EPA/600/F-92/031
September 1992
Opportunity Bulletins
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
Printed on Recycled Paper
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In today's economy, the need to reduce costs is increasingly critical to assuring
the success of U.S. companies in the international marketplace. At the same time,
difficult environmental issues that require creative and aggressive solutions are being
identified. Both the U.S. government and industry play key roles in restoring and
protecting the environment, as well as in fostering effective competitive markets for
U.S. goods and services.
To enhance and maintain a clean environment while improving the nation's
productivity, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is joining with private
industry to seek new, cost-effective technologies to prevent and control environmen-
tal pollution. Under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, EPA has estab-
lished cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) between the
Agency's Office of Research and Development, industry, and academic institutions.
These agreements serve as mechanisms for the Federal government to work with
companies in developing new pollution control technologies and bringing them to the
marketplace. Promising technical areas for collaborative research and development
with EPA are presented in this report.
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Table of Contents
Office of Environmental Engineering and
Technology Demonstration 1
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory 3
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory 17
Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research 51
Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens 53
Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis 57
Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze 61
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory 67
Office of Health and Environmental Assessment 71
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati 73
Office of Health Research 81
Health Effects Research Laboratory 83
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and
Quality Assurance 87
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory 89
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati 113
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas 125
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Office of Environmental Engineering and
Technology Demonstration
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Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Advacate
Status of Technology: ADVACATE has been
successfully tested at bench scale. Short-term pilot
scale testing at Ohio Edison's Edgewater Plant
indicated capability to achieve high SO2 removals.
Large integrated pilot testing is underway at the 10
MWe pilot facility at TVA's Shawnee Steam
Plant. The process has been awarded five patents
to EPA/University of Texas. Patents have been
licensed on an exclusive basis to ABB/Flakt. The
EPA and ABB/Flakt have a Cooperative Research
and Development Agreement (CRADA) to de-
velop the process at pilot scale.
Technology Description: An innovative flue gas
cleaning process for low cost, high efficiency SO2
control from coal-fired power plants and other
sources. ADVACATE utilizes a unique high
surface area calcium silicate sorbent, generated by
the reaction of lime and fly ash to adsorb SO2 in an
existing flue gas duct. The ADVACATE process
allows for high efficiency (90-95%) removal of
SO2 and other acid gases from both existing and
new coal-fired boilers. ADVACATE yields a high
level of control with low capital and operating
costs compared to conventional technologies. The
process was jointly developed by AEERL in-house
staff and the University of Texas (UT). AEERL
has evaluated the process at bench and small pilot
scales. AEERL is working cooperatively with
TVA and the commercial licensee, ABB-Flakt, to
test the process at large pilot scale (10 MWe).
Applicability: Applicable to most existing and
new coal-fired boilers requiring sulfur dioxide
removal 90% or greater.
Cost of Control Implications: Based on a cost
study conducted by Electric Power Research
Institute, the estimated capital cost of
ADVACATE is $85 per kW ($130 per kW less
than a conventional flue gas desulfurization sys-
tem). In the United States, if 10 to 25% of utility
boiler capacity is retrofitted with ADVACATE to
meet Phase 2 emission limits under Title IV of the
CAAA of 1990, major cost savings would be
realized over a five-year period (1995-2000):
Capital cost savings: $1 to $3 billion
Operating cost savings: $4 to $ 10 billion
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Potential for sub-licensing technology from
ABB-Flakt.
Similar process using other silica sources
(glass, sand, etc.) available for license and or
CRADA as a multipollutant control system for
municipal waste combustors, industrial fur-
naces, etc.
Potential for funding participation at pilot scale
and co-funding a full scale (greater than 100
MWe) demonstration.
Point of Contact:
Bill Plylor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-2918
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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New Chemical Alternatives for CFCs and HCFCs
Status of Technology: Due to stratospheric ozone
depletion, CFCs and HCFCs need to be replaced in
all end-uses since ozone-depleting CFCs and
HCFCs are scheduled for production phaseout. A
very limited slate of non-chlorinated, non-bromi-
nated, nonflammable alternatives has been pro-
posed by industry. EPA/AEERL's candidates
extend the slate of possible alternatives for
industry's consideration and development. For
some chemicals in some uses, there are acceptable
replacement chemicals or technologies. There are
many uses for which no permanent solutions have
been identified. The genesis of the new chemicals
research was a recommendation for such research
by an industry and academia expert panel con-
vened by EPA. AEERL took the initiative in
establishing the R&D program. Work has been
done cooperatively with Clemson University, the
University of Tennessee, and the Electric Power
Research Institute. Current evaluation of the new
chemicals is being done in-house while seeking
industry cooperation. New chemical alternatives
are a possibility. An extensive set of
thermophysical property data has been acquired on
the new chemicals. Larger quantities (ca.4kg) of
each of the leading candidates are being procured
to evaluate flammability, toxicity, materials com-
patibility, atmospheric lifetime, and performance
(e.g., refrigeration and foam insulation).
Technology Description: Several new chemicals
have been identified as possible alternatives for
CFCs and HCFCs. The new chemicals have zero
potential to deplete stratospheric ozone and
thermophysical properties, which appear to make
the chemicals excellent candidates as refrigerants.
Properties of the chemicals for refrigeration and
other uses such as foam insulation are being
evaluated.
Applicability: The proposed new chemicals
appear to be excellent candidates to replace CFC
and HCFC refrigerants and, possibly, foam blow-
ing agents and fire/explosion suppressants. Devel-
oping countries currently are allowed a longer time
for CFC phaseout. AEERL's new proposed
chemical alternatives, if commercialized, would be
available for use by developing countries when
needed. These alternatives may be superior to
other candidates for concerns relative to develop-
ing countries (e.g., energy efficiency).
Cost of Control Implications: It is doubtful that
the new chemicals would offer cost advantages
over chemicals proposed as transition alternatives.
This is because both the starting materials (feed-
stocks) and the production processes are likely to
be more costly for the new AEERL chemicals. In
most applications, the cost differential should not
be significant.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Manufacturers
and users of ozone-depleting chemicals, especially
those where the only suggested near-term alterna-
tives are HCFCs, have a great interest in finding
the most environmentally and cost-effective
solutions. There are many opportunities for
cooperative R&D with the private sector. EPA has
already been approached by several industrial
firms to explore this possibility. AEERL has filed
a patent application for certain mixtures of the new
chemicals as refrigerants. Industry partners are
being sought to encourage application-specific
development and greater availability of the new
chemicals. The pure chemicals are not patented.
Major technical issues to be yet resolved are: all
toxicity end-points, scale-up of production pro-
cesses, applicability in end-uses, and optimization
for specific end-uses.
Point of Contact:
William J. Rhodes
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-2854
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Corona Destruction for VOC/HAP Control
Status of Technology: The corona destruction
technology has been extensively tested at the
bench scale (flow rates of 1 Liter per minute), and
has shown promising results. At optimum condi-
tions, greater than 90% destruction efficiency can
be achieved for a number of toxic hydrocarbon
compounds. Current R&D is focused on scaling
up the technology to a 2/3 cubic foot per minute
(CFM) element and optimizing performance. The
research will emphasize achieving maximum
hydrocarbon destruction efficiency while main-
taining acceptable power usage and system costs.
Assuming successful demonstration, an industrial
scale demonstration is planned for 1994. The
process provides for high efficiency removal of
VOCs and air toxics from contaminated streams
especially at low concentrations where the conven-
tional control technologies have severe limitations.
Technology Description: Corona destruction is
an innovative control technology to destroy or-
ganic compounds in gaseous waste streams. The
corona technology consists of the application of
high voltage across a packed bed or along a wire.
The corona process generates excited atomic and
molecular species which attack VOCs to form
carbon dioxide and water.
Applicability: The technology can potentially be
applied to many industrial and commercial opera-
tions, such as painting and coating, food and
pharmaceutical processing, dry cleaning, restau-
rants and bakeries, and printing. Over the next ten
years, the technology could be applied to sources
emitting at least 30% of the total environmental
loading of VOCs. This amounts to the destruction
of approximately 6,000,000 tons/year of VOCs.
The elimination of these VOC emissions should
contribute to critical Agency and national goals of
attaining the ozone standard in more than 100 non-
attainment areas nationwide.
Cost of Control Implications: Significant sav-
ings should result from the use of the corona
destruction process instead of conventional tech-
nologies. Especially for low concentrations,
corona destruction may result in significant sav-
ings, compared to carbon adsorption, catalytic
incineration, and thermal incineration. Further
development and demonstration is required to
substantiate this potential.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Interest in
collaborative work on corona destruction has been
expressed by the DOD, several industries, the
Canadian government, the Russian Academy of
Sciences in Moscow, and several academic institu-
tions in the United States. The U.S. Navy has
provided resources through an interagency agree-
ment. Following successful scale-up, the technol-
ogy will be advertised for CRDAs and/or licenses
for one or more applications.
Point of Contact:
Dennis Drehmel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-7505
September 1992
6 Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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E-SO
Status of Technology: The E-SOx process was
evaluated in-house on the 1/3 MW pilot unit with
both calcium and sodium based reagents. It was
further evaluated on the 5 MW pilot unit at the
Ohio Edison Burger Station, with a calcium based
reagent. The final report from the Burger Station
evaluation, which was sponsored by EPA, the
Ohio Coal Development Office, DOE, and
Babcock & Wilcox, concluded that the process
should be demonstrated at full-scale. U.S. Patent
No. 4,885,139 was issued December 5,1989. The
technology has been offered for license.
Technology Description: E-SOx is a control
technology for simultaneous removal of acid gas
(e.g., SO2) and paniculate matter within an exist-
ing electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The inlet
section of the ESP is removed and the space is
fitted with an array of nozzles for injection of the
reagent, as a slurry or solution, for reaction with
the acid gas. The remainder of the ESP is up-
graded, using advanced technology, to collect not
only the original particulate matter but also the
dried reagent. Use of the existing ESP makes the
process very low in cost. The E-SOx process
allows, on a retrofit basis, the collection of an acid
gas in an existing ESP, which becomes important
if there is no room available for add-on technol-
ogy. If the acid gas is SO2, 50-60% can be col-
lected with a calcium based reagent and up to 90%
if the reagent is sodium based. E-SOx was devel-
oped in-house by AEERL personnel.
Applicability: The E-SOx technology is appli-
cable on a retrofit basis to ESPs ranging in size
from moderate to large. A potential emerging
application for E-SOx is as a very low-cost control
technology for offset of SO2 emissions that may be
required to accommodate growth. The technology
is especially applicable to the pulp and paper
industry because of the large quantities of sodium
based materials available at those facilities for
reagent use. There is strong potential for applica-
tion in the Commonwealth of Independent States
and Eastern Europe.
Cost of Control Implications: Based upon a cost
study performed by Gilbert-Commonwealth the
capital cost for a 500 MW plant burning 2.5%
sulfur coal and achieving 50% control, would be
about $40 per kW. This compares to more than
$200 per kW for conventional flue gas desulfuriza-
tion. On a per ton of sulfur removed, the cost
would be about $150, as compared to $500 - $700
for flue gas desulfurization
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Potential for licensing from EPA or sub-
licensing from the licensee.
Potential for funding participation in full-scale
demonstration of the technology for both
calcium and sodium based reagent applica-
tions.
Participation in the East European E-SOx
program.
Point of Contact:
Charles B. Sedman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-7700
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Upgrading of ESP with Retrofit of Electrostatically
Augmented Fabric Filters (ESFF)
Status of Technology: The ESFF concept was
researched in the mid-1980's at AEERL and
small-scale proof-of-concept was done for both
reverse-air and pulse-jet operating modes. Model-
ling work to assist in the design of a commercial
system has been performed. Pilot scale develop-
ment is needed before the concept is commercially
demonstrated. The retrofit ESP concept (REF)
was filed with the U.S. Patent Office on January
24, 1992. A prior patent on ESFF was issued
February 27, 1990 (U.S. Patent 4,904,283). The
inventions were formally offered for license/
CRADA on March 5, 1992.
Technology Description: Upgrading of an ESP
with Retrofit of Electrostatically Augmented
Fabric Filters (ESFF) - An ESP is improved by
using pulse jet air, electrostatically augmented
fabric filters (FF) in place of the final ESP section.
With significant applicability as a new hybrid FF/
ESP concept, focus is on low-cost retrofit of an
existing ESP by replacing the last section with
ESFF components. Particle emissions from ESPs
include: (1) fine particles in which the majority of
the toxic heavy metals and condensed organics
reside, (2) sneakage, and (3) re-entrainment. The
ESFF augmentation eliminates (2) and (3) and
subjects (1) to additional filtration by impingement
on the filter medium or filter cake which is further
enhanced by electrostatic removal of the charged
particles. The result is significantly lower mass
dust emissions and significantly improved control
of fine particles, without the penalty of excessive
pressure drop. This concept provides a low-cost
method of upgrading deficient ESPs, and is espe-
cially suited to provide badly needed assistance in
decreasing the emission of air-toxics-beai ing
paniculate matter. This is exclusively an in-house
AEERL invention, along with the predecessor
ESFF concepts.
Applicability: (1) Upgrade of existing ESPs for
fine PM/air toxics control and for restoring control
capability for increased ESP inlet loading, such as
could be caused by injecting sorbent upstream of
the ESP for SO2 control, (2) new ESPs.
Cost of Control Implications: The concept has
not been tested on a large scale and no cost studies
have been made. A rough estimate is $10 - 15/kW
capital and very low (approx. 1 mill/kWh) operat-
ing costs. This is considerably less expensive (and
potentially more effective for air-toxics control)
than adding additional collecting area to an exist-
ing ESP (EPRI estimates about $25/kW for a
typical size increase of 1/3 to 1/2).
Opportunities for Collaborators:
Potential for licensing or sub-licensing.
Potential for participation in demonstration of
technology.
Potential for CRADA to provide further
technology development.
POINT OF CONTACT:
Bill Plylar
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-7700
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Fuzzy Logic Motor Control
Status of Technology: A computer simulation of
the first version of a fuzzy logic based energy
optimizer for adjustable speed drive AC motors
has been tested. Efficiency improvements achieved
ranged from approximately 0.2% to 14%, depend-
ing on the motor application examined. More
sophisticated versions of this controller are under
development. Extensive computer modeling and
laboratory testing are underway to determine the
performance characteristics of the controllers.
Technology Description: Fuzzy Logic Control of
Electric Motors and Motor Drives - An innovative
approach for extracting maximum energy perfor-
mance from AC induction motors in a cost effec-
tive manner. To minimize power losses, it is
necessary to control motor speed and thereby
match motor speed to load requirements. The most
recent, and successful, approach is the adjustable
speed drive (ASD). ASDs use semiconductors and
switching circuits to vary the voltage, current and/
or frequency of a motor's power supply. Fuzzy
logic control is being developed as the core of the
ASD control block, to analyze system feedback
and select frequency/voltage/current combinations
that result in optimizing the energy efficiency of
the motor/drive and meet load requirements. At its
culmination, the project will provide a set of
application-specific integrated circuits (AS ICs)
which will interface with induction motor drive
systems. The fuzzy logic based ASICs will be
demonstrated in a year-long test of a large horse-
power induction motor at a selected industrial site.
Applicability: Applicable to most existing and
new ASDs with little additional power require-
ments.
Cost of Control Implications: It is estimated that
the fuzzy logic energy optimizer can offer energy
savings of about 0.1 kWh/hp/day. The controller
cost is essentially independent of motor size, with
costs amortized in approximately 3 months for a
100 hp motor. Application of this technology, with
concomitant reduction in fossil energy demand, is
expected to result in a net cost saving.
Opportunities for Research and Development
Collaboration: Potential for a phased program
administered by AEERL via a Cooperative Re-
search and Development Agreement (CRADA)
and/or licenses. EPA, via its Pollution Prevention
Program, will fund the program through technol-
ogy development and testing phases. For the later
phases of the program (technology verification and
licensing), EPA sees itself as a partner with an
organization that has a serious interest in develop-
ing motor controls for energy efficiency and
pursuing the project through commercialization.
Point of Contact:
Michael A. Maxwell
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-3091
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Status of Technology: Process evaluations are
based on equilibrium process simulation studies
and preliminary cost estimates by AEERL and
Brookhaven National Laboratory. A pilot plant
evaluation will be undertaken based on the results
of those studies which indicate multiple environ-
mental and economic benefits, in addition to
reduced production cost and increased quantities
of alcohol fuel that can be derived from given
biomass supplies. Construction of a 110 gal/day
research unit is expected to begin early in 1993,
under cosponsorship of EPA and the South Coast
Air Quality Management District of California.
Technology Description: By sequestering by-
product carbon and replacing petroleum fuels with
biomass-derived methanol, the Hydrocarb process
can nullify the net effect of CO2 emissions from
motor vehicles. By utilizing carbonaceous munici-
pal wastes as feedstocks, the process can reduce
disposal problems while producing a clean trans-
portation fuel. Methanol is produced from biom-
ass and natural gas in three steps involving
hydrogasification, with gas recycle, methane
pyrolysis, and methanol synthesis. In addition to
woody biomass, potential feedstocks include:
sewage sludge, digester gas, and most of the
organic materials that comprise half of landfilled
municipal solid wastes. An optional by-product is
carbon that is free of ash, sulfur, and nitrogen and,
therefore, a potentially valuable, clean solid fuel
for industrial boilers.
Applicability: Areas with high biomass produc-
tivity and domestic supplies of natural gas and/or
coal could benefit environmentally and economi-
cally, especially areas of the world without cur-
rent domestic petroleum supplies. Municipalities
that generate large quantities of wastes would
benefit from successful demonstration of the
process, especially in ozone non-compliance areas
where clean alternative fuels may be required.
Cost of Control Implications: Compared to other
options for production of biogenic alcohol fuels,
Hydrocarb methanol may be 50 percent cheaper
than conventional or new ethanol processes and 30
percent cheaper than other biomass gasification
processes.
Opportunities for Collaborators: Collaborators
for research on technical issues or pilot studies are
welcome. Initial opportunities are greatest for
operators of landfills and municipal wastewater
treatment plants with high waste disposal costs.
Large producers of agricultural wastes would also
benefit from successful demonstration of the
process, especially where future markets are
anticipated for clean liquid transportation fuels.
Point of Contact:
Michael A. Maxwell
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC
(919)541-3091
September 1992
10 Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Rotary Kiln Transient Suppression Packaging
Status of Technology: Preliminary prototype
design testing was completed in 1991. Preliminary
results indicate a 60-70% reduction in transient
emissions while using this container design. An
AEERL innovative R&D project was awarded in
FY92 to further develop the concept.
Technology Description: This process proposes
new packaging for contained liquid hazardous
wastes that are batch charged into rotary kiln
incinerators. Current feeding practices can cause
transient upsets in combustion conditions resulting
in increased CO and hydrocarbon emissions.
Innovative container designs have been developed
to minimize these transient excursions.
Applicability: Rotary kilns are uniquely versatile
in that they allow large fractions of their waste
load to be charged in batch mode. This container
design concept would be applicable to rotary kiln
systems feeding batch charges of organic com-
pounds and any other thermal destruction process
that treats waste in batch mode.
Cost of Control Implications: Based on prelimi-
nary design concepts, added costs to implement
this technique would be negligible.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Given the
potential for simultaneously reducing transient
emissions and increasing batch waste feed rate,
EPA is actively seeking industrial partners to
develop this concept to full-scale. Experimental
facilities are available for further development
under a CRDA. Licensing of the technology is
also anticipated.
Point of Contact:
R.E. Hall
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-2577
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
11
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LIMB/Lignosulfonate
Status of Technology: The recently completed
demonstration at the Edgewater plant showed SO,
removals of 55 to 72% depending on sorbent type
(commercial or with additive) and extent of flue
gas conditioning via humidification. The program
demonstrated that despite the threefold increase in
paniculate loading, the electrostatic precipitator
could perform to original levels with only a mod-
est amount of flue gas humidification. Addition-
ally, SO2 capture incrementally improved with
both the addition of calcium lignosulfonate and
flue gas humidification to deep levels, i.e., 20
degree approach to the adiabatic saturation tem-
perature. The ongoing demonstration of LIMB
technology on a tangentially fired boiler will
evaluate similar issues on this second major class
of coal-fired boilers.
Calcium lignosulfonate-modified calcium hydrox-
ide has been awarded three patents, and a fourth
patent is pending. Foreign patents are also pend-
ing. The patents have been licensed on an exclu-
sive basis to the Genlime Corporation.
