage areas must be built to match the type and volume of waste and to minimize environmental impact.

Inspection and Maintenance: Regular checks ensure long-term security and effectiveness.

Training and Skills: Personnel must be properly trained to handle hazardous waste safely.

Our Role.

Advocate for Compliance: Push for industries and waste facilities to meet BEP and BAT standards.

Stay Informed: Understand hazardous waste categories and impacts to make responsible choices.

Engage Locally: Participate in community initiatives that promote safe disposal and awareness.

Stop the POPs. Proper storage of hazardous waste is one of the most effective ways to reduce UPOPs and protect both health and environment. Together, we can ensure that hazardous materials are managed safely and responsibly.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

13/09/2026

Are you ready to take on a critical environmental mission?

This guide is your starting point in the fight against Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs). Learn what these hidden pollutants are, the risks they pose to our health and ecosystems, and how each of us can take meaningful action.

Through small daily changes—like recycling, reducing waste, and choosing sustainable transport—as well as community engagement and advocacy, we can limit the presence of UPOPs. Awareness alone is not enough; real impact comes from action. Every effort contributes to a cleaner, healthier future.

Watch now and take the next step. Whether through personal choices or collective initiatives, your role is essential in creating a UPOP-free world. Let's work together to protect our environment and safeguard future generations.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

12/09/2026

Rethinking Landfills: A Step Towards Cleaner Waste Management

When it comes to tackling Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs), improving landfill operations is one of the most effective strategies. Landfills, if not properly managed, can release harmful pollutants into our air, soil, and water. But with the right practices, they can be managed safely, protecting both people and the environment.

Why Landfills Matter:

Landfills are where much of our waste ends up. Poorly managed sites can trigger open burning, leachate contamination, and UPOPs emissions. Strengthening landfill operations is key to reducing these risks.

What Works Best?

-Compacting Waste: Reduces volume, controls methane, and limits pollutant spread.
-Covering Waste: Soil or other materials prevent gases from escaping and reduce health risks.
-Managing Leachate: Stops toxic liquids from polluting water sources.
-Gas Collection: Captures harmful landfill gases and can even transform them into energy.

Your Role.

-Support modern landfill techniques in your community.
-Encourage decision-makers to adopt best practices.
-Stay aware of how waste impacts health and the environment. By advocating for and implementing improved landfill operations, we can take a significant step towards reducing UPOPs and protecting our planet. Together, we can make waste management part of the solution, not the problem.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

11/09/2026

Avoid The Negative Effects of Open Waste

The Hidden Dangers of Burning Waste;

Burning waste may seem like a simple solution, but the risks to our health and environment are severe and long-lasting.

Toxic Smoke and Chemicals:

Open burning releases harmful pollutants such as dioxins, furans, and particulate matter. These toxins are linked to respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, heart conditions, and an increased risk of cancer. Among the most concerning by-products are Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs), which persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain, threatening both people and wildlife.

Environmental Impact:

Pollutants from waste burning settle on plants, in soil, and in water, creating widespread contamination. This damages ecosystems, disrupts biodiversity, and leads to long-term soil and water degradation, making areas unsuitable for agriculture or safe habitation.

A Public Health Concern:

Communities near open burning sites face elevated health risks, particularly children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Reduced air quality contributes to asthma, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

What We Can Do Instead:

✅Choose sustainable waste disposal options like recycling and composting.
✅Support community and national policies that restrict open burning and promote safer alternatives.
✅Share knowledge and raise awareness to encourage eco-friendly waste practices. Stop the POPs. Together, we can put an end to the harmful practice of open burning. By adopting safer methods, we protect our health, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

11/09/2026

Simple Changes, Big Differences

Did you know that simple changes in how we manage waste can significantly reduce the release of Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs)? As part of the Stop the POPs Awareness Campaign, today we highlight one key practice: Enhanced Waste Segregation.

Why Waste Segregation Matters.

Reduce UPOPs Emissions: Separating hazardous materials from general waste prevents dangerous chemical reactions and contamination that contribute to UPOPs.

Protect Health and the Environment: Proper segregation ensures harmful substances do not pollute our air, water, and soil, safeguarding ecosystems and communities.

Strengthen Recycling: Segregated waste is easier to recycle and reuse, reducing overall environmental impact.

How You Can Contribute.

Learn and apply local waste disposal guidelines to identify items that require special handling.

Practice segregation at home, at work, and in your community by using separate bins for general and hazardous waste.

Share this knowledge with others, encouraging collective participation for greater impact.

Be Part of the Solution Every action counts.

By adopting enhanced waste segregation, we not only reduce the presence of UPOPs but also create healthier, safer, and more sustainable Caribbean communities. Let's take responsibility. Segregate waste. Reduce UPOPs. Protect our future.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

03/09/2026

The UPOPs Family Meets Its Match: BEPs and BATs in Action

Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) — represented by 'Hex', 'Bute', 'Pent', 'Polly', 'Diox', 'Tox', and 'Nappy' - have long persisted in our environment, silently impacting ecosystems and human health. But their influence can be reduced when confronted with Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) and Best Available Techniques (BATs).

