Last updated in July 2026. Please note that entries in the “Method Name” and the “Laboratory/Organization” fields for methods provided by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan, were originally provided in Japanese and have been translated into English. As a result, these translations may not fully reflect the original text.
Analytical Methods for Substances in Environmental Media (AMSEM) Explorer for Chemicals
Discover analytical methods used to identify and measure chemicals in the environment. The AMSEM Explorer for Chemicals provides access to methods from Canada, Japan and the United States for a wide range of sample types, including air, water, soil and sediment, biological samples such as fish and wildlife, and waste-related media such as wastewater, biosolids and landfill leachate.
About
The Analytical Methods for Substances in Environmental Media (AMSEM) Explorer for Chemicals brings together information on analytical methods from Canada, Japan and the United States used to identify and measure chemicals in a wide range of environmental media, including air, water, soil, sediment, biosolids, industrial effluent, wastewater, landfill leachate, fish, wildlife and animal tissue.
Developed through collaboration under the OECD Working Party on Exposure Assessment (WPEA) and supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Explorer provides a single point of access to methods contributed by participating countries. Additional methods have been included to enhance coverage, including methods originating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Analytical Methods & Open Spectra (AMOS) database.
Why use AMSEM?
AMSEM helps scientists, risk assessors, regulators, laboratories and researchers identify analytical methods that may be relevant for measuring chemicals in environmental media.
The repository can help users:
- Identify analytical methods for a substance of interest.
- Search using a substance name or CAS Registry Number (CAS RN).
- Explore methods associated with specific environmental media.
- Discover approaches used across jurisdictions.
- Access available method information and references.