Technology Description: LIMB is EPA's acro-
nym for Limestone Injection with Multi-stage
Burners and is descriptive of a technology for
simultaneous control of NOx and SO2 from coal-
fired utility boilers. The process uses low-NO
burners for reducing NOx emissions by up to 5*0%
and employs furnace sorbent injection for reducing
SO2 emissions by 50% or more. A commercial
calcium hydroxide is the most commonly used
sorbent for reaction with the SO2 contained in the
boiler flue gas. An improvement in the efficiency
of SO2 capture has been observed by the addition
of small amounts (about 1% by weight) of an
additive (calcium lignosulfonate) to the calcium
hydroxide. S02 reductions of up to 72% have been
shown under optimum conditions of sorbent,
stoichiometry and flue gas conditioning. At
equivalent SO2 reduction levels, LIMB offers
capital and operating costs that can be more cost
effective than competing technologies such as flue
gas desulfurization (FGD).
Applicability: LIMB technology is generally
applicable to all major coal-fired boiler designs.
The technology offers the advantages of relatively
easy retrofit and low space requirements. LIMB is
especially attractive for boilers: firing intermediate
level sulfur coal (1.5 - 2.5%); of intermediate size
(up to 300 MWe); having relatively short remain-
ing useful life (up to 20 years); operating with low
to intermediate capacity factors (up to 65%); and
with space problems to accommodate pollution
control equipment.
Cost of Control Implications: Recent cost
analyses conducted by the Electric Power Re-
search Institute, the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Babcock & Wilcox Company
indicate that LIMB has capital costs that are about
one-third that of FGD and has cost effectiveness
(dollars per ton of SO2 removed) competitive to
FGD. These are important considerations for
utilities in their selection of control technologies
for meeting Phase 1 and 2 emission limits set forth
in the Clean Air Act Amendments.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Potential for
sub-licensing of sorbent manufacturing technology
for lignosulfonate-enhanced sorbent.
Point of Contact:
Charles B. Sedman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-7700
September 1992
12 Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Sicore
Status of Technology: The proof-of-concept
testing on a pilot scale furnace is completed.
Heretofore, the concepts of the technology were
proven solely from bench scale results testing
distinct steps in the formation of dioxin/furan.
Additional parametric testing on a small scale is
underway. The technology is currently being
advertised as available for licensing with the hope
that it can soon be implemented on a full scale.
About 15 industries have been contacted and
express interest. AEERL hopes to have a license
signed by this summer. AEERL has received one
patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,021,229) for this technol-
ogy and has applied for another. Both the patent
and application have been published in the Federal
Register as available for licensing. No private
industrial partner has been involved in this re
search.
Technology Description: AEiERL research has
shown that formation of toxic chlorinated dioxins
and furans from waste combustion systems can be
prevented by the proper application of sorbent
injection processes. The sorbent reacts with and
ties up the chlorine precursor that is necessary for
subsequent dioxin/furan formation. Prevention of
dioxin/furan formation in waste combustors will
eliminate an important source of this carcinogenic
pollutant in air emissions and scrubber waste
solids. Very recent evidence confirms and adds to
past concerns, suggesting that there is no "thresh-
old value" of carcinogenicity and that dioxin/
furans also act to suppress immune systems and
hormonal functions. This technology is likely to
be as effective as, and of significantly lower
capital cost than, control measures currently used
as the basis for EPA regulations on new, large
municipal waste combustors. Sorbent injection is
also a retrofittable technology that is well-estab-
lished for other pollutants and systems. AEERL
has been the sole developer of this technology over
the last 4 years. The idea for the research was
derived from an AEERL researcher doing related
work.
Applicability: Under current, proposed U.S.
regulations, this technology is applicable for acid
gas and dioxin/furan emission control for "old"
waste combustors. "New" combustors are re-
quired to achieve performance equivalent to spray
dryer/fabric filter; however, it has not been deter-
mined whether this process can achieve these acid
gas removal levels as a stand-alone system. Com-
bined control systems make this technology
available to a broader market. Current develop-
ment of highly reactive sorbents may extend the
relevant market to new combustors.
Cost of Control Implications: While no exten-
sive cost estimates have been made, sorbent
injection costs for similar systems (SO2) compare
favorably with spray dryer/fabric filter systems.
Capital costs are generally low, and operating
costs primarily reflect purchase of sorbent.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The technol-
ogy is advertised as being available to licensees
who wish to demonstrate, apply, and market these
concepts on full scale systems.
Point of Contact:
Charles B. Sedman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-7700
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
13
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Super ESP
Status of Technology: The components of the
Super ESP make use of state-of-the-art or near
state-of-the-art ESP technology. Testing of the
critical components has been done on the EPA 1/3
and 5 MW pilot ESP units. A computerized ESP
performance prediction model, with Super ESP
capability has been developed. U.S. Patent No.
5,059,219 was issued October 22, 1991. Patent
Cooperation Treaty applications allow filing in
major industrial countries through March 26, 1993.
The technology has been offered for license.
Technology Description: The Super ESP is a
major advancement in the philosophy of electro-
static precipitator (ESP) design that makes use of a
number of short charging and collecting section
pairs, each of which has the particulate removal
efficiency of the current, much longer conven-
tional ESP section. This results in an ESP that is
both insensitive to particulate matter resistivity and
significantly smaller and less costly than an ESP
that uses a number of the larger conventional
collecting sections. The Super ESP allows high
efficiency particulate matter collection in a smaller
space and at lower cost than currently achievable
with conventional ESP technology. The compact
design provides the flexibility to build a highly
efficient collector for air-toxic bearing fine par-
ticles with a system smaller than that of conven-
tional ESP technology. The Super ESP is a less
costly, highly efficient, resistivity insensitive ESP
technology, and was developed in-house by
AEERL personnel.
Applicability: The small size of the Super ESP,
relative to conventional ESP technology, makes it
applicable to virtually all new and retrofit applica-
tions.
Cost of Control Implications: Super ESP costs
have not been thoroughly studied. However,
aspects of the technology that bear favorably upon
the costs are:
The majority of the new installations and
retrofits of high efficiency ESPs for coal fired
utilities are being designed for the range in
which the Super ESP offers cost savings of
from 25 to as much as 50%.
The cost of conventional high efficiency ESPs
ranges from about $50-100/kW, depending on
size and design efficiency. For a typical size
500 MW new power plant, the reduction could
be from $30 to $20 million.
The compact design philosophy of the Super
ESP lends itself to modular construction,
which leads to additional cost savings and
quality control, compared to conventional
ESPs, which require considerable field con-
struction and erection.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Potential for licensing from EPA or sub-
licensing from the licensee.
Potential for funding participation in demon-
stration of technology.
Potential for a CRADA for additional improve-
ment of particulate control, especially for air-
toxics.
Point of Contact:
Charles B. Sedman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-7700
September 1992
14 Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Gas-Enhanced Woodstove (GEW) Technology
Status of Technology: The technology has been
proven effective in long-term laboratory tests.
GEW stoves will be tested in 20 field applications
during the winter of 1992-1993. Success in these
tests will lead to commercialization of the technol-
ogy in late 1993.
Technology Description: The Gas Enhanced
Woodstove (GEW) technology is an innovative
approach to achieve a >90% reduction in particu-
late emissions from residential woodstoves. The
GEW utilizes a small gas flame to ensure full-
time, stable combustion of organic paniculate
matter. The products of incomplete combustion
(smoke, volatile hydrocarbons and carbon monox-
ide) released from the wood in the lower combus-
tion zone pass through the upper combustion zone
where they are destroyed.
Applicability: Applicable wherever wood is used
for domestic heating/cooking and where a gaseous
fuel is also available. The technology is appli-
cable to all new woodstoves, and it could easily be
retrofitted to existing stoves. Use of wood for
residential heating accounts for 90% of the poly-
nuclear organic matter (POM) emitted by all
stationary sources in the United States. Wood
smoke consists almost entirely of respirable,
condensed organic droplets <10 um in diameter.
Wood smoke has been shown to be potentially
carcinogenic. In addition to the visible, condensed
organic particles, wood stoves emit large quanti-
ties of volatile hydrocarbons and carbon monox-
ide. The GEW technology promotes ignition of
these hydrocarbons and the CO, which then also
combusts the organic constituents compiising the
visible smoke/ PM10 fraction of the emissions.
Cost of Control Implications: With the GEW
technology, wood use is directly offset by the gas
consumed. Since natural gas costs no more than
wood, there is no increase in operating cost. If a
more expensive gas is required, then there would
be a corresponding increase in operating costs.
The GEW will add about $50.00 to the initial cost
of a stove. There should be very little additional
maintenance cost involved.
Opportunities for Collaboration: EPA is negoti-
ating a cooperative research and development
agreement (CRDA) and an exclusive license for
further development and commercialization of the
GEW technology.
Point of Contact:
Wade H. Ponder
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-2818
September 1992
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
15
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Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Hybrid Drinking Water Treatment Package Plant
Development for Small Communities
Status of Technology: There is a tremendous
need to develop knowledge of package plant cost,
performance, and long-term reliability for small
systems. There have been few systematic evalua-
tions of package plants, and given their current
design, they are probably not capable of meeting,
in many circumstances, the Surface Water Treat-
ment Rule, the future Disinfection/Disinfection
By-Product Rule, and the ever increasing number
of individually regulated contaminants.
Technology Description: Package plants are
factory-built, skid-mounted, and pre-designed
ready to be operated in the field requiring only
minimal site preparation. They exhibit lower
capital cost than custom designed facilities built
onsite. Any drinking water treatment process can
be incorporated into a package plant system. The
most common package plants are conventional
media filtration preceded by sedimentation and
flocculation often using chemical additives to
enhance effectiveness. Technologies being consid-
ered for Best Available Technology (BAT) status
are membranes and advanced oxidation processes.
Other promising technologies include photocata-
lytic oxidation, bag filters, and solar disinfection.
It is with these, along with conventional drinking
water treatment technologies, that unit processes
must be merged, modified, arid adapted into new
treatment trains to remove a broader variety of
contaminants and be capable of being operated by
part-time or minimally trained operators. Thus,
another technology to be developed is dealing with
remote control telemetry which exists for other
industrial applications but is lacking in this con-
text. The figure shown on the next page is an
example of a membrane package plant.
Applicability: Although there are hundreds of
package plants already in use throughout the
United States, the tens of thousands of small
community and non-community drinking water
systems (serving less than 3300 people) will have
difficulty complying with the ever increasing
number of regulated contaminants. Currently, it is
estimated there will be over 100,000 violations of
the Safe Drinking Water Act annually. Nearly half
of these are for Maximum Contaminant Level
(MCL) violations. Of these, the majority are
microbiological violations by the small systems.
There are approximately 50,000 small community
systems and 140,000 non-community systems in
the United States accounting for over 25 million
people as potential users.
Cost of Control Implications: Package plants
typically cost only 10-20 percent of custom de-
signed treatment plants. However, this is still quite
a financial burden for most small communities.
Long-term operating and maintenance costs are
also considerations that need to be minimized. A
hidden cost to package plants is in their efficiency
or lack thereof if not properly designed and oper-
ated and the production of poor quality drinking
water. It is important not to sacrifice efficiency for
low capital costs.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The USEPA
Test & Evaluation (T & E) Facility located in
Cincinnati, OH, is the site for the Drinking Water
Research Division's (DWRD) Small System
Drinking Water Research Program. Several pack-
age plants are either already onsite or planned to
take advantage of the 24,000 square feet of floor
space, analytical laboratories, and expertise of the
DWRD personnel. Dechlorinated tap water can be
spiked with any number of contaminants including
primary effluent, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, MS-2
bacteriophage, etc., to produce any quality of raw
water desired. Ohio River water is also available in
limited supplies. Collaboration can be accom-
plished through the ETTA mechanism, Memoran-
dums Of Understanding (MOUs), and Cooperative
Agreements (non-profit organizations only). Field
projects are also underway throughout the United
States and can be a valuable mechanism to verify
and guide research.
Key Publications:
Goodrich, J. A., Adams, J. Q., Lykins, Jr., B. W.,
and Clark, R. M., "Safe Drinking Water from
Small Systems: Treatment Options," Journal
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
19
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Hybrid Drinking Water Treatment Package Plant
Development for Small Communities
of American Water Works Association, Vol.
84, No. 5, pp. 49-55, May 1992.
Lykins, Jr., B. W., Clark, R. M., and Goodrich, J.
A., Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry for Drinking
Water Treatment, Lewis Publishers/CRC
Press, Chelsea, Michigan, December 1991.
Point of Contact:
James A. Goodrich, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7605
FAX: (513) 569-7185
1 Raw water inlet
2 100 micron prefilter
3 Membrane module
4 Chlorine reservoir
5 Control panel
6 Recirculation
7 Turbidimeter
8 Chlorine monitor
Ultrafiltration Package Plant
9 Cleaner tank
10 NaOH reservoir
11 NaOCI reservoir
12 Finished water outlet
20
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Life Cycle Assessments
Technology Description: Policy makers, mem-
bers of industry, environmentalists, and the general
public are intensely interested in looking holisti-
cally at the cradle-to-grave environmental effects
of products and processes. One method to do that
has been termed life-cycle analysis (LCA). The
LCA concept is not new but one that has been used
for over 20 years in the United States and abroad.
While LCA appears to be a promising tool to
evaluate the environmental consequences of an
activity, product, or process, it still requires a
framework to be developed in order to provide
consistent use across the board. Also, additional
research is needed to enhance the understanding
about the steps in the performance of an LCA and
its appropriate usage. LCA is a technical, data-
based and holistic approach to define and subse-
quently reduce the environmental burdens associ-
ated with a product, process, or activity by identi-
fying and quantifying energy and material usage
and waste discharges, assessing the impact of
those wastes on the environment, and evaluating
and implementing opportunities to effect environ-
mental improvements. The assessment includes the
entire life cycle of the product, process or activity
encompassing extraction and processing of raw
materials, manufacturing, transportation, and
distribution, use/reuse, recycling and final dis-
posal.
Recent agreement among LCA researchers and
practitioners supports a consensus that LCAs are
comprised of three separate but interrelated com-
ponents: 1) Life-Cycle Inventory, 2) Life-Cycle
Impact Analysis, and 3) Life-Cycle Improvement
Analysis. Together, these three components form
an integrated set of tools which can provide infor-
mation needed to maximize environmental im-
provements in the production of consumer and
industrial goods. A life cycle approach can be
especially important when evaluating the myriad
of product choices that are available.
Current Activities: The Pollution Prevention
Research Branch (PPRB) of the Risk Reduction
Engineering Laboratory in Cincinnati, OH, is
conducting research which analyzes the entire life
cycle of consumer products and processes. PPRB
is involved in promoting LCA methodology as a
useful tool for pollution prevention. A draft guid-
ance manual for conducting and evaluating life
cycle inventories is being finalized and is expected
to be available by fall 1992. Case studies of two
consumer products (commercial cleaner and
carpeting) have been started to demonstrate the
usefulness of this inventory guidance manual and
develop an approach for the third step, improve-
ment analysis. Through case studies of consumer
products, we are identifying opportunities to
reduce environmental impacts, including resource
use and environmental releases. LCA is a definite
shift from only looking at single issues, such as
waste management or recyclability. LCAs identify
upstream and downstream effects as well as
pollutant transfer from one media to another. LCA
is the basis for another RREL guidance manual
being developed for product/process design which
incorporates the life cycle concept into the design
process. Two sites (Allied Signal's Fram Division
and AT&T) have been selected as test cases for
applying the design manual. After completi n of
the case studies, the manual will be revisiteu and
revised, if needed.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Collaborate with product manufacturers to
apply the EPA inventory guidance manual in
additional case studies. An Improvements
Analysis Team comprised of both manufac-
turer and EPA will evaluate the information
collected during the inventory to identify
opportunities for improvement.
Use the EPA Product/Process Design Manual
in test cases to further develop the application
of the LCA concept to design. The results will
be used to demonstrate pollution prevention
through design and, if needed, improve the
manual.
Adapt the inventory procedure to a computer
software which will assist users in collecting
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
21
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Life Cycle Assessments
the appropriate data from a product's life cycle EPA, "Life-Cycle Assessments: Inventory Guide-
stages. This software would be of use to both lines and Principles," (EPA 600/R-92/086),
skilled LCA practitioners as well as novices. Cincinnati, OH, in draft.
Demonstrate that LCA is applicable to pro- EPA, "Life Cycle Design Guidance Manual:
cesses and activities as well as products. Up Environmental Requirements and the Product
until now, LCAs have focused on consumer System," Cincinnati, OH, in draft.
products and packaging systems. Usefulness _ _
extends to other applications. Contact Person:
Key Publications: TT 0 r . Mar^ A Curran
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"A Technical Framework for Life-Cycle Assess- Office of Research and Development
ments," Eds. J.A. Fava, R. Denison, B. Jones, Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
M.A. Curran, B. Vigon, S. Selke, and J. Cincinnati, OH 45268
Bamum, Society of Environmental Toxicology (513) 569-7837
and Chemistry, Washington, D.C., January FAX: (513) 569-7549
1991.
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Oil Spill Bioremediation
Research and Development Program
Status of the Technology: The Oil Spills Re-
search Program was initiated in response to the Oil
Spills Act of 1990 to establish the role of
bioremediation as an effective clean-up technol-
ogy. Initial activities have focused on the need to
establish protocols for testing efficacy and toxicity
of commercial bioremediation products, especially
on open seas. The protocols are being developed
for open waters, shorelines, marshes and wetlands,
and terrestrial environments. The Risk Reduction
Engineering Laboratory has been a leader in
developing a sound, laboratory-based screening
protocol for determining efficacy of bioremedia-
tion products under controlled conditions.
Basic research is being conducted to ensure that
the protocols have a sound scientific basis and that
a better understanding of hydrocarbon degradation
will lead to effective spill counter-measure devel-
opment. Under this component of the program,
information is being developed to provide a deci-
sion-making framework for managing bioremedia-
tion of spills. The framework will answer such
questions as when bioremediation is appropriate,
what types of materials (nutrients, inocula, surface
active agents, etc.) should be added to the spill
site, when materials should be added, and what
other clean-up strategies might work well in
concert with bioremediation.
Technology Description: Research is being done
to improve and refine the protocol. For example,
one refinement that offers promise in reducing the
cost of the testing involves the use of respirometry
(i.e., measurement of oxygen uptake and carbon
dioxide production automatically over time).
Respirometric analysis offers an inexpensive,
automated estimation of biokinetics and acclima-
tion lag time that can be invaluable in screening
commercial bioremediation products. Definitive
work is being done to correlate cumulative oxygen
uptake and oil component degradation. Critical to
this task is the evaluation of the effect of such
factors as biomass concentration, temperature,
degree of mixing, source of water, and the physical
characteristics of the oil on product efficacy
screening.
Flow-through microcosms are being developed
that simulate shoreline and open water spill sce-
narios. The shoreline microcosms are filled with
suitable beach material or soil, contaminated with
a selected standard API oil, and subjected to
intermittent seawater or freshwater flows to simu-
late tidal and wave action. The open water micro-
cosms operate on the same principle, but water
flows continuously through the system rather than
intermittently. The microcosms are connected to
respirometric instrumentation to track O2 uptake,
nutrient transfer, and CO2 evolution continually
and automatically as tidal water exchange occurs.
The Alaska oil spill bioremediation project height-
ened our awareness of the extreme complexity of
interactions among physical weathering processes,
the degree and location of contamination, hydrau-
lic flow regimes, and microbial degradation. It is
impractical to conduct multiple experiments every
time an oil or chemical spill occurs to sort out
these interactions. A generic approach is needed
based on thorough knowledge of all the physical,
chemical, and microbiological factors that influ-
ence in-situ biodegradation. Examples of research
ideas being pursued include:
Fundamental aspects of crude oil biodegrada-
tion.
Development of chemical and microbiological
methods for use during oil bioremediation field
studies.
Development of novel delivery systems
(microencapsulation or liposomes) for apply-
ing nutrients and microbial inocula to oil spills.
Modeling studies on feasibility of open-sea oil
spill bioremediation.
Field study of bioremediation of spilled crude
oil on a cobble beach.