UPOPs in Retreat
-Through sustainable farming, 'Hex' loses his grip on soil and water.
-With cleaner industrial technologies, 'Bute' and 'Nappy' are pushed aside.
-'Polly's' threat to marine life diminishes with ocean protection initiatives.
-'Diox' and 'Tox' are contained through clean energy solutions and modern waste management.

Step by step, each member of the UPOPs family is challenged by BEPs and BATs.

The Strength of BEPs and BATs:

✅BEPs and BATs are more than technical terms - they are proven solutions.
✅BEPs guide us to reduce waste, improve disposal, and make sustainable choices.
✅BATs introduce the most advanced industrial technologies to prevent and control emissions.
✅Together, they embody innovation, responsibility, and a commitment to environmental health.

A Path Toward Safer Environments.
By adopting BEPs and BATs, we can reduce the prevalence of UPOPs in agriculture, industry, and urban spaces. These strategies are essential for safeguarding biodiversity, protecting communities, and building a cleaner future.

Your Role Matters.

From supporting eco-friendly products to advocating for strong environmental policies, each action contributes to this collective effort. Together, we can ensure that UPOPs no longer define our shared environment.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

02/09/2026

Tackling UPOPs with Smarter Solutions: BEPs and BATS

In the fight against Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs), two strategies set the benchmark for prevention: Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) and Best Available Techniques (BATs).

BEPs - Everyday Prevention.
BEPs focus on reducing or preventing the release of UPOPs through sustainable choices and responsible practices. This includes reducing waste, using safer alternatives, adopting sustainable agriculture, and promoting eco-friendly consumer habits. BEPs are about everyday decisions that protect communities and ecosystems.

BATs - Industry Standards.
BATs refer to the most advanced industrial methods for preventing or controlling UPOP emissions. From cleaner production technologies to process redesign and state-of-the-art waste management, BATs set the bar for industries like manufacturing, energy, and chemicals. They ensure that production continues with the least environmental impact.

Why They Matter.

BEPs and BATs complement each other. Together, they represent a comprehensive approach that blends individual responsibility with technological innovation. Adopting both reduces the global burden of UPOPs and sets a pathway towards safer, more sustainable systems.

The Shared Responsibility
From households to industries, everyone has a role to play. Supporting BEPs and BATs means endorsing practices and technologies that directly reduce the prevalence of UPOPs. Collective commitment is the key to safeguarding both health and the environment.

Act Now. By embracing these approaches, we are not only limiting hidden pollutants but also building a legacy of cleaner, healthier living.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

02/09/2026

Everyday Actions Against Hidden Pollutants

Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) are toxic by- products that linger in soil, water, and air, posing lasting risks to health and the environment. But individual choices matter. Each action, no matter how small, can contribute to reducing their impact.

Our interactive carousel highlights practical steps you can take: minimize waste, support clean energy, choose eco-friendly products, join community clean-ups, and embrace sustainable transportation. We also emphasize the importance of educating others and supporting strong environmental policies.

Every Action Counts.

Together, these individual efforts form a collective force for change. By adopting cleaner habits and advocating for safer practices, we can reduce the presence of UPOPs and safeguard our environment for future generations.

Stop the UPOPs. Explore the steps, take action, and be part of the movement for a healthier planet.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

01/09/2026

Nap No More

Today we focus on Nap, a character representing Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (PCNs). Once widely used for their chemical stability and heat resistance, PCNs now symbolize the lingering challenges of industrial pollutants that persist long after their production has
ended.

Who is Nap?

Chemical Profile: Nap embodies PCNs, historically used in applications such as electrical insulation, wood preservation, and industrial
coatings.

Industrial Legacy: Although intentional production has stopped, Nap persists in the environment, particularly near former industrial sites.

Why Nap Matters.

Health Risks: PCN exposure has been linked to serious health conditions, including skin disorders and liver disease, particularly
among workers.

Environmental Persistence: Nap highlights how PCNs remain in soil, water, and ecosystems for decades, contaminating wildlife and entering the food chain.

Complex Clean-Up: Their stability makes remediation of contaminated areas technically challenging and resource-intensive.

Addressing the Challenge

Support Remediation:

✅Advocate for clean-up and restoration of contaminated industrial sites.
✅Promote Safer Industry: Encourage modern practices that prevent the creation of persistent pollutants.
✅Raise Awareness: Educating communities about the risks and history of PCNs helps identify and manage legacy pollution.
✅Strengthen Oversight: Push for monitoring and regulation to prevent further exposure.

Stop the POPs!

Confronting Nap's legacy is essential to safeguarding both human health and ecosystems. Together we can break free from the shadow of past industrial practices and build a cleaner future.

Find Out More: https://www.stopthepops.com/

Address

Friar's Hill Road
Saint John's

Opening Hours

Monday	08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday	08:30 - 16:30
Wednesday	08:30 - 16:30
Thursday	08:30 - 16:30
Friday	08:30 - 15:00

Telephone

+1268-462-6281

Website

facebook.com

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