Agilent Technologies and Metrohm Introduce Solution to Easily Measure

    Business Editors/Chemicals Writers/High-Tech Editors

    PALO ALTO, Calif. & HERISAU, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2005--Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and Metrohm AG today introduced a high-sensitivity solution to easily detect and differentiate chromium (III), an essential nutrient, from toxic chromium (VI). Also known as hexavalent chromium, chromium (VI) is a potent toxin associated with lung cancer, kidney and liver damage, and skin and immune system disorders.
    Chromium (VI) is the toxin at issue in Erin Brockovich's well-known legal battle in the 1990s, resulting in one of the biggest civil class-action settlements in U.S. history. (The story was also made into a popular Hollywood movie.) The two forms of chromium are often present together and can be found in landfill materials and groundwater and as airborne dust particles.
    The analytical method announced today uses the new Agilent Chromium Speciation Kit, which features a proprietary Agilent ion chromatography column, the Agilent Integrated Sample Integration System, and Metrohm's non-metal pump module. It can be used with any Agilent inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The new method has several advantages over conventional chromium detection techniques, such as UV/Vis spectroscopy. Those advantages include higher sensitivity (down to parts per trillion), improved specificity, and better reproducibility in high matrix samples, such as hard drinking water.
    Measurement of chromium toxicity is required in a wide range of samples, including drinking water, food, clinical specimens, and electrical and electronic equipment and waste. The World Health Organization has provided a provisional guideline value of 50 parts per billion for total chromium in drinking water, but WHO has also suggested that "because the health effects are determined largely by the oxidation state, different guideline values for Cr (III) and Cr (VI) should be delivered."(1)
    "Regulatory agencies and laboratories now have a powerful new tool to identify and quantify toxic chromium at lower levels to address potential health risks," said Mike McMullen, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Chemical Analysis Solutions unit. "This method is simple, reliable and fast and works with a wide variety of sample matrices. The system is flexible and will help customers meet an increasing range of regulatory demands for chromium (VI) measurement."
    Further information is available by requesting Agilent's "Chromium Speciation in Natural Samples by Ion Chromatography (IC) ICP-MS" application note, publication 5989-2481EN. This note is available without charge from any Agilent sales office or at www.agilent.com/chem/environmental.

    About Metrohm AG

    Metrohm provides quality instruments and services for chemical ion analysis. Headquartered in Herisau, Switzerland, Metrohm and its distributors worldwide provide top-class service and instrumentation for all fields of chemical ion analysis. Information about Metrohm is available at www.metrohm.com.

    About Agilent Technologies

    Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

    (1) "Chromium in Drinking-Water," background document for development of World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. WHO/SDE/WSH/03.04.04

    NOTE TO EDITORS: Press releases, photography and other information can be accessed on the Agilent Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis newsroom at www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/lsca.

    Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

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CONTACT: Agilent Technologies Inc. Stuart Matlow, 408-553-7191 stuart_matlow@agilent.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE CHEMICALS/PLASTICS MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL ENVIRONMENT PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Agilent Technologies Inc.

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