Applicability: The reactor systems will be useful
for determining the optimum nutrient and/or
microbial culture concentrations and frequencies
needed to bioremediate a contaminated environ-
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
23
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Oil Spill Bioremediation
Research and Development Program
ment The respirometric microcosms can also be Opportunities for Collaboration: The open water
used for product efficacy testing as part of the microcosm has already led to the collaboration
protocol development program. The basic research with Southwest Research Institute to test the
will guide implementation of bioremediation efficacy of its microencapsulation technology for
technology in the field. treatment of an open water oil spill. Such private
Cost of Control Implications: Once the respiro- industrv collaboration will be possible when the
metric microcosms are fully developed and the ch reactor has been fullX proven and tested
concept proven for open waters and solid matrices, under a varietv of conditions. Other opportunities
the cost of product testing will be substantially ' Wl11 be Possible in the program as more ideas from
reduced because of the limited need to conduct the Private s^01" converge with those of RREL's.
extensive analytical chemistry with destructive Point of Contact:
sampling techniques. These microcosms will be
most useful for determining how to bioremediate a Albert D. Venosa, Ph.D.
contaminated site because all the preparative work U-S- Environmental Protection Agency
needed to establish dose levels and rates will be Office of Research and Development
reduced to the controlled laboratory environment Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
rather than the extremely costly field testing Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7668
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
24 Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Anaerobic, Expanded-Bed, GAC Bioreactor for
Hazardous and Industrial Wastes
Status of Technology: Many aqueous industrial
wastes contain hazardous components and vary
widely in composition and strength. Conventional
aerobic biological treatment systems employ
excessively long hydraulic retention times to
successfully treat these wastes. In addition, some
of these wastes resist biological treatment due to
the presence of toxics and/or inhibitory materials.
Finally, other materials that are volatile in nature
may be stripped to the atmosphere during aerobic
treatment. These factors represent a significant
challenge in treating such wastes to acceptable
limits.
Intensive developmental work between the Risk
Reduction Engineering Laboratory and the Civil
and Environmental Engineering Department of the
University of Cincinnati has produced an innova-
tive process for treating hazardous and industrial
wastes. The anaerobic, expanded-bed, granular
activated carbon (GAC) bioreactor (Figure 1) is
ideally suited for the treatment of aqueous hazard-
ous wastes containing mixtures of readily biode-
gradable and aerobically biologically refractory
organic compounds.
Technology Description: Special features of the
process are:
Enhanced biomass attachment due to the
creviced surface of GAC,
Buffering of shock loads wherein excess
substrate is stored on the GAC for later desorp-
tion and degradation,
Efficient performance during process start-up
due to the combined removal mechanisms of
adsorption and biodegradation,
Ability to render an inhibitory toxic waste
biotreatable via adsorption of the offending
compounds,
Hydraulic retention times of 3 to 12 hours,
representing significant reductions in
bioreactor volume compared to conventional
technologies, and
Potential for upgrading poorly performing
conventional biological treatment systems
using a hybrid configuration consisting of a
small GAC adsorber connected through recir-
culation to the conventional system.
Applicability: The GAC medium serves to se-
quester inhibitory and hazardous constituents from
the aqueous phase, thus permitting the unhindered
utilization of readily biodegradable constituents. In
instances where the inhibitory constituents resist
biodegradation, a strategy involving periodic
replacement of a portion of the GAC medium may
be practiced to replenish GAC adsorptive capacity.
The adsorptive characteristics of GAC permit the
retention of slowly biodegradable organics that
require acclimation of specially adapted organ-
isms. In these cases, the adsorptive capacity of
GAC can be extended indefinitely due to biologi-
cally mediated regeneration.
Several waste types have been effectively treated
by the anaerobic, expanded-bed, GAC bioreactor.
These wastes include coal gasification effluents,
coke oven effluents, refinery sour water stripper
bottoms, electronics plant solvent wastes, and
landfill leachates in both the United States and
Europe. Specific chemicals of interest treated by
this process include substituted phenols, chlori-
nated phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
benzenes, ketones, chlorinated aliphatics, pesti-
cides, and phthalates. These chemicals comprise a
variety of volatile and semivolatile organic com-
pounds that appear on the EPA list of priority
pollutants. Of 27 toxic compounds tested to date,
all were removed to levels of 85% or greater, 22 to
levels of 90% or greater, 20 to levels of 95% or
greater, and 15 to levels of 98% or greater.
Cost of Control Implications: Use of anaerobic
expanded bed GAC treatment for high strength
industrial and hazardous wastes provides an
economical alternative to aerobic processing in
central industrial or municipal wastewater treat-
ment facilities. The anaerobic treatment systems
provide cost-effective means for control of volatile
organic compounds and generate methane as a
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
25
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Anaerobic, Expanded-Bed, GAC Bioreactor for
Hazardous and Industrial Wastes
usable energy source. Bioregeneration of the GAC
support medium substantially minimizes carbon
replacement costs. Actual treatment costs are site
and waste dependent.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The technol-
ogy has been carefully evaluated for 10 years
including three years of continuous pilot operation.
The technology is ready for marketing. The EPA
desires to participate with the private sector in
marketing the technology for a variety of hazard-
ous and industrial waste treatment applications and
for bioremediation at Superfund sites.
Point of Contact:
Richard C. Brenner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7657
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
Methane & CO0 Gas
Expanded GAC
Gravel Pack
Figure 1. The anaerobic, expanded-BBD, GAC Bioreactor
26
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Simulation Model Software for
Water Treatment Processes
Status of Technology: Granular Activated Car-
bon (GAC) and Air Stripping treatment software
were published under an FTTA agreement. Soft-
ware for membrane processes are in the early
development stage.
Technology Description: A set of PC-based
computer models have been developed to aid one
in evaluating preliminary designs of liquid-phase
GAC treatment and packed tower aeration systems
for controlling organic contaminants in drinking
water. The constant pattern homogeneous surface
diffusion model is used to predict GAC break-
through curves for single-solute contaminants.
Adjustment parameters can be applied to account
for natural water effects. Cost-estimating models
can be used to compare steel pressure and concrete
gravity adsorber systems, and evaluate the cost-
effectiveness of multihearth, infrared, and fluid-
bed reactivation technologies. Air stripping models
can be used to examine various system designs and
estimate the treatment cost with and without air
emissions control of tower off-gases using vapor-
phase carbon.
Applicability: These analysis tools are a result of
in-house research efforts and studies conducted at
various field sites using pilot and full-scale facili-
ties. The models have been used by EPA to exam-
ine potential cost and performance impacts on
water utilities as a result of proposed and existing
drinking water regulations. The models have also
been used to evaluate specific treatment scenarios
for Superfund applications.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Develop new
models for various treatment processes which
address performance prediction and cost estimates
for constructing and operating systems. Develop
step-by-step instructions for using software and
demonstrating applications.
Establish agreements/contracts for marketing and
publishing computer software for treatment simu-
lation program packages.
Publish scientific journal articles that describe
models and results for specific scenarios.
Point of Contact:
Jeffrey Q. Adams
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
(513)569-7835
FAX: (513) 569-7185
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
27
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Hydraulic Fracturing to Enhance Elimination in the Subsurface
Soil by Vapor Extraction or Bioremediation
Status of Technology: This technology has been
developed over the last four years and is currently
being field-tested at contaminated sites.
Technology Description: Problems of Contami-
nated Soils: Many subsurface soils contain
hazardous wastes as a result of leaking storage
tanks or unsound disposal practices. Cleaning up
these soils often means excavation in addition to
some process such as incineration. Excavation is
not only costly but leads to exposure of workers
and perhaps neighbors to the contaminated soils.
This increases liability. Treatment of these soils in
situ avoids these problems. However, it has been
difficult to access these soils to remediate them
The Hydraulic Fracturing Technique: The
hydraulic fracturing technique is a method to
access the subsurface soils to allow removal of
hazardous wastes or to allow delivery of materials
(i.e., to enhance bioremediation) into soils. The
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory and the
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineer-
ing of the University of Cincinnati, both at the
Center Hill Laboratory, have adapted this estab-
lished oil field technology to be applied in shallow
subsurface soils.
After notching the bottom of a well with a water
jet, a guar gum matrix with granular material
suspended in it is added under slight pressure (up
to 35 PSI) until a pancake-shaped fracture is
created. An enzyme is added to break down the
guar gum matrix, which can then be pumped back
out, leaving a sand lens. These fractures can be
stacked as close as 20 cm (6 inches). The perme-
able sand lenses can be used to retrieve liquids or
vapors or to deliver oxygen and nutrients to en-
hance bioremediation.
Soil Vapor Extraction: The permeable sand
lenses increase the overall permeability of the soil,
allowing for better removal of vapors from the
soil. Several fractured wells have been installed in
silty-clay tills of low permeability. Control wells
were installed in the same material but contain no
hydraulic fractures. Results indicate both an
increase in flow rate and radius of influence at the
fractured wells. Applying a suction head of 114
cm (45 inches) of water to the fractured well
resulted in 2.54 cm (one inch) of suction at a
distance of 7.6 m (25 feet) at a depth of 16 cm (6
inches). The same suction head diminishes to 2.5
cm (1 inch) of water less than 1.5 m (5 feet) from
the conventional well. Flowrates at the fractured
wells increased to tenfold, 5 CFM vs. 0.5 CFM,
depending on weather conditions.
In-Situ Bioremediation: The hydraulic fractures
can be used to enhance in-situ bioremediation by
being conduits for electron acceptors and nutrients.
Soluble nutrients and oxygen (in the form of
hydrogen peroxide) have been added through
hydraulic fractures to a site of low permeability
glacial till contaminated with hydrocarbons. We
have seen a significant loss of hydrocarbons in the
fractured soil along with increased bioactivity,
compared to the control well (conventional).
We are further enhancing the science of
bioenhancement by the development of a slow-
releasing solid oxygen source. By placing this
slow-releasing solid oxygen source into the hy-
draulic fracture along with slow-releasing nutrient
sources, bioremediation can be enhanced over
several months without the need for human inter-
vention or energy-requiring equipment on the site.
This reduces exposure, liability and costs.
Applicability: Hydraulic fracturing can be imple-
mented in any overconsolidated soil. Volatile
chemicals can be removed with hydraulic fractur-
ing by vapor extraction. Any chemical which can
be biodegraded aerobically or anaerobically can be
degraded by adding the proper amendments in the
hydraulic fracture.
Cost of Control Implications: The comparison
in performance between the hydraulically frac-
tured well and a conventional well shows substan-
tial savings in soil vapor extraction applications (a
tenfold increase in radius of influence, and a
tenfold increase in vapor yield). In-Situ bioremed-
iation applications in overconsolidated soils can be
enhanced with liquid injection of nutrients and
electron acceptors by hydraulic fracturing. Thus, a
28
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Hydraulic Fracturing to Enhance Elimination in the Subsurface
Soil by Vapor Extraction or Bioremediation
hundredfold increase in liquid injection rate
(compared to a conventional well) is seen with
hydraulic fracturing. But hydraulic fracturing also
allows for the delivery of solid slow-releasing
oxygen and nutrient sources which will provide
substantial savings by minimizing human interven-
tion and energy requirements.
Opportunities for Collaboration: There are
many more avenues to explore with this research.
Several are: further development of additional
access techniques to allow for more flexibility in
making contact with the soil, slow-releasing
nutrient sources to enhance bioremediation, slow-
25
20
15
10
0.1 2 3 4 5
Time (Minutes)
Pressure log displaying peak that marks the onset of fracture
propagation.
Surface Load
Perspective
Idealized hydraulic fracture created at shallow depths in over
consolidated silty clay.
releasing electron acceptors, and slow-releasing
encapsulated bacteria that will biodegrade the
compound of interest.
Point of Contact:
Mike Roulier
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7796
FAX: (513) 569-7879
September 1992
10
0.1
0.01
Approx. Limit
of Frx
a.
D
w
V
O Conventional Well
V Frx Well, Above Frx
n Frx Well, In Frx
10 15 20
Radius from well (feet)
25
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
T (Days)
Performance comparison between fractured and nonfractured
wells during vapor extraction.
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
29
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Clean Products Program
Technology Description: The Pollution Preven-
tion Act of 1990 directs the USEPA to initiate
within the Agency a program to encourage the
adoption of technologies and strategies to prevent
pollution in all sectors. Legislative authority and
guidance for the Agency's pollution prevention
research activities are contained in the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) which
authorizes programs and research that support the
minimization of hazardous waste generated.
RREL serves as the lead organization within the
Office of Research and Development for research
related to pollution prevention. RREL's pollution
prevention research program encourages the
development and adoption of processing technolo-
gies and products in the United States and interna-
tionally that will lead to reducing the aggregate
generation rates for pollutants entering the various
environmental media. Projects within the program
are supported through in-house activities, contracts
with outside organizations, and cooperative agree-
ments with universities and other governmental
agencies.
One of the ten environmental problems targeted
for priority attention for pollution prevention
research within ORD is the production, use and
disposal of consumer products. The Clean Prod-
ucts Program supports this initiative encouraging
the development of cleaner products and technolo-
gies.
Status of Technology: Municipal solid waste
(MSW) generation is becoming an ever increasing
problem worldwide. Organizations within the
United States and internationally are adopting the
clean products and packaging idea as an effective
tool for reducing waste generation rates.
While both industry and the general public have
demonstrated interest in promoting clean products
and technologies, little information is readily
available to assist in making sound decisions and
changes. Several projects have been initiated
within RREL to assist in promoting clean products
and technologies and transfer of this information.
A recent RREL publication, Achievements in
Source Reduction and Recycling for Ten Industries
in the United States, (EPA/600/2-91/051), contains
twenty examples of clean technologies in ten
industries in the United States. These examples
have been collected from participating companies
as direct efforts in reducing waste generation
through source reduction and recycling.
There are currently three projects within the
laboratory that are addressing the clean product
side of pollution prevention:
(1) Evaluating the Potential for Safe Substitutes
is a cooperative agreement with the University
of Tennessee. It is developing a protocol for
evaluating potential substitutes for products
that are either toxic themselves or rely upon
toxic chemicals in their production phase. This
project will produce a background document in
1993 addressing safe substitutes.
(2) Clean Products Case Studies, a cooperative
agreement with INFORM, Inc., will produce
case studies of various approaches to clean
products and packaging both in the United
States and Europe. European initiatives are
more aggressive in attacking the MSW prob-
lem. These studies will address MSW prima-
rily, but toxic issues will also be included.
(3) Dynamic Case Studies on Environmentally
Advanced Product Design is a project with
the Resource Policy Institute, developing
information on environmentally advanced
product design. Areas being evaluated are
construction, public utilities, and product
optimization. Increased product durability,
reduced production wastes, and innovative
product design will be approached from studies
that exemplify reduction of toxicity and vol-
ume in the MSW stream, provide economically
and environmentally superior alternatives,
demonstrate versatility and adaptability in the
product or service and overall reduce the
environmental burden to the biosphere.
30
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Clean Products Program
All these projects are ongoing and in various
stages of analysis.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Environmental labelling is an area being
addressed by several organizations. The public
seeks some confidence level in products
purchased at the consumer level. However,
there are conflicting groups using various
criteria for product labelling and "green"
consumer information. Development of a
universal guide for labelling is an area needing
further collaborative effort.
Promotion of environmentally friendly packag-
ing is an area being approached in diverse and
innovative ways in the European Community.
Further research into the culture and necessity
of change in the European Community might
provide fuel for change in the United States.
The solid waste stream has become an enor-
mous issue for now and the future. Under-
standing the issues driving the national solid
waste crisis and fundamental concepts for
future redemption would be an area for defini-
tive collaboration.
Industry is facing the massive issue of solid
waste from a production and product stand-
point. Cooperative efforts of packaging initia-
tives need to be developed and marketed to
manufacturers for reducing this society's
landfill dilemma.
Contact Person:
Emma Lou George
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7578
FAX: (513) 569-7549
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
31
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BCD Detoxification of Chlorinated Wastes
Status of Technology: Scientists at the Risk
Reduction Engineering Laboratory have been
working on detoxifying chlorinated organics for
over ten years. They focused their efforts on
contaminated soils, and developed three chemical
treatment processes that are described as base-
catalyzed dechlorination (BCD) processes. Unlike
the earlier versions that use polyethylene glycol
(PEG), the latest version of this technology uses
no PEG, and represents new chemistry for dechlo-
rination. This new mechanism is a breakthrough in
treatment technology, and provides clean and
inexpensive reaction.
Past and future applications of the BCD process
are listed below:
40,000 cu.yds. of PCB-contaminated soil (100-
600ppm) treated on a Superfund Site, Brant,
NY (1991-1992).
PCB-contaminated sediments treated at
Waukegan Harbor, Waukegan, IL in 10 tph
system achieving 99.9999% destruction
(1992).
Two liquid treatment systems (2000 liters) will
be placed into operation in Australia (1992).
The U.S. Navy's 1-tph/soil treatment system is
scheduled to treat 5000 tons of PCB-contami-
nated soil (25-6500ppm) starting in October
1992.
Technology Description: The process embodies
the following steps: mixing the chemicals with the
contaminated matrix (such as excavated soil or
sediment, or liquids, containing these toxic com-
pounds), and heating the mixture at 320-340°C for
1-3 hours. The off-gases are treated before releas-
ing to the atmosphere. The treated remains of the
reactor are non-hazardous, can be either disposed
of according to standard methods, or further
processed for separating components for reuse.
Applicability: The BCD process can be used for
the destruction of the following chlorinated com-
pounds:
Halogenated Volatiles
Halogenated Semivolatiles
PCBs
Pentachlorophenol
Herbicides (halogenated)
Pesticides (halogenated)
Dioxins/Furans
Cost of Control Implications: The U.S. Navy
conducted an engineering and cost analysis of
processes that might be used in Guam to destroy
PCBs (25-6500ppm) in 5000 tons of soil. The
results from this study were:
Secure Landfill $910/ton
Off-site Incineration $2000-3320/ton
On-site Incineration $2020/ton
APEG Treatment $270/ton
BCDP Treatment $245/ton
Such factors as high clay and moisture content
may raise BCD treatment costs slightly, but much
less so than with incineration.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The BCD
technology has been licensed and commercialized
in foreign countries. The BCD is being offered by
RREL for licensing for commercial use in the
United States,. Several companies continue to show
strong interest in licensing the technology.
Point of Contact:
Carl B runner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7655
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
32
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Status of Technology:
Wastes generated in the wood treating industry
are a major hazardous waste problem in the
United States. More than 700 existing wood
treating sites will eventually require some
form of site remediation.
Wood treating technology has been based on
the use of three kinds of preservatives: creo-
sote, pentachlorophenol, and copper chromated
arsenite.
Soils, surface, and subsurface waters have been
contaminated with the toxic metals and organic
chemicals found in the commercial procedures.
Concentrations of pentachlorophenol found in
contaminated soils can be treated in the per-
centage concentration level range. Few bacte-
ria can withstand the toxicity associated with
these concentrations but the lignin-degrading
fungi are able to withstand very high concen-
trations (400-900 mg/Kg).
The technology is now available for applica-
tion at field scale. Process improvements for
the inoculum preparation and application are
expected in the next year.
Application of the fungal technology to waste
materials such as pesticides, town gas wastes,
and munitions will be conducted in 1993,
Technology Description:
Fungal species have shown wide versatility in
degrading organic pollutants. The fungi ca-
pable of degrading lignin are among the most
competent. They secrete extracellular en/ymes
that degrade lignin. For applications to the
detoxification of hazardous wastes, these
lignin-degrading fungi are superior to bacterial
systems because the secreted enzymes are
strongly oxidizing and non-specific.
USEPA and USD A staff lead a team of re-
searchers in investigating the abilities of
lignin-degrading fungi to detoxify hazardous
waste organic compounds. Their efforts have
focused on the treatment of pentachlorophenol
and other organic chemicals associated with
wood preserving. The development of this
field-worthy technology has proceeded through
methodical investigation of growth require-
ments of the fungi and the evaluation of fungal
treatment in soil to determine the conversion of
pollutant to non-toxic end products.
Applicability:
Treatability results derived from studies at an
Oshkosh, WI, site in 1989 showed 80-85%
depletion of pentachloroplvcnol in contami-
nated soil over a period of eight weeks.
Results of a time-series trcatability study
conducted at Brookhaven, MS, confirmed the
Wisconsin results and indicate that this tech-
nology has great field potential. SITE Demon-
stration Program data have shown that pen-
tachlorophenol was depleted by 80-85% during
56 days of treatment. Polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons that are components of creosote
showed significant removal rates during the
same study.
A field scale demonstration of this fungal
treatment technology will be conducted at the
Brookhaven, MS, site for five months in 1992.
Cost of Control Implications: The cost of
treatment of wood treating wastes is being evalu-
ated as part of the ongoing Brookhaven SITE
demonstration. Inoculation systems are under
development as a cost reduction component. The
process has technical advantages in application to
bacterial inhibitory concentrations of organic
pollutants (pentachlorophenol) and to soils with
low pH.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The USEPA
and USDA wish to evaluate the extension of the
technology to other organic pollutant classes and
complex wastes found in landfills.
