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Introduction to EFA Laboratories

EFA Laboratories, Ltd. (EFA) specializes in Japanese asbestos analyses, survey and consulting services. The laboratory is centrally-located in Kanda-Jimbocho, Tokyo. It was established in April 2006 under a joint venture agreement with California-based Forensic Analytical Laboratories, Inc. and Tokyo-based environmental consulting company. Forensic Analytical is a leading US consulting and laboratory firm providing health risk assessments for construction, legal, municipal and financial sectors. In 2010 EFA became an independent analytical laboratory. The combined experience of the two firms makes EFA a leader in Japanese asbestos analysis and management.
 

EFA provides high-quality asbestos analyses and analytical consultation services in Japan.
Since its inception, EFA have complete well over 98,000 analyses in a variety of matrices. EFA has built a reputation for being a fast and most reliable laboratory.

Our Services

EFA offers a full suite of asbestos analytical services which meet both Japanese and western asbestos standards. EFA analytical services include PLM, PCM, TEM and gravimetry methods. EFA uses only the most current analytical methods described by the Japan Industrial Standards Board (JIS), the US EPA, NIOSH, ASTM and ISO. EFA maintains the rigorous quality assurance program specified by the US National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP Code: 500068-0) which encompasses all facets of the analytical process including sample receipt; chains of custody; internal sample tracking; sample preparation & analysis; quality control & data review; final analytical report review; issuance of customer reports; and, storage of archived samples.

  1. Analyses of asbestos containing materials using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) methods

  2. Analyses of asbestos fiber concentrations in air using Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) methods

  3. Asbestos clearance sample analyses based on Japanese and U.S environmental standards (JIS K-3850, AHERA, Yamate, NIOSH 7402 and ISO 10312)

  4. Low concentration asbestos analyses using gravimetric reduction and/or electron microscopy methods (TEM, SEM)

  5. Vermiculite analyses using the Chatfield float method

  6. Potable and/or wastewater asbestos analyses

  7. Asbestos building inspection

  8. Asbestos abatement oversight and project monitoring

  9. Asbestos air monitoring

  10. Specialized support for research projects

Emergency Response Services

EFA provides regular asbestos analyses of bulk materials and airborne fiber concentrations to support regulatory enforcement and investigative actions. EFA is able to provide accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses on very short notice, often within two hours of sample submission. This fast turn-around allows for real-time asbestos evaluations in building demolition and/or asbestos removal projects.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

EFA follows a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program as specified by National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP Code: 500068-0) to monitor the quality of laboratory analyses; performance; report generation; and sample custody, storage and disposal.
 

  • Monthly blind performance evaluation samples
     

  • Twice-daily PLM contamination checks at each workstation
     

  • Monitoring of the QA program by a designated Quality Control Coordinator
     

  • 100% review of all bulk samples by PLM
     

  • Secondary analysis of 10% of all bulk samples by PLM
     

  • Inter-laboratory round robin sample exchange programs
     

  • In-house audits by trained technical auditors
     

  • Ongoing course work by TEM analysts in the Principles of TEM; Asbestos Analyses by TEM; and, Selected Area Electron Diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray and Bulk Asbestos TEM Methods Methods

Academic Degrees:
M.Sc. in Soil and Aquatic Environmental Studies; Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (1986)
Ph.D. in Forestry and Environmental Studies; Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (1997)
 

Dr. Kamemoto has more than 25 years of experience in environmental management and regulatory consulting. His project experience includes: urban redevelopment; municipal redistricting; recreational development; investigations/decontamination consulting for commercial, retail and residential buildings; semiconductor plants, machine factories and pharmaceutical factories
Dr. Kamemoto established the Japan Branch of International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) in 1997 and he participated in re-establishing IAIA as Japan Society for Impact Assessment in 2000. In the same year, he coordinated the activities of the Japan Environmental Measurement and Chemical Analysis Association and the American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) with the goal of introducing U.S. EPA environmental analytical methods to Japanese ministries and laboratories.
Dr. Kamemoto is a member of The Japanese Society of Limnology and The Geo-Environmental Protection Center. He is an instructor in the Environmental Program in the Master’s Course of Environmental Assessment at Wales University (U.K.).

Hironori Kamemoto

– President & Chief Executive Officer

Hironori Kamemoto (ph.D)

Academic Degrees:
B.A. in Physiology; UC Berkeley (1980)
M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences; UC Berkeley (1982)
 

Qualifications/Licenses:
Certified Industrial Hygienist #5549, American Board of Industrial Hygiene, 1992
Mr. David Kahane oversees consulting group operations and provides litigation support services. Mr. Kahane has a Bachelor of Arts in Physiology and a Master of Public Health in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.
He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
 

Mr. Kahane provides technical expertise in litigation support for asbestos, lead and fungal exposure cases. He performs and supports industrial hygiene and indoor air quality investigations for a variety of commercial, industrial, insurance, military and school clients. He has performed and is well versed in various analytical methods including optical microscopy for asbestos, particulate and trace evidence, XRF and AAS/ICP.
Mr. Kahane is also a guest instructor at UC Berkeley asbestos and lead certification classes, serves on technical committees for AIHA and ASTM, and has served as a board member for the California Chapter of the Environmental Information Association (CCEIA).

David Kahane

– Executive Director & Chairman of Forensic Analytical Specialties, Inc.

David Kahane

Academic Degrees:
Ph.D. degree in Plant Cell Biology/Ultrastructure
M.S. degrees in Plant Cell Biology/Ultrastructure
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York.

 

Dr. Delgado is responsible for the overall technical management of EFA Laboratories Co., Ltd.. He brings with him a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, and is well known and highly regarded in industry circles. He spent 15 years as Director of Operations for Forensic Analytical Laboratories, Inc, Hayward, California, and 14 years as Director of Operations for Hygeia Laboratories, Inc. of Sierra Madre, California as well as working for the California Department of Health Services starting in 1986. Aside from his operational and technical management experience, Dr. Delgado has also provided analytical consultation and litigation support for material characterization and cases involving asbestos exposure liability.
Dr. Delgado is an active member of the ASTM Committee D22-07 on Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos and is an ANSI delegate to the ISO Technical Committee TC146 SC3 on Ambient Atmospheres. Dr. Delgado served two terms as Chair of the AIHA Asbestos Analysis Committee and one term as Chair of the AIHA Analytical Accreditation Board.

Gustavo Delgado

– Executive Director & Chief Technical Officer

Gustavo Delgado(Ph.D)

Leadership

Contact

EFA Laboratories Co., Ltd.
Hulicjimbocho Bld. 3F, 2-2-31, Kanda Jimbo-cho, Tokyo, Japan 101-0051
E-mail: info@efa.co.jp
Phone: +81-3-3263-6055
Fax: +81-3-3263-6056
Office Hours between 9 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday

 

Employment & Internships
EFA Laboratories is a growing business with a broad range of career opportunities. We are always looking for great people and welcome diversity. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact to info@efa.co.jp

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