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
33
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Fungal Treatment Technology
Point of Contact:
Richard Brenner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7657
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Destruction of Organic Pollutants in Water and
Air by Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis
Technology Description: RRE^L is actively
investigating an advanced oxidation process for
the destruction (decomposition) of organic pollut-
ants and detoxification of inorganic pollutants in
water and air streams. The principal objective is
the optimization of a titanium dioxide (TiO2) based
photocatalytic technology which, in combination
with ultraviolet radiation, produces highly reactive
hydroxyl radicals. Once formed in-situ, these
radical intermediates have been shown to cause the
rapid destruction of a wide array of chemical
compounds known to be present in both ground
water and surface water. Many chlorinated organ-
ics can be dehalogenated by the process (rendering
them less toxic) and certain problematic inorganic
contaminants (e.g., cyanide) are oxidized to in-
nocuous forms.
A novel aspect of the technology is the incorpora-
tion of a TiO2 semiconductor material imbedded in
a fiberglass mesh which lines a photolytic reactor.
This material behaves as a catalyst for the oxida-
tion process and greatly enhances the formation of
hydroxyl radicals, resulting in much greater pro-
cess efficiency and output. Under optimal condi-
tions, this enhanced oxidation mechanism results
in complete mineralization of substrate organic
contaminants. As such, the process is an "ultimate
disposal" method which leaves behind only water,
carbon dioxide, and some benign halide salts.
Applicability: The hydroxyl radical advanced
oxidation process has a variety of pollution pre-
vention applications including:
The manufacture of Ultra Pure Water for the
semiconductor, nuclear, and pharmaceutical
industries without the use of other process
chemicals like ozone, chlorine, or permangan-
ate.
The purification and disinfection of Drinking
Water without the production of disinfection
by-products (e.g., chloroform).
The purification of Plant Processing Water at
the source (e.g., metals recovery, trichloroeth-
ylene removal).
Significant benefits from the technology are
gained for those active in achieving environmental
compliance. These benefits include:
The destruction of waterborne organics at the
source, which eliminates the cost and risk
associated with the collection, transportation
and long-term disposal of organics.
A user-friendly technology which operates on
demand that is low profile, quiet and uses
readily available components and skills for
operation (i.e., amenable to small community
systems' requirements).
Titanium dioxide photocatalysis is proving to
be an exceptional technology for the treatment
of air emissions from a variety of sources
including: wastewater treatment plants, air
stripping towers, incinerator off gas, municipal
landfill sites, carbon regeneration facilities, dry
cleaning facilities, freon-based processes,
spray booths, degreasing facilities, soil venting
processes, and organic chemical manufacturing
plants.
Current Activities and Opportunities for Col-
laboration: RREL is investigating novel photo-
chemical reactor designs which will optimize
hydroxyl radical formation. Reactor geometry
modeling and prototype construction are required.
Stainless steel is the currently preferred reactor
fabrication material though lighter, more easily
assembled and inexpensive materials and compo-
nents would be highly desirable. Studies of various
"front-end" technologies are necessary to deter-
mine how much pretreatment of heavily contami-
nated water streams is required for effective
photocatalytic oxidation in the final reactor stage.
Off-the-shelf technologies will be evaluated first
for this purpose (e.g., microfiltration systems).
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
35
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Destruction of Organic Pollutants in Water and
Air by Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis
Process efficiency measurements and sensors will
be required very soon. On-line water/air quality
monitoring systems for low molecular weight,
highly water soluble organic compounds need
development and testing at field scale. Rapid
microbial screening techniques need to be devel-
oped to monitor the bacterial quality (safety) of
water treated for human consumption. A near-real
time bacterial enumeration technique like
epifluorescent microscopy may be necessary in
situations where access to sophisticated laboratory
measurements and expertise is unavailable.
A critical process parameter in Ti()2 photocatalysis
is detection and measurement of the primary
oxidant, the hydroxyl radical, HO*. We have
already developed the chemistry necessary for
quantitation of HO* but require a pilot/field-scale
process monitor/analyzer based on our bench-scale
measurement principles. This hypothetical monitor
would also be extremely useful in other measure-
ments of HO* unrelated to TiO2 (e.g., ozone
systems which produce small quantities of HO*
and the study of upper atmospheric chemistry).
Contact Person:
John C. Ireland, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7413
Private Sector Firms Conducting TiO2 Research
for U.S. EPA:
Hussain Al-Ekabi, Ph.D.
Nutech Environmental
London, Ontario, N5W 4C8 CANADA
(519)457-2963
September 1992
36
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Clean Technology Demonstration Program for Pollution Prevention
Technology Description: Under the Pollution
Prevention Act of 1990, the EPA is empowered to
champion source reduction across a spectrum of
activities. Among these it is charged with identify-
ing cleaner technologies and promoting their
implementation by industry.
Current Activities: The Agency has entered into
a number of activities aimed at voluntary and
cooperative efforts with industry as well as incor-
poration of more flexible, pollution prevention
approaches into any regulatory activities in the
future.
The 33/50 Program is a pollution prevention
initiative with the objective to reduce 17 priority
pollutants 33 percent by 1992 arid 50 percent by
1995 on the basis of comparing Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI) values for the base year 1988 on a
voluntary basis. Success is to be measured on an
aggregate basis per pollutant.
Pollution prevention solutions are also being
sought for the Resource Conservation and Recov-
ery Act (RCRA) Best Demonstrated Available
Technology (BDAT) problem wastes. Present
emphasis is placed on Arsenic and Mercury.
The Source Reduction Review Program (SRRP) is
an effort to investigate pollution prevention ap-
proaches and solutions in proposed or upcoming
legislation. A list of 17 industry and pollution
problem areas have been identified for study.
In these pursuits, the Pollution Prevention Re-
search Branch (PPRB), RREL, has established two
major programs, the Waste Reduction Innovative
Technology Evaluation (WRITE) Program (expir-
ing in FY 93), and a similar follow-on program
called the Clean Technology Demo Program
(started in FY 92), to evaluate relatively mature
(pilot or full scale) new technologies on a coopera-
tive basis with industries developing and/or using
such technology.
The WRITE Program addresses priority problems
identified by individual states or local govern-
ments as being high priority. Participants in the
pilot program are California, Connecticut, Illinois,
Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington and Erie
County, N.Y.
The Clean Technology Demo Program uses the
research needs identified by the 33/50 Program,
the RCRA Hard To Treat Wastes and the Source
Reduction Review Program (SRRP) to identify
and evaluate new technologies being implemented
for source reduction. Both programs are based on
locating industries implementing the technologies
at large- or full-scale. The cooperative effort
consists of EPA providing test design, sampling
hardware, sampling personnel, data analysis,
reduction and report preparation. The industry
provides the operating facility and data regarding
releases generated by the previous operation as
well as cost comparisons between the two.
Approximately 35 technologies are being evalu-
ated under the WRITE Program over a three year
period. Another 12 technology evaluations are
being planned for the Clean Technology Demo
Program, which is now beginning.
The technologies cover a range of industries
including: electroplating and metal finishing;
printing; reinforced plastic composite production;
paints, coatings and adhesives. Generic types of
source reduction improvements are being evalu-
ated for a number of industries, such as cleaning,
degreasing and paint removal, that replace tradi-
tional chemicals with others that are less toxic.
Other approaches are of interest that, for example,
use mechanical means of cleaning, investigate
procedures that maintain cleanliness as a trade-off
to cleaning or refine cleanliness criteria for accom-
plishing objectives.
Applicability of a number of these improvements
(such as cleaning improvements) is potentially
extensive.
Opportunities for Collaboration: All new
evaluations are seeking sites where technology is
being implemented and the facility is interested in
participating in an impartial test of the pollution
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
37
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Clean Technology Demonstration Program for Pollution Prevention
prevention aspects of the technology as well as Point of Contact:
providing sufficient cost data to serve as compari- . .
son between old and new systems. Ivars Licis
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
More detailed project plans are available and Office of Research and Development
distributed under separate cover, entitled Pollution Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Prevention Research Branch: Current Projects, Cincinnati, OH 45268
July 1992. (513)569-7718
FAX: (513) 569-7549
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
"'"'''^^^^""^^^^^^^"^^^^^^^^""^^^^^^^^"""^^^"^^^^^^^^MBI^
Office of Research and Development
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Floor Tile Encasement of Asbestos Fibers
Status of Technology: Unknown.
Technology Description: A tough, durable, non-
yellowing, transparent coating/encapsulant is
needed to cover asbestos-containing floor tile to
allow layers of polish to be applied over the
encapsulating coating so that normal maintenance
activities (buffing) can be conducted without fear
of asbestos release.
Applicability: This technology affects all asbes-
tos-containing floor tile in hundreds of thousands
of buildings and residences in the United States.
Cost of Control Implications: This technology
will eliminate the necessity for removal of existing
floor tiles where they are in good condition and
eliminates the risk of contaminating the adjacent
area when the removal is improperly done. Also,
the technology eliminates the risk, both to the
worker and to the building occupants, from main-
tenance activities such as wax removal and routine
buffing operations.
Opportunities for Collaboration: EPA can
provide the expertise to evaluate environmental
release and worker exposure and could also pro-
vide test sites. Industry must develop products for
testing.
Point of Contact:
William Cain
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7559
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
39
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RREL Treatability Data Base
Status of Technology: The RREL Treatability
Data Base is updated yearly with aqueous and
solid treatability data.
Technology Description: To provide a thorough
review of the effectiveness of proven treatment
technologies in the removal/destruction o) chemi-
cals in various types of media including, but not
limited to, municipal and industrial wastcwater,
drinking water, groundwater, soil, debris, sludge,
and sediment.
Version 4.0 of the Risk Reduction Engineering
Laboratory Treatability Data Base was released in
February 1992 and contains 1166 chemical com-
pounds and over 9200 sets of treatability data. The
chemicals contained in the database are often those
regulated under the Clean Water Act, Sale Drink-
ing Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recov-
ery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act, and other
environmental laws enacted by Congress. For
each chemical, the database includes: physical/
chemical properties, aqueous and solid treatability
data, Freundlich isotherm data, other environmen-
tal database information sources, and data refer-
ences including a reference abstract. The physical/
chemical properties included are those most
routinely used, such as molecular weight, boiling
point, melting point, etc. The treatability data
summarize the treatment technologies used to treat
the specific chemical; the type of waste/wastewa-
ter treated; the size of the study/plant; and the
treatment efficiency achieved. In addition, each
data set is referenced to sources of information,
operational information on process(es) sampled
and quality-coded based upon analytical methods
and reported quality assurance.
Applicability:, The database is distributed to
federal, state and local governments, foreign
governments, academe, industry, industrial trade
associations, environmental groups, law firms, and
engineering firms. The database has a current
mailing list of approximately 2000.
Cost of Control Implications: Not applicable.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Collaboration
between ORD, Program Offices, Regional Offices,
and the private sector is necessary to access the
current treatability data for inclusion in the data-
base.
Point of Contact:
Glenn M. Shaul
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7408
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
40
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Developmenit
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WQA/U.S. EPA Evaluation of Ion Exchange Softening on
Corrosiveness of Drinking Water
Status of Project: The test pipe loop systems and
ion exchange systems are currently being installed.
Corrosion experiments are expected to begin in
October, 1992.
Project Description: This Water Quality Asso-
ciation (WQA)/USEPA joint project is an out-
growth of a new program under the Federal Tech-
nology Transfer Act.
The leaching of lead, copper, and other metals
from metallic materials in household plumbing
systems is impacted by the corrosiveness of the
distribution water. Numerous studies have been
conducted and are currently being conducted to
evaluate the effects of different water quality
constituents on the corrosion of household plumb-
ing materials. Although naturally soft, waters low
in total dissolved solids have been shown to be
corrosive, and no comprehensive studies have
been conducted to determine the corrosive effect
of ion exchange softening where the calcium and
magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions to
produce soft water. Additionally, little data exist
on the fate of various water quality constituents
that play an integral role in surface film develop-
ment or the corrosion of metals as they pass
through domestic water softeners.
The general goal of this project Is to determine if
domestic water softeners increase corrosion by-
products in household plumbing systems.
The specific objectives of this research are:
1. Evaluate the impact of domestic ion exchange
(DC) water softening on corrosion by-product
levels of lead and copper from common house-
hold plumbing materials of waters of two
different levels of hardness (-120 mg/L and
300 mg/L as CaCO3).
2. Determine if domestic IX water softening
produces changes in the chemical characteris-
tics of the water that potentially results in an
increase in corrosivity.
3. Determine whether domestic IX water soften-
ing can produce reversible changes of passiva-
tion surface films of domestic plumbing
systems.
Test pipe loop systems containing copper tubing,
copper pipe with 50:50 lead solder joints, galva-
nized pipe, lead pipe, and brass faucets will be
subjected to both untreated ground water and ion
exchange softened water to determine corrosivity.
Applicability: Data will be gathered that will be
useful to water utilities, WQA, and the USEPA to
determine the effect that ion exchange water
softeners have on the corrosion of plumbing
materials. These data could be used to help meet
the lead and copper regulations.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The outcome
of the project may be used by states, WQA (and its
members) and the USEPA to help understand if
water ion exchange softeners increase the
corrosivity of waters. If these systems show an
increase in corrosivity, then further work will be
necessary to find ways to reduce or prevent the
corrosion.
Point of Contact:
Thomas J. Sorg
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7370
FAX: (513)569-7185
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
41
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Municipal Solid Waste Innovative Technology Evaluation
(MITE) Program
Technology Description: This program provides
waste managers with information on the cost-
effectiveness and limitations of innovative munici-
pal solid waste (MSW) management treatment and
reduction methods. By doing so, the EPA hopes to
foster and accelerate the development and com
mercialization of innovative technologies and
management techniques for municipal solid waste.
Through cooperative efforts with private develop-
ers, new solutions to MSW management problems
can be obtained.
Eligible technologies or methodologies should
meet at least one of the following criteria:
Decrease final volume and/or toxicity of the
MSW stream.
Create a profitable and easily marketable end-
product using a portion of the MSW stream as
a feedstock.
Increase the marketability of recycled goods.
Be environmentally sound and economically
favorable.
Be of assistance to local waste managers in
selecting and implementing techniques for
solving their solid waste disposal problems.
Have a reasonable potential for acceptance and
commercialization.
Applicability: The cost of municipal solid waste
disposal has increased dramatically due to the
shortage of acceptable disposal options. There is a
need to develop higher quality options for manag-
ing the wastes that are generated by our complex
society. The MITE program was developed to aid
this process, and will combine the talents of the
participants private entrepreneurs, local and
State governments, waste management profession-
als, experienced scientists, engineers, and econo-
mists to develop and implement waste manage-
ment solutions.
The design and operation of the MITE demonstra-
tion is done by the Technology Developer. EPA
performs the evaluation by providing a complete
technical, environmental and economic analysis of
the selected technology. Although the EPA is not
providing funding to the developer, there are a
number of advantages:
An objective evaluation of the demonstration
or process
Useful data on equipment performance.
Environmental analysis.
Cost analysis.
Published report on the evaluation, and distri-
bution to municipal managers and others that
would ultimately be users of the technology.
This report serves as a marketing tool for the
private developer, or is used to target further
research.
Cost of Control Implications: Each individual
technology will have a different cost of control.
With the MITE evaluation, a thorough cost analy-
sis is done. A summary of the regulatory and
permit requirements that would be required for
full-scale implementation is also provided to the
technology developer.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The MITE
program provides an excellent opportunity for
collaboration. The chosen technologies receive a
thorough evaluation including the potential of the
technology to be accepted in the solid waste
management industry. There is an annual solicita-
tion for technologies in the fall.
Point of Contact:
Lynnann Hitchens
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45224
(513)569-7672
FAX: (513) 569-7879
September 1992
42
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Toxicity Reduction Evaluations at
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
Status of Technology: In 1984, EPA issued a
policy for developing water quality-based permit
limitations to control the discharge of toxic pollut-
ants through the nation's wastewater treatment
plants. Wastewater discharges are regulated by the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) under the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972 (FWPCA).
Until recently, EPA relied on chemical-specific
controls to limit toxic discharges from wastewater
treatment plants. This approach is problematic
since reliable toxicity data exist for only a few
compounds likely to remain in treatment plant
effluent. This problem has been mitigated by
including rapid bioassays of the waste stream to
provide a more comprehensive, yet cost effective,
analysis of the treatment plant's ability to remove
toxic substances from the waste stream.
Bioassays are used to determine whole effluent
toxicity in aquatic species such as the water flea
(Ceriodaphnia) or fathead minnow. Bioassays may
be acute (48 to 96 hour survival) or short-term
chronic (7 to 8 day survival, growth and reproduc-
tion). If toxicity is found in the effluent, bioassays
may be used to track the toxicity back through
treatment stages and the influent stream to deter-
mine the source of the toxicant. This process is
called a Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE).
The (TRE) Protocol for Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Plants provides a systematic framework
for conducting a TRE using bioassay endpoints.
The TRE Protocol is designed for use by Publicly
Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in conducting
TREs to meet NPDES whole effluent toxicity
permit limits.
Technology Description:
The overall objectives of a municipal TRE in-
clude:
Evaluation of the operation and performance of
the POTW to identify and correct treatment
deficiencies causing effluent toxicity.
Identification of toxic compounds causing
effluent toxicity.
Tracing the effluent toxicants to the sources.
Selection and implementation of toxicity
reduction methods or technologies to control
effluent toxicity.
The TRE Protocol describes the following meth-
ods and procedures:
TRE Design.
Implementation of a TRE plan.
Interpretation of results and data generated
during the TRE.
* A scientific and engineering basis for selection
and implementation of toxicity control meth-
ods.
Applicability: EPA has applied the Municipal
TRE Protocol to a number of POTW case studies
to ensure the effectiveness and flexibility of the
procedures. Current methods permit timely evalua-
tion of plant performance, identification of acute
and chronic toxicants, and techniques for rapid
screening of treatability methods for removal of
problematic toxicants.
Currently, work is underway at EPA to enhance
the chronic bioassay for more refined source
location and identification of specific toxicants.
Improved toxicant identification facilitates loca-
tion of the origin of toxic agents for source control,
or design of treatment processes targeted to the
removal of specific substances at the POTW.
Cost of Control Implications: Economic impli-
cations of TREs for municipal wastewater plants
are site-specific and range from simple modifica-
tions of operating conditions to total plant replace-
ment. Whenever possible, refractory toxicity
should be controlled at the source through an
effective pretreatment program.
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
43
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Toxicity Reduction Evaluations at
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
Opportunities for Collaboration: Future TRE contaminants in wastewater using recently devel-
development is needed in the area of refractory oped protocols.
toxicity assessment. This involves laboratory
simulation of wastewater treatment plants to reveal Pomt of Contact:
the presence of toxicants refractory to removal Richard A. Dobbs, Ph.D.
during treatment. This technology will permit U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
more effective analysis of separate influent sources Office of Research and Development
to identify origins of refractory toxicants, and Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
screening of potential treatment alternatives. In Cincinnati, OH 45268
addition, TRE concepts should be applied to the (513) 569-7649
assessment and control of bioconcentratable FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Biofilter Technology for Controlling Air
Emissions of Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
Status of Technology: Current commercial VOC
control technology includes two treatment approa-
ches for low to moderate VOC concentrations:
(1) isolating VOCs by adsorption on solids such as
activated carbon, then destroying thermally, and
(2) destroying VOCs biologically in conventional
air biofilters. High concentrations of VOCs near
the combustion limit can be incinerated.
Adsorption on solids such as activated carbon with
sorbent regeneration is expensive.
Conventional air biofilters using peat or soil media
require media replacement to prevent buildup of
excess biomass and pressure drop across the filter.
Thus they have not achieved major market pen-
etration.
Microorganisms
immobilized on
support pellets
Flowmeter
Periodic addition of
fresh nutrients
The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory of the
EPA, in cooperation with the University of Cincin-
nati, has developed gas-phase biofilters that rap-
idly and efficiently remove VOCs from air with
low pressure drop across the filter. The filter
design employs pelletized activated carbon or
porous-ceramic materials as support media, and
recirculated nutrient liquid to produce efficient
biodcg^dation (Process Scheme). One reactor
configuration employs straight-passage ceramic
media with high surface area per volume of filter.
A patent application has been filed on the im-
proved biofilters.
Technology Description: The combined sorp-
tion-biodegradation process in the biofilter has
achieved rapid (2 minutes) aerobic bioremediation
of the tested VOCs. 520 ppm of toluene, 140 ppm
of methylene chloride and 25 ppm of trichloroeth-
ylene were degraded (Process Performance).
The improved biofilter concept features the use of
niches (regions) in the biofilter where specific
microorganisms, adapted under controlled opera-
ting conditions, efficiently degrade specific VOCs.
The coinventors of the improved biofilter found
that the biomass on the filter achieved high cell
density and rapid degradation rates. The straight-
passage reactor configuration offers continuous
operation without media replacement. The
straight-passage reactor produces low pressure
drop in the filter and permits excess biomass
release from the filter.
Applicability: VOC air emissions pose potential
health risks. Dominant VOC sources include direct
industrial and commercial releases; contaminated
Process Performance - Pelletized, Activated-Carbon Media:
Retention Time = 2 minutes
Air Contaminated
with VOCs
Nutrient
Storage
Tank
pump
Process Scheme
Contaminant
Chemicals
Toluene
Methylenechloride
Trichloroethylene
Acclimated
Operations
(Days)
105
105
105
VOC
Removal
(Percent)
100
100
100
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
45
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Biofilter Technology for Controlling Air
Emissions of Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
drinking water, ground water and wastewater; and technology under the Federal Technology Transfer
releases from Superfund and RCRA sites. VOCs Act. The selected private firm will participate in
are regulated by CAA, RCRA and CERCLA air further development and marketing of the EPA
emissions requirements. biofilter concepts for VOC control.
Cost of Control Implications: Cost estimates Point of Contact:
using EPA costing models for alternative VOC
control technologies and RREL estimates for the . Subhas Sikdar
air biofilter reveal substantially lower costs for the U'S> Envir°nmental Protection Agency
air biofilter technology at VOC concentrations Offlce of Research and Development
lower than those that permit sustained combustion. Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Principal costs for the biofilter are associated with Cincinnati, OH 45268
the pressure drop across the filter. (513) 569-7528
FAX: (513) 569-7787
Opportunities for Collaboration: The EPA
plans to competitively select a private firm and September 1992
develop an exclusive licensing agreement for the
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Bioventing: An In-Situ Bioprocess for
Detoxifying Contaminated Soils
Status of Technology: Current field research in
RREL is being conducted in collaboration with the
U.S. Air Force (except for the Reilly Tar Site).
Ongoing projects include:
Bioventing of jet fuel in shallow soils in a cold
climate. The study features evaluation of in-
situ soil warming methods at Eielson Air Force
Base, AK.
Bioventing of jet fuel in very deep soils. The
study features optimization of air flow rate to
maximize biodegradation and minimize vola-
tilization of the petroleum wastes at Hill Air
Force Base, UT.
Bioventing of PAH-contaminated soils at
Reilly Tar Superfund Site, MN.
Bioventing demonstrations at 80 Air Force
sites. The data will be used in developing a
guidance document for field implementation.
Full-scale bioventing demonstration with jet
fuel contamination at FE Warren Air Force
Base, WY.
Technology Description: Bioventing is the
process of delivering oxygen by forced air move-
ment to contaminated unsaturated soils in order to
stimulate biodegradation of hazardous organic
contamination. Unlike the physical/chemical
processes of soil vacuum extraction and soil
venting where large flow rates of air are forced
through contaminated soils to remove volatile
organic compounds, bioventing employs low air
flow rates that provide only the necessary amount
of oxygen for biodegradation while minimizing
volatilization. In its most simple form, bioventing
can be implemented by either injecting air through
a screened well into the plume (see figure) or by
withdrawing air through a screened well, thereby
drawing air into the contaminated soil from the
surrounding clean soil. Depending on the spatial
distribution of the contaminated area, various
combinations of injection and withdrawal wells
can be installed to optimize the distribution of air
at a particular site.
A Simple Bioventing Configuration
Conceptual design of a simple bioventing process. Air injection and soil gas monitoring wells are shown.
Dark area is plume of contaminated soil.
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
47
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Bioveriting: An In-Situ Bioprocess for
Detoxifying Contaminated Soils
Applicability: The bioventing process can de-
stroy hazardous organic wastes in situ in unsatur-
ated soils. Thus, naturally unsaturated or dewa-
tered contaminated soils can be treated with
bioventing. All types of soil are potentially appli-
cable, although highly permeable soils are favor-
able. All aerobically biodegradable contaminants
can be treated, including petroleum-based con-
taminants, nonchlorinated solvents, PAHs, BTEX,
and others.
Advantages of the Bioventing Process:
An in-situ technology - no excavation costs.
Contamination is destroyed - no subsequent
treatment or disposal costs.
Low operating cost.
Treats volatile and non-volatile biodegradable
organics.
Cost of Control Implications: Results from
research studies have shown that, for example, jet
fuel levels in sandy soils can be reduced below
detection limits in 2 to 3 years, with the BTEX
fraction removed in roughly 6 months. Costs
depend on the site, but are likely to be between $5
and $25 per ton of soil.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Several
potential areas for collaboration exist. Bioventing
must be proven for situations other than highly
porous soils and petroleum contamination. Thus,
collaboration could entail demonstration of
bioventing in. low permeability soil and with other
classes of aerobically degradable contaminants
such as nonchlorinated solvents and low molecular
weight aliphatics and aromatics. Collaborative
efforts could also be directed to the development
of novel air injection and withdrawal networks to
optimize biodegradation and minimize volatiliza-
tion.
Point of Contact:
Gregory D. Sayles, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7607
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
48
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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EPANET Water Quality Model for
Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Status of Technology: EPANET is currently in
beta-testing. The final version is scheduled for
completion in October 1992.
Technology Description: EPANET is a computer
program that performs extended period simulation
of hydraulic and water quality behavior within
water distribution networks. It tracks the flow of
water in each pipe, the pressure at each pipe
junction, the height of water in each tank, and the
concentration of a contaminant throughout the
network during a multi-time period simulation.
Water age and source tracing can also be simu-
lated. EPANET runs on IBM-compatible personal
computers and UNIX workstations. An optional
Microsoft Windows user interface allows one to
interactively run EPANET and view its results in a
variety of ways on a map of the pipe network.
Applicability: EPANET can be useful for calibrat-
ing network hydraulic models, designing water
quality sampling programs, analyzing the loss of
disinfectant residual, and performing drinking
water exposure risk assessments. It can provide
insight into how changes in water source utiliza-
tion, pumping water storage levels, use of satellite
treatment, and targeted pipe cleaning and replace-
ment would affect drinking water quality.
EPANET is currently being used to evaluate such
questions at a number of water utilities throughout
the country.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Establish
agreements/contracts for marketing and publishing
the EPANET software and for providing technical
support to users.
Provide new features to the program such as a
graphical user interface for Unix workstations or
linkages to CAD and GIS software.
Provide new features to the program such as a
graphical interface for Unix workstations or
linkages to CAD and GIS software.
Apply the model in innovative ways at water
utilities facing unique water quality problems and
publish the results in scientific journals.
Point of Contact:
Lewis A. Rossman
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7603
FAX: (513)569-7185
September 1992
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
49
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Pollution Prevention through Process Simulation
Issue: Pollution prevention (P2) encourages the
development and adoption of process technologies
and products that minimize the generation of
hazardous contaminants and their release into the
environment. P2 research therefore involves
assessing new or existing processes and products
either at the initial design stage or afterwards to
determine the mechanics behind contaminant
generation and release. Once these mechanisms
are understood, modifications ranging from simple
operational changes to total process or product re-
design can be implemented to optimize for
minimum contaminant generation. Process
simulation, or modeling of a process using state-
of-the-art computer software, can be a valuable
tool to a process optimization.
Process simulation is widely used in the chemical
process and petroleum industries. It accurately
supports pilot plant tests through characterization
and simulation of technical performance, and also
prediction of the influence of important process
parameters. The economic advantages of
simulation are that it can perform equipment size
and cost calculations as well as operating cost
calculations.
Despite the significant capabilities of process
simulation to optimize for performance and cost,
there has been relatively little effort to incorporate
environmental concerns into simulation packages.
It is now widely believed that process simulation
can play an important role in pollution prevention
research. Simulation of the wide range of
industrial processes by incorporating environmen-
tal concerns would provide a cost-effective way to
understand and minimize the formation and release
of hazardous by-products.
Current Activities: Work is being undertaken at
the EPA's Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
(RREL) to determine how the powerful advantages
of process simulation can best be incorporated into
pollution prevention research and development.
Current plans are to convene a workshop on this
topic for December 8 and 9 of this year. Planning
for the workshop is being done jointly by RREL,
DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies and
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, and AIChE's Center
for Waste Reduction Technologies. Participants
are being sought from academia, simulation
package developers, process industries, design
firms, and government.
The goal of the workshop is to decide on the
course of action to take in using computer
simulation methods to evaluate industrial process
designs for pollution prevention potential. This
will lead to in-house as well as extramural research
that can stimulate and accelerate the evaluation of
industrial process alternatives.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
EPA is envisioning a collaborative project
between government, industry, and academia
to develop both general and specific (e.g.,
paint or electroplating) industrial process
simulation packages.
Points of Contact:
Harry E. Bostian, Ph.D.
or
Jordan M. Sponer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7619
FAX: (513) 569-7787
September 1992
so
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research
51
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Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens
Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens ~
Office of Research and Development
-------
Anaerobic/Aerobic Bioremediation
Issue: A significant fraction of our freshwater and
marine sediments are contaminated with hazardous
organic chemicals, such as PCBs,
hexachlorobenzene, PAHs, DDT, and chlordane.
Remediation of such sediments has historically
involved dredging the contaminated sediment and
storing it in a confined disposal facility (CDF).
Storage in a CDF merely moves the problem
without cleaning up the pollution. Without new
technologies such as bioremediation, CDFs will
continue to be the remediation method of choice.
The development of bioremediation options that
can treat waste in situ or in the CDF is needed.
Both aerobic and anaerobic technologies will be
needed to degrade the variety of contaminating
organic chemicals currently found in sediments.
Research will have to combine a basic component
that investigates the physiology of the microorgan-
isms that degrade these compounds, a component
that addresses the environmental factors and
reactor characteristics that can influence the rates
of degradation, a technology assessment compo-
nent, and a field validation component.
Current Activities: The mission of the
Bioremediation Research Program at the Environ-
mental Research Laboratory-Athens is to advance
the understanding, development, and application
of anaerobic bioremediation solutions to hazardous
waste problems threatening human health and the
environment. The program is designed to strike a
balance between basic research activities leading
to a fundamental understanding of anaerobic
degradation processes and engineering activities
leading to practical applications of the underlying
science to accomplish environmental clean-up.
The current research program stresses ten related
areas.
1. Microbial Degradation of Creosote-Derived
Compounds in Natural and Laboratory Envi-
ronments.
2. Anaerobic Degradation of Creosote Compo-
nents and Dechlorination of Chlorophenols:
Microbial Interactions.
3. Effects of Nonionic Surfactants on Microbial
Anaerobic Dechlorination of Hazardous
Organic Compounds.
4. Decontamination of PCB-Contaminated
Sediments Through the Use of Bioremediation
Technologies.
5. Characterization of Microorganisms, Microbial
Consortia and Microbial Processes for the
Reductive Dechlorination of Hazardous
Wastes.
6. Bioremediation of Soils and Sediments Con-
taminated with Aromatic Amines.
7. Effects of Metals on Reductive Dechlorination.
8. Anaerobic Biotransformation of Munitions
Waste.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
1. Conduct field and pilot scale studies to evalu-
ate the effectiveness of anaerobic
bioremediation as a commercial process.
2. Develop engineering designs for conducting
anaerobic/aerobic cycling in field operations.
3. Develop engineering designs to modify Con-
fined Disposal Facilities to enhance the degra-
dation of hazardous organic chemicals.
Key Publications:
Struijs, J. and J. E. Rogers. 1989. Reductive
dehalogenation of dichloroanilines by anaero-
bic microorganisms in fresh and
dichlorophenol-adapted pond sediment. Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 55: 2527-2531.
Bryant, F. O., D. D. Hale, and J. E. Rogers. 1991.
Regiospecific dechlorination of pentachlo-
54 Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens
Office of Research and Development
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Anaerobic/Aerobic Bioremediation
rophenol by dichlorophenol-adapted microor- Contact Person:
ganisms in freshwater, anaerobic sediment , .., p p,
slurries. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:2293- TTC c John b' Ko^rs' Fn;u-
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Research Laboratory
Athens, GA 30613-0801
(706) 546-3592
FAX: (706)546-2018
September 1992
Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens
Office of Research and Development
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Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis
Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis __
Office of Research and Development
-------
U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis, OR
Issue: Diverse industrial, agricultural and military
practices have resulted in the degradation and
pollution of natural ecosystems and habitats.
Ecosystem management provides a framework and
essential scientific methodology for the assessment
and mitigation of site specific to regional scale
environmental problems. Development of reveg-
etation strategies for restoration of given sites and
habitats to acceptable levels of ecosystem structure
and function are sought. Specific types of sites
and habitats that are of interest include those
contaminated by hazardous wastes and heavy
metals, agricultural pesticides, wood preservatives
or munitions.
Current Activities: The Environmental Research
Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, has capabilities
to conduct research on the effects of toxic chemi-
cals and introduced organisms on terrestrial eco-
systems.
Research interests include:
Developing revegetation and ecosystem resto-
ration strategies for disturbed and polluted sites
Enhancing beneficial plant-microbial interac-
tions to minimize and mitigate the effects of
pollutants and stressors
Assessing the effects of introduced plants and
microbes on food webs, plant-herbivore inter-
actions, species diversity and ecosystem
processes
Developing protocols to assess the effects of
plant and microbial pest control and
remediation agents on non-target plant, micro-
bial and invertebrate species
Formulating strategies to enhance or mitigate
the survival and dissemination of biological
pest control and remediation agents.
Risk assessment of genetically altered mi-
crobes and plants.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Development of methods and strategies to
use plant/microbe consortia to facilitate reveg-
etation of disturbed, hazardous, or otherwise
ecologically impacted sites.
Development of protocols for risk assess-
ment of transgenic plants. Methods are
currently available to evaluate fate and effects
of transgenic gene products.
Development of test kits and bioassays to
characterize sites and to develop optimal
remediation, restoration and revegetation
strategies for given types of pollutants, eco-
systems and habitats.
Development of multi-species indicator tests
and probes to assess the functional status and
community structure of degraded and stressed
ecosystems.
Modeling and measurement of dispersal of
airborne particles, such as microbial
remediation or pest control agents or plant
pollen.
Microcosm and greenhouse testing facilities
for protocol development for risk assessment
of plant and microbial pest control and
remediation agents.
Key Publications:
Armstrong, J.L., G.R. Knudsen and R.J.
Seidler. 1987. Microcosm Method to Assess
Survival of Recombinant Bacteria Associated
with Plants and Herbivorous Insects. Current
Microbiol. 15:229-232.
Donegan, K.,C. Matyac, R.J. Seidler, and A.
Porteous. Evaluation of methods for sampling,
recovery, and enumeration of bacteria applied
to the phylloplane. 1991. Appl. Environ.
Microbiol. 57:51-56.
Donegan, K., V. Fieland, N. Fowles, L.
Ganio, and R.J. Seidler. 1992. Efficacy of
burning, tillage, and biocides in controlling
bacteria released at field sites and the effects
on indigenous bacteria and fungi. Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 58:1207-1214.
58 Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis
Office of Research and Development
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U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis, OR
James, R.R., J.C. Miller and B. Lighthart. The
Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki on
a Beneficial Insect, The Cinnabar Moth (Lepi-
doptera: Arctiiade). J. Econ. Entomol, manu-
script review.
Ingham, E.R., L.K. Gander, J.D. Doyle, and
C.W. Hendricks. 1993. Assessing interactions
between the soil foodweb and a strain of
Pseudomonas putida genetically engineered to
degrade 2,4-D. Ecological Engr., in press.
Lighthart, B. and J. Kim. 1989. Simulation of
airborne microbial droplet transport. Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 55:2349-2355.
Pfender, W.F., U. Sharma and W. Zhang, 1991.
Effect of water potential on microbial antago-
nism to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in wheat
residue. Mycological Research 95: 308-314.
Porteous, L.A. and J.L. Armstrong. 1991. Re-
covery of Bulk DNA from Soil by a Rapid,
Small-Scale Extraction Method. Current
Microbiol. 22:345-348
Rhodes, A.N. and C.W. Hendricks. 1990. A
Continuous-Flow Method for Measuring
Effects of Chemicals on Soil Nitrification.
Tox. Assess. 5: 77-89.
Watrud, L.S, FJ. Perlak, M.T. Tran, K.
Kusano, M.A. Miller-Wideman, M.G.
Obukowicz, D.R. Nelson, J.P. Kreitinger, and
R.J. Kaufman. 1985. Cloning of the Bacillus
thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Delta-Endotoxin
Gene into Pseudomonas fluorescens: Molecu-
lar Biology and Ecology of an Engineered
Microbial Pesticide, p.40-46. In: Engineered
Organisms in the Environment: Scientific
Issues. Halvorson, H.O., Pramer, D. and M.
Rogul (Eds.).
Contact Person:
Lidia S. Watrud, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Research Laboratory
Corvallis, OR 97333
(503) 754-4874
FAX: (503)754-4711
September 1992
Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis
Office of Research and Development
59
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Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Office of Research and Development
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Biotechnology
Issue: An emerging biotechnology industry is
using genetic engineering techniques to develop
new biological products for medicine, agriculture
and environmental restoration. EPA has responsi-
bility under federal laws to regulate commercial
biotechnological products and to evaluate the
environmental impact of deliberate or accidental
release of microorganisms. Expertise in molecular
biology, genetics, biochemistry, and microbial
ecology provides the basis for environmental fate
and effects studies that support the development of
methods to minimize any adverse consequences
from the release of an increasing number and
variety of genetically engineered organisms.
Factors that influence their survival and coloniza-
tion in the environment and transfer mechanisms
of genetic material to other environmental micro-
organisms are being researched.
Current Activities: The Microbial Ecology and
Biotechnology Branch of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Gulf Breeze Environmental
Research Laboratory conducts research to predict
potential risks caused by release of genetically
engineered microorganisms in the environment.
Research is conducted in-house and extramurally
to: 1) develop methods and guidance for deter-
mining the potential risk of accidentally or deliber-
ately released GEMs or MPCAs into the environ-
ment, 2) establish methods for the determination of
the survival/colonization potential of microorgan-
isms upon release into the environment, 3) deter-
mine the fate and effects of bioengineered organ-
isms on stressed aquatic ecosystems using mercury
as a model system (studies involve effects of these
microorganisms on the structure and function of
the indigenous microbial communities and the fate
of added mercury), 4) determine mechanisms of
genetic transfer and subsequent effects on bacterial
communities, 5) determine the feasibility of
developing bacterial strains (or plasmids) whereby
the death of the cell can be controlled under
conditions set by the investigator, 6) use of nucleic
acid probes to assess changes in microbial commu-
nity structure that might occur from environmental
stresses, 7) establish microcosms procedures
which can test the ability of a microorganism to
survive and colonize in the environment (by
assessing the variability among microcosms,
differences between microcosms and the field, and
changes that occur in microcosms/field sites over
time), and 8) measure carbon and nitrogen isotope
ratios in bacterial nucleic acids and field samples
to determine the amount of growth substrate
available in open estuarine waters and enclosed
salt marshes and identify the source of organic
matter available to bacteria.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Specific areas of research identified above.
Field test or apply results from above research
activities to proposed releases of genetically
engineered microorganisms.
Develop techniques to examine the expression
and transmission of genetic information within
an ecosystem and how that event affects
community structure and function.
Develop the use of 16S RNA probing tech-
niques to determine changes in microbial
community structure and its relationship to
microbial community functions.
Develop mathematical models as predictive
tools and apply them to studies in environmen-
tal exposure, such as microbe dissemination
and gene transfer, and environmental effects
from introduced non-indigenous organisms and
GEMS.
Develop and refine methods for detection,
enumeration and fate of microorganisms.
Use stable isotopes to follow the fate of or-
ganic carbon and nitrogen in bacteria as a
means of studying the effects of environment
stress on trophic dynamics.
62 Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Office of Research and Development
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Biotechnology
Key Publications:
Barkay, T., R. Turner, A. VandenBrook, and C.
Liebert. 1991. Relationships of Hg(H) Vola-
tilization from a Freshwater Pond to the Abun-
dance of mer Genes in the Gene Pool of the
Indigenous Microbial Community. Microb.
Ecol. 21(2):151-161. (ERL,GB710).
Coffin, Richard B., David J. Velinsky, Richard
Devereux, William Allen Price, and Luis A.
Cifuentes. 1990. Stable Carbon Isotope
Analysis of Nucleic Acids to Trace Sources of
Dissolved Substrate Used by Estuarine Bacte-
ria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56(7):2012-
2020. (ERL,GB 658).
Kroer, Niels, and Richard B. Coffin. 1992. Mi-
crobial Trophic Interactions in Aquatic Micro-
cosms Developed for Testing Genetically
Engineered Microorganisms: a Field Compari-
son. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 23(2):143-
157. (ERL,GB708).
Contact Person:
Hap Pritchard, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Research Laboratory
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-5299
(904) 934-9260
September 1992
Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Office of Research and Development
63
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Bioremediation of Toxic Chemicals
Issue: Enhanced biological removal of toxic
chemicals is an inexpensive, non-destructive
approach to the cleanup of hazardous waste sites
(bioremediation). Biodegradation research exam-
ines how microorganisms degrade chemicals and
how environmental factors effect the biodegrada-
tion processes.
One bioremediation approach involves the use of
bacteria with the ability to degrade various man-
made chemicals. Examples include bacteria able to
degrade the cleaning solvent, trichloroethylenc, a
suspected carcinogen; wood preservating chemi-
cals, such as pentachlorophenol and creosote; and
oil and petroleum products. These studies provide
information about the biodegradability of pollut-
ants in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Strat-
egies are developed to promote biodegradatiori at
hazardous waste sites and to relate laboratory
studies to conditions in the field. Field studies are
also conducted to validate data obtained from
laboratory studies.
Chemical analyses can not always detect degraded
or transformed chemicals that are environmentally
toxic, nor can they resolve synergistic or antago-
nistic effects of multiple contaminants. Assays
based on biological criteria, however, integrate all
toxicant effects, measurable or not, in a scientifi-
cally defendable, environmentally prudent strategy
for assessment.
Current Activities: The Microbial Ecology
Biotechnology Branch of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Gulf Breeze Environmental
Research Laboratory conducts research to develop
and/or enhance the ability of microbes to degrade
toxic chemicals in the environment and to assess
the environmental safety of remediation. Research
is conducted in-house and extramurally to 1)
generate basic research information on microbial
degradative capabilities (aerobic and anaerobic)
and their enhancement to develop inexpensive and
effective biological approaches for cleaning up
hazardous and toxic wastes in the environment, 2)
define microbiological and environmental factors
that might enhance the extent and rate of biodegra-
dation, 3) isolate microorganisms with novel and
specific degradative capabilities, 4) determine the
usefulness of genetically engineered microbes to
detoxify hazardous waste, 5) isolate and character-
ize microorganisms which degrade specific prob-
lem chemicals such as trichloroethylene, PCBs,
PAHs, pesticides etc., 6) determine mechanisms
of pesticide biodegradation in aquatic sediments
and in ground-water environments and investigate
the metabolic potential of bacterial communities to
degrade different structural analogs of specified
pesticides, 7) determine the ability of bacteria to
transform heavy metals (e.g., mercury) into forms
that are not biologically available and examine
environmental factors involved in modifying these
processes for field applications, and 8) conduct
ecological monitoring studies to gather informa-
tion to minimize potential adverse ecological
effects due to eutrophication as a result of nutrient
additions, toxicity due to different chemical frac-
tions and direct uptake of components by marine
biota.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Basic research project areas identified above.
Elucidate mechanisms responsible for the
process of cometabolism. Define the condi-
tions responsible for cometabolism and exem-
plify how specific growth substrates direct the
routes by which a bacterial population trans-
forms non-growth substrates.
Evaluate microbial oxygenases for novel
degradative potential,
Perform microcosm studies to evaluate the
effectiveness of adding microorganisms,
nutrients, emulsifiers, etc. to contaminated
sediments to enhance the rate of biodegrada-
tion of chemical contaminants.
Apply bioremediation technologies developed
through above research to field conditions and
examine the rate and extent of disappearance
of parent compound, the degradation products
64 Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Office of Research and Development
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Bioremediation of Toxic Chemicals
formed, including metabolites, and conditions
for optimization of treatability.
Develop bioassay assessment strategies to
provide comprehensive and scientifically
defendable toxicity data for hazardous waste
sites and remediation efforts. Conduct toxicity
tests to determine sensitivity of fish, crusta-
cean, early life stages offish, and fertilized fish
eggs to chemically contaminated materials.
Key Publications:
Shields, Malcolm S., Stacy O. Montgomery,
Stephen M. Cuskey Peter J. Chapman, and
P.H. Pritchard. 1991. Mutants of Pseudomo-
nas cepacia G4 Defective in Catabolism of
Aromatic Compounds and Trichloroethylene.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57(7):1935-1941.
(ERL, GB 730).
Mueller, James G., Suzanne E. Lantz, Beat O.
Blattmann, and Peter J. Chapman. 1991.
Bench-Scale Evaluation of Alternative Bio-
logical Treatment Processes for the
Remediation of Pentachlorophenol- and Creo-
sote-Contaminated Materials: Solid-Phase
Bioremediation. Environ. Sci. Technol.
25(6):1045-1055. (ERL,GB 722).
Mueller, James G., Suzanne E. Lantz, Beat O.
Blattmann, and Peter J. Chapman. 1991.
Bench-Scale Evaluation of Alternative Bio-
logical Treatment Processes for the
Remediation of Pentachlorophenol- and Creo-
sote-Contaminated Materials: Slurry-Phase
Bioremediation. Environ. Sci. Technol.
25(6):1055-1061. (ERL,GB 721).
Mueller, James G., Douglas P. Middaugh, Suzanne
E. Lantz, and Peter J. Chapman. 1991. Bio-
degradation of Creosote and Pentachlorophe-
nol in Contaminated Groundwater: Chemical
and Biological Assessment. Appl. Environ.
Microbiol. 57(5):1277-1285. (ERL,GB 728).
Contact Person:
Hap Pritchard, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Research Laboratory
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-5299
(904) 934-9260
September 1992
Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
Office of Research and Development
65
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Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory - Ada
67
Office of Research and Development
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Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research
Laboratory (RSKERL) serves as the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency's center for ground-water
research, focusing its efforts on investigations
related to the transport and transformation of
contaminants in the subsurface, the development
of methods and techniques directed toward the
protection and restoration of ground-water quality,
and evaluating the applicability and limitations of
using natural soil and subsurface processes for the
treatment of hazardous wastes.
The Laboratory has a long history of conducting
basic and applied research related to the use of soil
and subsurface media for waste treatment and the
protection of surface and groundwater. In addition
to its research on ground-water quality protection
and restoration, RSKERL has historically been at
the vanguard in developing and demonstrating
cost-effective treatment technologies for munici-
pal, industrial, and agricultural wastes.
RSKERL carries out its research responsibilities
through in-house projects as well as cooperative
efforts with other EPA laboratories, universities,
national research laboratories, state organizations
and a number of other federal agencies including
the Department of Defense.
RSKERL is currently evaluating technologies
which may be useful tools for site remediation:
Geographical Information System (CIS)- GIS is a
technology used to provide data entry, storage,
manipulation, analysis, and display of geographic,
environmental, cultural, statistical, and political
data in a common spatial framework. GIS tech
nology bridges the disciplines of computer sci
ence, information management, cartography, and
environmental management. RSKERL is actively
using GIS technology for: 1) data management and
computer modeling visualization of RSKERL's
large scale physical aquifers; 2) site characteriza-
tion and ground-water modeling through the
Technology Support Center; 3) technical support
and computer modeling and visualization for
EPA's Wellhead Protection Program; and 4) site
characterization and modeling at field research
sites.
Subsurface Remediation - RSKERL is actively
researching and developing technologies designed
to decrease the time frames required for
remediation of contaminated sites. In situ
bioremediation to enhance standard pump and treat
technologies may be effective at lowering time
frames necessary for remediation of contaminated
sites. Technologies such as co-solvent and surfac-
tant flooding are also being evaluated to increase
the efficiency of standard pump and treat systems.
For metal contaminants, a variety of biotic and
abiotic technologies are being developed which
either immobilize contaminants or increase recov-
ery efficiencies from contaminated aquifers.
Mathematical Modeling - RSKERL scientists are
developing and testing a variety of mathematical
models that describe and predict contaminant
transport in porous and fractured media under a
variety of conditions from biodegradation to
immiscible flow. From planning and evaluating
remediation scenarios to identifying wellhead
protection areas and permitting injection wells,
mathematical modeling is becoming an increas-
ingly important tool in Agency decision making.
Technical Assistance: In 1987, in order to make
EPA's Office of Research and Development
scientists more accessible to Regional decision
makers, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER) provided direct funding to
ORD laboratories in Las Vegas, NV, Cincinnati,
OH, Athens, GA, and Ada, OK, to establish
Superfund Technology Support Centers.
The RSKERL Technology Support Center consists
of a Core Team of scientists and engineers sup-
ported by RSKERL in-house and extramural
researchers, the RSKERL Center for Subsurface
Modeling Support and technology support contrac-
tors and consultants. In addition to Superfund,
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory - Ada
Office of Research and Development
-------
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
which remains the major client, the RSKERL Contact Person:
Technology Support Center provides assistance to H h H R sell
Headquarters and to Regional and State personnel Environmental Protection Agency
responsible for RCRA Corrective Action Under- Robert ^ Environmenta^
ground Storage Tanks, Pesticides and the Under- Research Laboratory
ground Injection Control Programs. These activi- ., OK 74820
ties not only provide a "real world" testing ground ,'. 332-8800
for research results but aid RSKERL scientists in A$, /Lc, aao ooon
., . ..... , , r/\A.. v.'tUJ) jjZ-ooUU
focusing on high pnority research needs.
September 1992
Roberts. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory - Ada
1 69
Office of Research and Development
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Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
71
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Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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MIXTOX Toxicologic Interaction Data Base
Technology Description: EPA has statutory
requirements to conduct evaluations of exposures
to environmental chemicals in terms of public
health risk. Most exposures are to mixtures or
multiple chemicals. The Agency's mixtures risk
assessment guidelines require an evaluation of
potential toxicologic interactions in order to
determine the validity of the Hazard Index (the
most common mixture assessment method) and the
need for modifications of the Index. Single chemi-
cal information such as exists in hazard assessment
documents or on IRIS is inadequate for assessing
these interactions. The MIXTOX information
system is the Agency's primary resource on
toxicologic interaction data. This data base then
facilitates site-specific modification of the general
approach for assessing health risk from chemical
mixtures.
The MIXTOX information system is a self-con-
tained software package for the IBM-compatible
or Macintosh personal computer. Data presenta-
tion includes summaries of specific interaction
evaluations as well as summaries across studies to
show degree of consistency for the same chemical
pair. The data in MIXTOX are obtained from all
available published studies on toxicologic interac-
tions. The goal is to be complete, not merely
representative. Exposure and toxicity are briefly
described. The interaction is characterized by type
(e.g., synergism, antagonism) and significance
(e.g., toxicologic, pharmacokinetic).
Current Activities: The MIXTOX data base is
being revised to include references through 1991.
It also forms part of the Agency training on the
mixtures risk assessment guidelines and is being
used by risk assessors in EPA and the public
sector. Currently, interaction potential is only
expressed qualitatively in mixture assessments.
Research is in progress to develop a weigh t-of-
evidence (WOE) procedure for toxicologic interac-
tions as well as quantitative indicators of consis
tency across studies. As these procedures develop,
mechanisms will be sought to incorporate the
WOE and consistency evaluations into the sum-
mary tables of MIXTOX. A Risk Assessment
Forum workshop is planned on interaction data
and possible uses in risk assessment. Following
that workshop, methods will be investigated for
incorporating information into MIXTOX from the
carcinogen interaction data published by EPA's
Office of Toxic Substances.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Develop efficient procedures for marketing
and maintaining MIXTOX, including up-
dating and quality assurance.
Develop two related data bases on interaction
mechanisms from in vivo studies and interac-
tion descriptions from in vitro studies. These
data bases will be linked to MIXTOX when
they become available.
Investigate quantitative methods for modifying
or replacing the Hazard Index to incorporate
toxicologic interaction potential, and modify-
ing MIXTOX to allow Hazard Index calcula-
tion.
Key Publications:
Mumtaz, M.M. and R.C. Hertzberg. 1992. The
status of interactions data in risk assessment of
chemical mixtures, in press.
USEPA. 1988. Technical Support Document on
Risk Assessment of Chemical Mixtures EPA/
600/8-90/064.
Contact Person:
Dr. Richard C. Hertzberg
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7582
FAX: (513)569-7916
September 1992
74
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Frontiers in Human Health Risk Assessment
Technology Description: Numerous federal and
state agencies use risk assessments as a basis of
their rules and regulations concerning environmen-
tal pollution and clean up. High interest in the
science of risk assessment is also evident at the
White House through the formation of an ad hoc
committee on risk assessment under the Federal
Coordinating Committee on Science, Engineering
and Technology (FCCSET). Calls for a presiden-
tial executive order on environmental risk assess-
ment and management policy have also been made
(Federal Focus, 1991, Toward Common Measures,
Federal Focus Inc., Washington, D.C.).
All of these activities are prompted, in part, by the
U.S. National Academy of Sciences 1983 report
on risk assessment in the federal government
(NAS, 1983, Risk Assessment in the Federal
Government: Managing the Process, National
Academy Press, Washington, D.C.). This report
frames both a fuller discussion of risk assessment
activities within the United States and necessary
improvements through research and rational
applications. Based on the NAS framework,
EPA's Office of Research and Development has
improved this area of science. Listed below are
opportunities for collaborative work.
Current Activities: The Cincinnati, OH, Envi-
ronmental Criteria and Assessment Office
(ECAO) is located at the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency's Andrew W. Breidenbach Environ-
mental Research Center. ECAO is a
multidisciplinary group of scientists dedicated to
the advancement and under-standing of risk
assessment. ECAO specializes in risk assessments
of chemical mixtures and noncancer effects for
humans, but also has expertise in the assessment of
cancer effects for humans and ecologic effects.
Programmatically, ECAO is involved in air; soil
and water pollution; sludge and municipal solid
waste comparative risk; recyclables, Superfund
sites; Federal facilities; and combined ecologic and
human health risk.
ECAO's multiple expertise and vision places it
squarely in the broad range of risk assessment
activities. ECAO's work defines the cutting edge
of risk assessment science. ECAO has developed
well over 1000 chemical- or mixture-specific risk
assessments, many of which form the basis of
current U.S. rules and regulations. ECAO also has
over 120 risk assessment technical publications.
Several of these publications have invented new
areas of risk assessment and will lead to holistic
new paradyms.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Developing and updating chemicals-
biologicals-specific risk assessments for some
agents of common interest to be placed on
EPA's Integrated Risk Information System
(IRIS); Health Risk Assessment; Guidelines,
53 FR 20162, 1988.
Apply novel categorical regression methods
for estimating human noncancer health risk
above EPA's Reference Dose (RfD) and
Reference Concentration (RfC) for chemicals
of common interest, which are on EPA's IRIS:
Hertzberg, R. C, 1989. Fitting a model to
categorical response data with application to
special extrapolation to toxicity. Hlth. Phys.
57(Suppl.l):404-409.
Estimate site-specific consumption advisories
for contaminated fish using information on
EPA's IRIS and published EPA methods:
Dourson, M.L. and J.M. Clark, 1990. Fish
consumption advisories: Toward a unified,
scientifically credible approach. Reg. Tox.
Pharm. 12:165-172.
Apply novel EPA methods for combining
toxicity data from several studies in order to
estimate cancer risk for chemicals of common
interest, which are on EPA's IRIS: Dr. Rita
Schoeny, U.S. EPA, 513-569-7544.
Develop structure-activity relationship (SAR)
techniques to estimate the likely range of
Reference Dose (RfD) or Reference Concen-
tration (RfC) for chemicals of common inter-
est, which have few if any toxicity data: Ms.
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
75
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Frontiers in Human Health Risk Assessment
Cindy Sonich-MuUin, U.S. EPA,
(513) 569-7523.
Apply novel benchmark dose methods for
estimating RfDs and RfDs for chemicals of
common interest, which are on EPA's IRIS:
Dourson, M.L. et at, 1985. Novel methods for
the estimation of acceptable daily intake. Tox.
Ind. Him. l(4)L23-33.
Develop comparative risk assessment tech-
niques for human health for municipal solid
waste reuse and disposal options (i.e., recy-
cling, composting, incineration, and
landfilling): Dr. Michael Dourson, U.S. EPA,
513-569-7533.
Develop communication strategies for risk
assessment information and technology trans-
fer capability of risk assessment techniques:
Dr. Charlotte Cottrill, U.S. EPA, 513-569-
7221.
Develop common measures for ecological and
human health risk assessment involving both
theoretical and field work: Dr. Norman
Kowal, U.S. EPA, 513-569-7584.
Contact Person:
Terry Harvey, D.V.M.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7531
FAX: (513)569-7475
September 1992
76
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Integrated Risk Information System
Technology Description: High quality, consistent
human health risk assessment information is
needed by risk assessors and managers to ensure
the best possible risk management decisions. The
information represents the best available science,
data, and assessment techniques and represents
U.S. EPA consensus.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is an originator and world leader in assessing
human health hazards of environmental pollutants.
EPA has developed the Integrated Risk Informa-
tion System (IRIS) to provide Agency consensus
risk information for use by risk assessors and
managers. This information is accessed and
utilized both nationally and internationally by
federal, state and local governments, environmen-
tal consulting firms and industry.
The demand for access has increased dramatically
in the past several years, not only nationally, but
world-wide. IRIS has been demonstrated on four
continents.
Current Activities: IRIS is a data base that
summarizes human health risk assessment infor-
mation on individual chemicals and substances. It
currently contains information on approximately
500 substances, with approximately 50 new sub-
stances added each year. The primary information
in IRIS includes inhalation reference concen-
trations (RfCs) and oral reference doses (RfDs) for
noncarcinogenic effects, and carcinogenic!ty
assessments. The carcinogenicity assessments
include a weight-of-evidence for the substance's
potential for human carcinogenicity and a quantita-
tive risk estimate based upon slope factors.
IRIS is relied upon across the Agency when risk
assessment and risk management decisions are
being made. The data are developed by two
Agency-wide work groups of expert EPA scien-
tists and statisticians who meet regularly to review
the risk assessments and reach agreement. Sum-
maries of these risk assessment decisions are then
loaded on IRIS. New substances and information
are added monthly. In order to ensure that these
assessments reflect state-of-the-art scientific
knowledge and risk assessment methodologies,
specific information may be reevaluated and
changed.
IRIS is available on three different systems: the
National Library of Medicine's TOXNET system;
as simple text files on diskettes from the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS); and to a
limited number of EPA and state users as a PC
data base (IRIS2) using a new delivery system.
IRIS2 is currently in draft form and monthly
updates are downloaded by each user from EPA's
main-frame computer. The user is prompted on
the first of each month to update through a simple
automated process.
EPA is currently working to further develop the
system, focusing primarily on speed issues and
refinement of updating processes.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Commercialize IRIS. IRIS is used by govern-
ment and private organizations here in the
United States, but the demand for access is
greater than EPA can support. There is a wider
audience that has a need for IRIS information
world-wide. EPA would welcome collabora-
tion to develop and market a commercial
version of IRIS the highest quality risk system
in the world.
Integrate IRIS with other interactive data bases
or systems. IRIS data are used in a larger risk
characterization/management process that re-
quires other types of information available in
other data bases and systems. An integrated
system that conveniently packages the diverse
information needed to develop high quality
risk characterizations would be of interest to a
large world-wide audience.
Translate IRIS into other native languages,
Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. Other coun-
tries are faced with many of the same environ-
mental and health problems as the United
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
77
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Integrated Risk Information System
States and are desperate for high-quality risk
information. Translating IRIS into one or
more languages would open up an even wider
audience for this information.
Expand the scope of IRIS. Opportunity exists
to collect and disseminate additional informa-
tion useful in conducting risk characteri-
zations. This may include federal and state
regulations, chemical-specific exposure param-
eters, and chemical and physical properties.
Contact Persons:
Linda R. Papa
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7587
FAX: (513) 569-7916
Linda C. Tuxen
IRIS Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-5949
FAX: (202) 260-0393
September 1992
78
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Lead Uptake Biokinetic (UBK) Model
Technology Description: Over 40% of the Super-
fund sites on the National Priority List contain lead
as the primary pollutant. Because of their suscep-
tibility, children are at greatest risk to the toxic
effects associated with exposure to lead. Young
children are highly sensitive to lead in general with
potential decrements in neurobehavioral indices
(lowered IQ, muscle coordination). Children and
adults have often been observed with hematopoi-
etic disorders and cognitive dysfunctions resulting
from lead exposure. There is no safe level estab-
lished for lead exposure.
In 1988, ECAO-Cincinnati developed an issue
paper on the non-cancer health risk assessment of
lead. This effort evolved into the development of
an approach and modelling alternative to the
traditional RflD used in IRIS. The result was the
development of a Technical Support Document for
Lead and a user-friendly PC Lead Uptake
Biokinetic Model with accompanying Users
Guide. In 1991, EPA recommended the use of the
UBK model as a tool for evaluating potential
adverse health impacts to individuals exposed to
lead at Superfund sites. (See "OSWER Directive
on Soil Lead Clean-up Levels".)
Current Activities: New data are now being
collected and analyzed in collaboration with the
Regional Superfund Program to help resolve two
controversial issues:
1. the bioavailability of lead in various soil/dust
matrices from various sources, such as those
found at urban and rural sites, and
2. site-specific population variances in the distri-
bution of blood lead levels may be greater than
the national average.
An expanded version of the model (version 5),
which contains additional features that allow the
user to produce a series of model runs for site-
specific assessment, is currently undergoing
review at Superfund sites. A Guidance Manual is
under development for the use of the lead UBK
model at Superfund sites and is currently being
revised to reflect comments of the Agency's
Scientific Advisory Board.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
The development of the lead UBK model was
feasible and scientifically credible because of
the strong data base on lead. Collaborative
efforts to produce such data for other chemi-
cals (including non-metallics) are essential.
Specifically, information on the absorption of
contaminants from multiple routes is neces-
sary.
The Agency is currently evaluating new data
and seeking additional data to enhance the
preliminary maternal-to-fetal model for lead.
Collaborative efforts are necessary on the
utilization/application of the model for site-
specific use to determine its usefulness and
validity.
Feasibility of the application of components of
the current modelling procedure to other metal
contaminants (e.g., Cu, As, Hg) need evalua-
tion.
Key Publications:
Choudhury, H., Peirano, W.B., Marcus, A., Elias,
R., Griffin, S., and DeRosa, C.T., 1992. "Utili-
zation of Uptake/Biokinetic (UBK) Lead
Model to Assess Risk in Contaminated Sites,"
Superfund Risk Assessment in Soil Contamina-
tion Studies, ASTMSTP 1158, Keith Hoddinott
and G. Daniel Knowles, Ed., American Society
for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia.
DeRosa, C.T., H. Choudhury, and W.P. Peirano,
1991. An Integrated Exposure/Pharmacoki-
netic Based Approach to the Assessment of
Complex Exposures; Lead: A Case Study,
Toxicol. and Ind. Health 7(4):231-248.
USEPA, 1992. OSWER Directive on Soil Lead
Cleanup Levels, in press.
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
79
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Lead Uptake Biokinetic (UBK) Model
Contact Person:
Harlal Choudhury, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7536
FAX: (513)569-7475
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Office of Health Research
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Health Effects Research Laboratory
Health Effects Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Health Effects Research Laboratory
Technology Description: In the past 20 years,
major environmental legislation has given the U..S.
EPA several of the regulatory tools it needs to
protect our environment and public health. Envi-
ronmental protection, however, requires more than
legislation; appropriate regulatory decisions based
on those laws must be founded on scientific data
concerning the scope and magnitude of health
risks associated with the environmental hazards to
which the public is exposed.
While the chemical and physical compositions of
environmental agents differ significantly, the
evaluation of their health effects must address a
common set of issues. They are (1) exposure (how
and to what extent humans are exposed to the
pollutants in the environment), (2) dose (the
relationship between the exposure and the dose of
the pollutant received at the site of toxic action
within the body), and (3) effect (the health impact
of the pollutant dose). Research on the relation-
ships among exposure, dose, and effect provides
the scientific basis for conducting health risk
assessments that, in turn, enable regulators to
make sound decisions.
Current Activities: The Health Effects Research
Laboratory (HERL) in Research Triangle Park,
NC, is the center of the U.S. EPA's efforts to
investigate and understand the human health
effects of environmental agents, both chemical and
biological. HERL's mission is to conduct research
that will improve EPA's ability to assess environ-
mental health risks, focusing on'both short-term
applied research of regulatory significance and
long-term basic research.
Current research to improve the scientific base for
risk assessment is focused in four areas:
exposure research
hazard identification research
dose-response research
chemical-specific research
HERL's efforts in the area of exposure research
involve developing and validating biomarkers of
exposure, effect, and susceptibility in human
populations. Hazard identification research devel-
ops, refines, and validates methods for identifying
potential human health hazards, focusing on
developing techniques that are faster, more accu-
rate, less expensive, and more reliable than current
options. HERL's dose-response research focuses
on developing biologically- or physiologically-
based models relating exposure to dose at the site
of toxic action and to biological effects. Such
models will improve the ability to predict pollutant
effects and to extrapolate across species, time and
dose in order to assess human health risk. Finally,
the laboratory also fills specific data gaps by
conducting research on environmental agents that,
for regulatory reasons, are of particular interest to
the Agency.
HERL is unique in that it has the facilities and
expertise to pursue its research efforts in these four
areas through the combination of animal toxicol-
ogy, human studies, and research on predictive
models. HERL's investigators represent a broad
range of scientific disciplines and can conduct
analyses at all levels of biologic organization, from
molecular events to human populations.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
HERL's staff and facilities provide unique
capabilities that could help industry find a
solution to a technological problem. For
example, HERL possesses state-of-the art
inhalation facilities for humans and animals
that provide researchers the mechanism for
exposing subjects to a variety of air pollutants.
HERL develops methods for evaluating and
characterizing actual or suspected health
effects due to environmental agents, including
exposure to workplace chemicals or to prod-
ucts for which the public or regulatory organi-
zations have expressed concern.
The state-of-the-science research performed at
HERL often requires the development or
adaptation of instruments, software, etc., in
order to meet new research objectives. Per-
84 Health Effects Research Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Health Effects Research Laboratory
feeling those items for the sake of efficiency Software for special purpose instrument con-
and reliability is in the interest of both the trol, instrument interface, data management,
regulator and regulated community, and in the etc.
interest of the provider of those devices and . ^
services. Such opportunities include the Key blicatlons:
automation of a large number of bioassays Reiter, L.W. and K. Sexton, Strategy for Environ-
developed or refined by HERL, and required as mental Health Research at EPA, USEPA/
part of EPA Testing Guidelines, or other QRD, EPA/600/9-90/053
assays which are likely to be included in
Testing Guidelines once perfected and vali- Contact Person:
dated. Some examples of HERL's interest Ronald R. Rogers, MD-70
include: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Automation of DNA extraction and sequencing Health Effects Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Improved radioanalytic imaging systems (919) 541-2370
FAX * (919) 541-5394
Enhanced automation of cell/tissue preparation " v '
and management systems. 0 . 1 _
September 1992
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Office of Research and Development
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87
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Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF 39
Office of Research and Development
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VOC Emissions Reactivity and Mutagenicity Measurements
Issue: Chemical production facilities often emit
large quantities of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). Many of these are photochemically
reactive and contribute to the formation of photo-
chemical smog (ozone, reduced visibility, eye
irritation, etc.). Many of these emissions are also
toxic or can produce toxic and hazardous products
after undergoing atmospheric transformations
Therefore, proper identification/quantification of
these emissions is necessary.
Current Activities: AREAL personnel have
expertise in studying the photochemical reactivity
of ambient levels of VOCs. Over 100 emission
sites have been studied since the 1960s. Our
present technology employs a gas chromatograph
(GC) and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer
(GC/MS) capable of quantitatively identifying
pollutants at 0.12 ppb and has a minimum detec-
tion limit of 0.04 ppb. The VOCs analyzed range
from C2-C12 carbon numbers. Samples are taken
around the facility in pressurized electropolished
stainless steel canisters. These canisters are re-
turned to the central laboratory and are analyzed
for the VOCs. Normally the analysis involves the
trapping of known volumes of air with the use of a
cryogenic trap cooled by either liquid oxygen or
argon liquid. The trap is then heated with hot water
and the sample is introduced into the GC equipped
with a capillary column and a FID detector. A GC/
MS is employed when the compounds cannot be
identified using previously recorded retention
times. The reaction products can be tested for
toxic/mutagenic effects by exposing them to
bacteria, such as Salmonella typhimurium (Ames
test). Past studies on wood smoke and auto exhaust
have shown that these emissions can produce high
levels of ozone and that the reaction shows high
mutagenicity after undergoing atmospheric trans-
formations. However, although some separation of
the mutagenic compounds has been achieved, most
of these compounds have not been positively
identified. This is largely due to poor resolution of
the preparatory GC columns employed in ihese
studies. A large amount of material is needed for
the salmonella tests and separation is difficult with
large samples. Collaboration would entail the
development of better GC columns and/or new
bioindicators.
Additional research is needed in this area to
establish the relationship between airtrak smog
indicators and the airshed model predictions.
Opportunities for Collaboration: There are
several opportunities for collaboration under this
area of research. Some of these could involve
access to cooperator facilities to evaluate emis-
sions at the sources within the facility, rather than
downwind after mixing and dilution. Possible
advantages to the cooperator include the develop-
ment of: better methods for determining leaks;
better and more cost-effective emission controls,
due to a better understanding of the emissions; and
a better understanding of the toxicity and mutage-
nicity associated with facility emissions, thus
leading to better safety procedures. The possible
advantages to the Agency include: a more accurate
inventory of emissions; a more accurate determi-
nation of emission factors and reactivities; a better
assessment of the role played by the emissions in
the production of photochemical smog; a better
assessment of the toxicity and human risks associ-
ated with the emissions; and the possible opportu-
nity to develop and evaluate new mutagenicity
tests.
Key Publications:
T.E. Kleindienst, P.B. Shepson, D.F. Smith, E.E.
Hudgens, C.M. Nero, L.T. Cupitt, J.J. Bufalini,
and L,D. Claxton, "Comparisons of Mutagenic
Activities of Several Peroxyacyl Nitrates,"
Environ, and Molecular Mutagenesis, 16, 70-
80 (1990).
W.A.Lonneman, R.L. Seila, "Speciated Hydrocar-
bon and NOx Comparisons at SCAQS Source
and Receptor Sites," 82 Annual AWMA
Meeting, Anaheim, California, Paper Number
89-152.3, 1989.
90 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
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VOC Emissions Reactivity and Mutagenicity Measurements
R.L. Seila, W.A. Lonneman, S.A. Meeks, "Deter- Contact Person:
mination of C, to C.- Ambient Air Hydrocar- T , T _, _ .. . _, _
bons in 39 U.S. Cities from 1984 Through T, c c JosePh J' B4f^ni- Ph'D-
1986," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UAS' Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC, EPA/600/3 897 Atmosphere Research and Exposure
058, March, 1989. _ Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-2422
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF 91
Office of Research and Development
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Atmospheric Diffusion Modeling
Issue: The Environmental Protection Agency's
interest in the modeling of atmospheric diffusion
processes is an outgrowth of the establishment of
National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which
are the maximum levels of a given pollutant that
are permitted in the ambient air. The dispersal of
pollutants to and at ground level depends on
atmospheric diffusion and transport. Mathematical
models, field programs and fluid models are the
three methods available to predict the likelihood of
exceeding an air quality standard concentration at
ground-level. Fluid models appear to work best
where mathematical models fail (i.e., where
obstructions such as buildings and hills block wind
flow). Fluid models also show great promise for
simulating surface-induced airflows such as heat
island circulation and mountain valley winds.
Atmospheric conditions can be programmed into a
fluid model so that years of field study time can be
reduced to a few weeks. Fluid model studies can
reduce the resources required for field studies and
facilitate the development of better mathematical
models.
Current Activities: The AREAL Atmospheric
Characterization and Modeling Division's Fluid
Modeling Branch is a fluid mechanics laboratory
that specializes in the simulation of transport and
diffusion of atmospheric pollutants. An effective
method of characterizing atmospheric diffusion
involves placing a carefully constructed physical
model of a pollutant source in AREAL's unique
wind tunnels or water-channel towing tank facili-
ties.
The main facilities are a large meteorological wind
tunnel used to simulate neutral flow conditions, a
salt-water-stratified towing tank for simulation of
nighttime stable stratification, and a convection
tank where a heated floor is used to simulate
afternoon convection in the full-scale atmosphere.
Examination of the effects of these artificial
atmospheres on pollutant emissions provides
researchers with a greater understanding of the
interaction of meteorological factors and air
pollution.
Entrance
Contraction
Fluid Modeling Facility Components
Fluid Modeling Facility Components
_ ... Height Diffuser
Cei'ng , u 1.2m Width Section
Windows Length ; 37m
18.3 m
Vortex
Generators
Gravel
Soundproof Enclosure
for Fan and Motor
Roughness
Schematic diagram of the Meteorological Wind Tunnel
Opportunity for Collaboration: The facilities of
the AREAL Fluid Modeling Branch are available
for use in joint or shared research in the areas of
flow structure and dispersion from sources in the
vicinity of buildings, dense-gas dispersion, flow
structure and dispersion in neutral and stratified
conditions in complex terrain, and convective
processes such as plume penetration of elevated
inversions, top-down versus bottom-up diffusion,
and nonhomogeneous and nonstationary surface
heating. These may range from fundamental
studies attempting to gain understanding of basic
fluid dynamic and dispersion processes to applied
studies attempting to obtain rules-of-thumb for use
by air pollution meteorologists. The stratified tow
tank was recently used in a joint venture with the
Georgia Institute of Technology under a Federal
Technology Transfer Act - Cooperative Research
and Development Agreement to simulate the rise
of buoyant wastewater plumes from the bottom of
92
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Atmospheric Diffusion Modeling
Boston Harbor to aid in the engineering design
of the Boston Wastewater Outfall.
Key Publications:
Briggs, G.A., Thompson, R.S. & Snyder, W.H.
1990. "Dense Gas Removal from a Valley by
Crosswinds." J. Hazard. Materials, 10, 1-38.
Castro, I.P., Snyder, W.H. & Baines, P.O. 1990.
"Obstacle Drag in Stratified Flow." Proc. Roy.
Soc., A 429, 119-40.
Snyder, W.H. 1990. "Fluid Modeling Applied to
Atmospheric Diffusion in Complex Terrain."
Atmos. Envir., 24A, 2071-88.
Snyder, W.H., Khurshudyan, L.H., Nekrasov, I.V.,
Lawson, R.E. Jr. & Thompson, R.S. 1991.
"Flow and Dispersion of Pollutants within
Two-Dimensional Valleys." Atmos. Envir.,
25A, 1347-75.
Snyder, W.H. & Lawson, R.E. Jr. 1991. "Fluid
Modeling Simulation of Stack-Tip Downwash
for Neutrally Buoyant Plumes." Atmos.
Envir., 25A, 2837-50.
Contact Person:
William H. Snyder, Ph.D.
U.S.. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-1198
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Automated Gas Chromatographs for Analysis of
Volatile Organic Compounds
Issue: The implementation of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 provides a new impetus for
monitoring methods development. Under the Title
I provisions, "enhanced" ozone monitoring is
mandated in ozone non-attainment areas. As a
result, EPA guidelines for the monitoring of
ozone, NOx, and carbon-containing ozone precur-
sors (hydrocarbons and aldehydes) have been
prepared to assist state agencies in establishing the
required monitoring capability. The guidelines
provide for the monitoring of 55 hydrocarbons and
NMOC (non-methane organic carbon) as well as
aldehydes. The monitoring schedule is customized
for each site depending on the degree of ozone
non-attainment. A common requirement is a three
hour monitoring schedule for hydrocarbons and
NMOC and a one day sampling schedule for
aldehydes. Title HI provisions imply the need for
instrumentation to characterize the ambient air for
individual toxic volatile organic compounds
(VOCs).
Speciation of hydrocarbons and toxic VOCs is
now typically done in the laboratory after collect-
ing a sample in the field in canisters or the equiva-
lent. AutoGCs have recently been operated in the
field at monitoring network stations to obtain this
type of data (i.e., updates every 1-3 hours by
sampling directly from an ambient air manifold);
however, the sample must be preconcentrated by
use of cryogenic nitrogen before the analysis can
detect typical ambient concentrations. AutoGC
design for cost-effective, reliable and stand-alone
operation has become an issue.
Current Activities: The methods development
program at the Atmospheric Research and Expo-
sure Assessment Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC (AREAL-RTP) has pioneered the use of
automated gas chromatographs for speciation of
volatile organic compounds. Recently, in support
of the Office of Air Quality Planning and Stan-
dards, AREAL has demonstrated a second genera-
tion autoGC that operates free of liquid cryogen
that is typically used for sample preconcentration.
This successfully avoids the inconvenience and
cost associated with the delivery of commercial
liquid cryogens. This advantage coupled with
features such as automated calibration and reliabil-
ity of components has improved the prospects for
widespread use of the autoGCs.
Additional development efforts are warranted in
order to pursue the use of closed cycle coolers for
autoGCs and real-time formaldehyde monitors.
AREAL-sponsored research and development
successfully demonstrated new instrumentation in
both these areas.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Having
demonstrated the feasibility and viability of new
types of instrumentation for use in enhanced ozone
and toxic VOC monitoring, AREAL is interested
in collaborating with outside parties to develop
commercial prototypes of these systems or new
approaches to these measurements.
In particular, the realization of a commercial
closed cycle cooler design for sample concentra-
tors will require an engineering design that avoids
94 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
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Automated Gas Chromatographs for Analysis of
Volatile Organic Compounds
the occurrence of hot-spots during the thermal Key Publications:
desorption part of the cycle. _ T
J T.J. Kelly, R.H. Barnes and W.A. McClenny,
The development of a commercial prototype "Continuous Indoor and Outdoor Formalde-
formaldehyde monitor appears to be simply a hyde Measurements with a Novel Fluorescence
matter of using the results of AREAL-sponsored Technique," Proceedings of the 1989 EPA/
research as a guide. A research prototype monitor A&WMA International Symposium on the
for formaldehyde has been fabricated and operated Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollut-
in the field. Evaluation has included instrument ants, May 1989, Raleigh, NC.
characterization with respect to merit parameters .... -, _.
such lower detection limit, interference equivalents W'A; McClenny, J.L. Yarns and J.V. Daughtridge
from other gases, and reliability of operation The Emergence of Automated Gas Chromato-
graphs as Air Quality Network Monitors for
The extension of autoGC application to toxic polar Volatile Organic Compounds," Proceedings of
VOCs involves careful design with respect to the 84th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the
sample integrity. Sample inlets and sample condi- Air & Waste Management Association, June,
tioning are crucial factors if the sample is to be 1991
delivered to the GC column without alteration.
AREAL is proceeding to develop new sample Contact Person:
introduction systems to address this problem. At William A. McClenny, Ph.D.
the same time, the commercial interest in this area U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
is obviously high and new ideas abound. This Atmospheric Research and Exposure
should be a fertile area for collaboration. Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-3158
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF 95
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Clean Air Status and Trends Network Research and Development
Issue: The Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory has recently initiated the
Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET)
for the purpose of collecting and interpreting
several different types of atmospheric data. The
CASTNET program, in addition to collecting data
to serve the Agency's purposes, will serve to
coordinate the efforts of several different data
collection networks including ambient and ecosys-
tem data. The primary purpose of this data will be
to provide the current status and trends in air
quality data. This data will be used by AREAL and
other Offices within the Agency to perform assess-
ments of the impact of the implementation of
Clean Air Act regulations on atmospheric contami-
nants. Among the major areas of concern are acid
deposition, rural ozone, air toxics, and visibility. It
is intended that these data not only be tied to
changes in the related air quality, but may also be
used for interpreting information collected on
sensitive ecosystems to determine the impact of
programs designed to reduce the concentrations of
atmospheric pollutants on these ecosystems.
Current Activities: A major activity within the
Air & Deposition Research Monitoring Branch is
the collection and interpretation of atmospheric
data particularly as it relates to acid deposition and
atmospheric transformation products that lead to
the formation of acidic components. The Atmo-
spheric Research and Exposure Assessment Labo-
ratory has been long involved in a multi-agency
(Federal, State, and local) program for the collec-
tion and interpretation of this type of information.
This program, the National Acid Deposition
Program/National Trends Network, has as coop-
erators, many industry groups which collect and
provide to agencies, relevant information regard-
ing atmospheric concentrations and acid deposi-
tion. These industry groups have been a valuable
participant in this program. Maps indicating the
current wet and dry deposition network sites are
shown.
Wet Deposition Monitoring Sites
Dry Deposition Monitoring Sites
Opportunities for Collaboration: There is the
opportunity to develop new instrumentation and
data collection hardware that will greatly enhance
the operation of the networks. Acid rain monitor-
ing is in its infancy. Automated instruments that
eliminate the need for taking precipitation samples
to the laboratory for analysis would better preserve
the integrity of the samples. The measurement of
dry deposition is an evolving technology. Methods
to measure the flux of SO2, HNO3, O3, and other
pollutants are now at a very basic stage. Visibility
measurements are another area where new tech-
nologies are needed. Currently, these measure-
ments are being made at airports on a routine
basis; however, they are far less accurate and
96 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Clean Air Status and Trends Network Research and Development
precise than what is now needed in the air moni- USEPA/Canada Ontario Coordinated Committee
toring community. Collaboration on the develop- on Annex 15. IADN Implementation Plan.
ment and testing of these new technologies, and 1990.
the establishment of new dry and wet deposition ^
.. . . , , Contact Person:
monitoring sites is desired.
Barry Martin
Key Publications: a s Environmental Protection Agency
Bigelo, D.S. 1984. Instruction Manual: NADP/ Atmospheric Research and Exposure
NTN Site Selection and Installation. Natural Assessment Laboratory
Resources Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
University; Fort Collins, CO. Environmental (919) 541-4386
Sciences and Engineering, Inc. 1990. National
Dry Deposition Network. Project Work Plan. September 1992
Gainesville, FL.
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF 97
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Development of Integrated Methods for Measuring
Aerosols in Indoor and Ambient Air
Issue: The Aerosol Physics and Methods Branch
(APMB) is primarily responsible for developing,
evaluating, testing, improving, and standardizing
methodology and systems for measuring small
particles suspended in air (aerosols) in indoor and
ambient air. The Branch has the aerosol research
expertise and unique facilities and equipment for
conducting applied and basic research associated
with the measurement of aerosol particles. These
facilities and expertise are applicable to coopera-
tive problem solving with industries that utili/e
aerosols in their chemical processing or have
particle pollution or exposure problems.
APMB responds to the methodology needs and
requirements of both existing and anticipated air
quality standards for PM-10 (respirable and
inhalable suspended paniculate matter), fine
particles and acid aerosols. During the past several
years efforts in this area have been concentrated on
methodology for supporting the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM-10.
Current and future efforts are focused on improv-
ing these methods and developing and evaluating
new methods for measuring aerosols.
The APMB operates a state-of-the-art Aerosol Test
Facility (ATF) that is used to develop new tech-
niques for particle sampler evaluation and to
implement basic research addressing sampler
design and aerosol mechanics (the study of the
motion of particles in air). The ATF low velocity
wind tunnel (2 to 48 km/hr) has primarily been
used for performance testing of EPA approved
inlets (PM-10). Performance data have been
collected for new techniques such as the tapered
element oscillating microbalance (TEOM), beta
gauges, optical particle sizing instruments, and
indoor and personal impactors. These techniques
allow for the measurement of particle size, mass,
number, and distribution in real time.
Current Activities: The Branch has developed
the Wide Range Aerosol Classifier (WRAC)
which, among other ambient particle sampling
instruments, is available for studies of temporal
and spatial aerosol distributions. The WRAC is a
large ambient sampler that representatively col-
lects and provides size distribution information for
very large suspended particles (>200 urn) to very
small (<0.1 urn) in the ambient atmosphere. The
WRAC is used to evaluate the distribution of
particles and to provide reference information for
comparison with other samplers.
A new aerosol exposure laboratory has been
constructed for the study of the nature of personal
and indoor (microenvironmental) aerosol measure-
ments and their relationship to human exposure.
Characterization studies evaluate the use and
performance of personal samplers to assess aerosol
exposure. Hygroscopic growth of particles (the
change in particle size with humidity) is being
studied using a state-of-the-art acoustic phase
doppler particle sizing technique. The technique
allows us to non-invasively measure particle
growth in real time. Our microbiology laboratory
supports field studies and indoor air investigations
for the purpose of risk determination and physical
characterization of biological suspended particles
(viable and non-viable).
In addition to the experimental work listed above,
numerical models of inlet flow fields are being
generated to assist in the development of advanced
sampler designs. Experimental validation studies
are being performed in our laboratory utilizing
technologies such as optical phase doppler an-
emometry and hot film anemometry.
Particle Injection
Mixing
Sampler Testing
EPA Aerosol Test Facility
98 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Development of Integrated Methods for Measuring
Aerosols in Indoor and Ambient Air
Opportunities for Collaboration: The APMB is
well equipped for all aspects of aerosol and
bioaerosol evaluation. The staff holds expertise in
sampling instrument development, evaluation, and
operation. They are familiar with current and
developing sampling technologies. The APMB has
been involved in numerous field studies with such
varied objectives as assessing human exposure,
quantifying biological contamination of ambient
and indoor air, evaluating sampler performance,
and quantifying ambient aerosol concentrations.
Thus, the APMB is experienced in the develop-
ment of sampling methodologies for studies with
diverse objectives. Opportunity exists to collabo-
rate on sampling instrument development, utilizing
the expertise of the APMB personnel, the aerosol
test facility, and supporting equipment at the EPA.
Field studies may be undertaken to integrate
outside methods into EPA monitoring programs.
Other opportunities include joint efforts in ad-
dressing a unique exposure situation, drawing on
the staffs field experiences, knowledge of current
sampling technologies, and expertise in sampling
methodologies. Also, sampling systems developed
by the EPA are available for commercial applica-
tions.
Key Publications:
Russell W. Wiener and Charles Rodes, in press.
"Indoor Air and Exposure Studies." Chapter
Number 31, Aerosol Measurement, ed. K.
Willeke and P. A. Baron, Van Nostrand
Reinhold, New York.
Rodes, C. E., Kamens, R.M., and Wiener, R.W.
1991. "The Significance and Characteristics of
the Personal Activity Cloud on Exposure
Assessment Measurements for Indoor Con-
taminants." Indoor Air, 2:123-145.
Contact Person:
Russell Wiener, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-1910
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Open Path Monitoring with the Differential
Optical Absorption Spectrometer
Issue: The Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) of the U.S. EPA
has a commercial version of a Differential Optical
Absorption Spectrometer (DOAS) manufactured
by OPSIS, Inc. The DOAS can be configured to
measure multiple pollutant concentrations over
multiple open paths in near-real time. The system
is computer controlled, and concentrations of
species of interest are calculated automatically
using software and calibration files supplied by the
manufacturer.
Current Activities: The U.S. EPA performed a
preliminary evaluation of this system between
October 1991 and March 1992 in RTP, NC. This
evaluation consisted of a comparison oi" long-path
DOAS measurements with Federal Reference
Method (FRM) point measurements for SO2, O ,
NO2, and NO. Results indicated a high level of3'
correlation for SO2, O3, and NOr A similar DOAS
system had been field tested in RTP, NC, during
September and October of 1989. In this compari-
son, the DOAS and FRM measurements were
highly correlated (r 0.94) for SO2, O3, and NO,.
Their average concentrations also compared well
A DOAS system was operated in Atlanta, GA,
during July and August of 1990 as part of a U.S.
EPA study of ozone and its precursors. In this
study, the DOAS demonstrated its capacity to
measure the concentrations of a multitude of
gaseous air pollutants over several open paths in
near-real time. Comparisons between FRM's and
the DOAS for O3, NO2, and NO showed good
correlations (r = 0.85-0.96) but some differences in
average concentrations, most notably for NO.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Plans for
AREAL's DOAS system include the following:
(1) Characterize the system and optimize it for the
analysis of criteria pollutants and key organic
pollutants; (2) Compare the results obtained with
the DOAS to results obtained with more standard
methods; (3) Devise monitoring strategies for
using the DOAS to support the apportionment of
chemical species measured in the ambient air to
their sources; (4) Devise monitoring strategies for
Spectrometer
(Czerny-Turner)
A/D
Data
Storage
Schematic of the DOAS System
using the DOAS to measure dry deposition in
near-real time; (5) Develop DOAS long-path
methods to monitor aromatic emissions from area
sources such as oil refineries and gas and oil tank
farms; (6) Develop methods for combining these
measurements of area source emissions with
meteorological data to estimate emission factors.
The system is currently configured to calculate
concentrations automatically using manufacturer-
supplied software. Details of this calculation
procedure are known only to the manufacturer and
are not under operator control. An approach to
optimizing the system for species of interest would
be to modify or replace the existing software so
that the DOAS can operate as a research tool under
operator control. A multi-path optical cell for
making calibration spectra and investigating
potential spectral interferences should be pur-
chased or constructed. Data from conventional
sampling/monitoring equipment (canisters and GC
analysis for organic pollutants and FRM monitors
for criteria pollutants) could then be obtained
concurrently with the DOAS measurements.
Measurements would be made of gases in the
ambient air and in the calibration cell. These data
would be compared with pollutant concentrations
measured with the DOAS using correlations and
other statistical techniques to evaluate the DOAS
operation. Preliminary studies have shown mea-
100 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Lahoratr
Office of Research and Development
RTP
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Open Path Monitoring with the Differential
Optical Absorption Spectrometer
surements of organic pollutants with the DO AS to
be problematic. Work planned with the calibration
cell, as well as development of software to permit
operator control of the analysis, should help to
solve these problems. Once the system has been
adequately characterized, optimum monitoring
strategies for gathering data with the DOAS for
apportioning pollutants to their sources can be
devised, as well as procedures for measuring near-
real time dry deposition. Likewise, expertise from
the areas of long-path monitoring and pollutant
dispersion can be merged to develop methods for
estimating emission factors of area sources using
long-path monitoring.
Key Publications:
C. P. Conner, B. W. Gay, Jr., W. E. Karches, and
R. K. Stevens. "Open Path Ambient Measure-
ments of Pollutants with a DOAS System," in
Proceedings of the 1992 EPA/AWMA Interna-
tional Symposium on Measurement of Toxic
and Related Air Pollutants, Durham, NC, May
4-8, 1992.
R. K. Stevens, R. J. Drago, W. T. McLeod, J. P.
Bell, R. P. Ward, Y. Mamane, and H. Sauren.
"Evaluation of a Differential Optical Absorp-
tion Spectrometer as an Air Quality Monitor,"
in Proceedings of the 1992 EPA/AWMA
International Symposium on Measurement of
Toxic and Related Air Pollutants, Durham,
NC, April 30 - May 4, 1990.
T. L. Conner and R. K. Stevens. "Air Quality
Monitoring in Atlanta with the Differential
Optical Absorption Spectrometer," in Pro-
ceedings of the 84th Annual Meeting and
Exhibition, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, June 17-
21,1991.
Contact Person:
Robert K. Stevens
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-3157
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
101
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Human Exposure Research: The Need for a State-of-the-Art
Pump for High-Flow Personal Monitoring
Issue: Research within the last 10-15 years has
shown that measurements of air contaminants vary
considerably between those made personally and
those made remotely, such as ambient or microen-
vironmental based sampling. Moreover, personal
measurements generally exceed those made re
motely and have been shown to be more closely
linked with health effects. The value of person
based exposure measurements has been well
established in industrial hygiene and has resulted
in the development of pumps suitable for personal
monitoring in the industrial environment. Pumps
developed for workplace applications are ill-suited
for environmental personal sampling due to limita-
tions in power, excessive noise, and comfort
considerations of size and weight. These limita-
tions are especially severe when sampling for air
contaminants that are at trace levels in the environ-
ment (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
particles, dioxins, metals, pesticides). Since, there
is no commercially available pump suitable for
high-flow sampling to assess human environmen-
tal exposure, implementation of person-based
exposure monitoring by researchers at the EPA
and other institutions across the country has
involved retrofitting industrial hygiene pumps that
are commercially available. This need for pump
retrofitting delays study implementation and
results in unstandardized sampling systems that are
unreliable, expensive, and difficult to maintain.
Current Activities: Awareness of the importance
of person-based sampling (as well as requests for
the technology) in assessing risk to environmental
contaminants is increasing among the research
community as well as among local, state, and
federal agencies mandated to protect human health
(in this country and abroad). Development of a
readily available state-of-the-art personal pump
suitable for the collection of environmental
samples has broad application. The development
of such a pump is also likely to establish a new
standard for industrial hygiene applications and
present appeal for this market.
Opportunities for Collaboration: EPA's pri-
mary contribution will be providing detailed
design requirements that reflect the experience and
expertise of the Agency in conducting human
exposure research. Design considerations will
include cost, power, performance, noise, and
comfort. These considerations will reflect the
current and future perceived needs of EPA human
exposure scientists and the university and contrac-
tor researches with which they work. The contribu-
tion desired from the private sector is in advising
the Agency as to what technology is available, the
limitations of the technology, the production of a
prototype personal pump, and eventually the
commercial availability of a new state-of-the-art
personal exposure pump suitable for environmen-
tal applications.
Key Publications:
L. Wallace, E. Pellizzari, T. Hartwell, et al. "The
influence of personal activities on exposure to
volatile organic compounds," Environmental
Research, 50:37-55 (1989).
Contact Persons:
Timothy J. Buckley, Ph.D. &
Nancy K. Wilson, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-2715
September 1992
102 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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EPA Laboratory System for Accelerated Weathering Studies
Issue: All materials exposed out of doors are
subject to weathering by heat, moisture, sunlight
and by pollution. The gas phase pollutants, sulfur
dioxide, ozone, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrocar-
bons; atmospheric particulates; and acid dew, fog,
and precipitation can all, in principle, accelerate
the weathering of materials of construction and
those of historic and/or artistic significance.
Forecasting weathering rates is critical for improv-
ing basic product design; selecting the appropriate
product for a given environmental condition;
establishing product lifetimes; and, determining
maintenance procedures and schedules.
Until recently, methods for addressing these issues
have been limited mainly to outdoor exposure
studies and weatherometer laboratory studies.
Although outdoor studies provide weathering data
for particular locations, it is difficult to translate
the findings to other environmental conditions.
Weatherometer studies employ harsh conditions
that prevent accurate extrapolation to ambient
conditions. Methods are needed for inducing
damage under realistic conditions to afford ready
extrapolation to real-world environments.
Current Activities: The Atmospheric Research
and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) is
conducting laboratory exposure studies to deter-
mine the damage to materials. The research is
centered around a unique exposure chamber,
designed by AREAL scientists to carry out mate-
rial exposures so that the damage data can be
extrapolated to ambient conditions. The material
exposure system consists of a large flow reactor
coupled to an exposure chamber. Hydrocarbons,
oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide are added
into the flow reactor in an air stream that upon
irradiation generates atmospheric mixtures that are
similar in many ways to those occurring under
ambient conditions. The flow reactor serves as a
reservoir for complex air mixtures for conducting
exposure studies in the exposure chamber. Test
panels, including those of polymeric and metal-
based materials, can be exposed to the mixture
under dry conditions and in the presence of surface
moisture. The moisture system can be cycled,
generating condensation/evaporation periods. The
laboratory system is fully equipped so that gas and
particulate chamber concentrations can be mea-
sured, thus providing AREAL researchers the
necessary information for extrapolating chamber
damage to that expected under ambient conditions.
Analytical methods have also been developed for
determining the surface concentrations of pollut-
ants that cause damage.
The laboratory system served as the basis for much
of material damage studies conducted under the
United States Congress-mandated National Acid
Precipitation Assessment Program. The chamber
was used to develop a damage function for predict-
ing the atmospheric lifetimes of galvanized steel
structures and generated important data on the
environmentally induced damage to organic
coatings. More recently, the system was employed
to conduct research for Ford Motor Company on
the impact of acid rain on automotive finishes. The
research, conducted under the Federal Technology
transfer Act (FTTA), involved using the exposure
chamber to develop test methods for determining
the key chemical and physical parameters that
cause contaminated precipitation to damage
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Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
103
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EPA Laboratory System for Accelerated Weathering Studies
coatings. Over 60 coatings were evaluated during
the program. AREAL has also just completed a
FTTA research program for Dow Corning Corpo-
ration where the laboratory system was used to
predict the performance of new products devel-
oped by Dow Corning.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Scientists at
the Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assess-
ment Laboratory have developed a unique expo-
sure chamber that can provide important informa-
tion on issues related to product performance.
AREAL is interested in continuing their work with
industry and other government institutions in
material damage investigations. By initiating these
types of studies, AREAL can furnish, in a cost-
effective manner, the resources for conducting
these unique laboratory exposure experiments as
well as environmental data necessary to interpret
the results for given environments. In particular,
AREAL is interested in entering into agreements
with those organizations that have advanced
techniques for evaluating damage to materials. It is
the merger of this unique laboratory exposure
facility with advanced techniques for quantifying
damage on a microscopic level that will most
rapidly advance our ability to predict product
performance.
Key Publications
Edney, E.G., D.C. Stiles, J.W. Spence, F.H.
Haynie, and W.E. Wilson. 1986. A laboratory
study to evaluate the impact of NO , SO , and
oxidants on atmospheric corrosion of galva-
nized steel, pp 172-193. In: R. Baboian, ed.
Materials Damage Caused by Acid Rain.
Amer. Chem. Soc., Washington, DC.
Edney, E.O., D.C. Stiles, J.W. Spence, F.H.
Haynie, and W.E. Wilson. 1986. Laboratory
investigations of the impact of dry deposition
of acidic species on the atmospheric corrosion
of galvanized steel. Atmos. Environ 20-541-
548.
Baedecker, P.A., E.O. Edney, PJ. Moran, T.C.
Simpson, R.S. Williams, R.P. Hosker, G.
Kishiyama, D. Langmuir, E.S. McGee, V.G.
Mossotti, MJ. Pavich, M.M. Reddy, K.J.
Reimann, R. Schmiermund, C.A.
Sciammarella, E.C. Spiker, M.L. Wesley, and
C.A. Youngdahl. 1990. G
neva
nology, National Acid Precipitation Assess-
ment Program, Washington, DC.
Contact Person:
Edward O. Edney, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-3905
September 1992
ch-
104 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment L
Office of Research and Development
-BTP.
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Calibration and Audit Methods Development
Issue: The need for simple and rapid methods to
field calibrate and audit monitors used for volatile
organic pollutants increased dramatically with the
passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments
(CAAA). The present practice of using com-
pressed gas cylinders for these purposes is now
logistically awkward, technically inadequate and
prohibitively expensive because the CAAA re-
quires more than 50 new volatile organics to be
regulated.
Current Activities: The Quality Assurance and
Technical Support Division (QATSD) conducts
research to improve quality assurance in associa-
tion with methods development and applications
and prepares appropriate guideline and technical
assistance documents for AREAL, Program and
Regional Offices, state and local air pollution
agencies, and the air pollution monitoring commu-
nity. The Division prepares guidance on how to
manufacture, transport, store, and use reference
and QC materials. QATSD develops and improves
reference and QC materials and determines their
suitability for the air medium and for commercial-
ization. The Division also coordinates the develop-
ment of the QA requirements for EPA regulations
dealing with the o;r medium.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The Analyti-
cal Materials and Support Branch (AMSB) has
been investigating the use of commercially avail-
able hollow fibers as potential devices to serve as
vehicles for delivering calibration and audit gases
to pollutant monitors and as a means for sampling
process streams for a very diverse spectrum of
pollutants. Enough is known about the basic
chemical physics of these fibers to begin evalua-
tion of the more advanced and practical consider-
ations required for system engineering design.
Opportunity exists for those knowledgeable about
the physical characteristics of these hollow fibers,
engineering design or pollution measurement/
control to work with AMSB to design/test practi-
cal devices based on these fibers and investigate
their practical use in these areas. Commercial
availability of these devices hopefully would
reduce the cost of ensuring that good quality data
are collected from environmental compliance
monitoring and air quality assessment activities.
While the direct savings due to the adoption of
these devices may be small, the value of the
mitigation decisions based on such data ensures
demand for such devices will be substantial.
Key Publications:
Westover, L.B., Tou, J.C., and Mark, J.H., "Novel
Mass Spectrometric Sampling Device
Hollow Fiber Probe," Anal. Chem., 1974,46,
April 1974.
Calvo, K.C., Weisenberger, C.R., Anderson, L.B.,
and Klapper, M.H., "Permeable Membrane
Mass Spectrometric Measurement of Reaction
Kinetics," Anal. Chem, 1981, 53, 981-965.
LaPack, M. A., Tou, James C, and Enke, C.G.,
"Membrane Mass Spectrometry for the Direct
Trace Analysis of Volatile Organic Com-
pounds in Air and Water," Anal. Chem. 1990,
62, 1265-1271.
Contact Person:
Joseph E. Bumgarner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-5001
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
105
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Remote Sensing of Trace Gases for Air Quality Analysis of
Volatile Organic Compounds
Issue: The prospect of using remote sensing for
air quality measurements is intriguing to environ-
mental scientists since it is a more comprehensive
and potentially more accurate monitoring tool than
traditional point monitoring. Remote sensing
includes a wide variety of techniques, using
radiation and sound as probes. The methods
development group within AREAL has historically
been concerned with the subset of techniques
referred to as open path monitoring (OPM) of
selective radiation absorption in situations where
the equipment is used in a ground-based mode.
These techniques include FTIR-based bistatic
monitors, UV-based bistatic monitors, and ground-
based DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar)
systems.
Applications of remote sensing are expanding to
take advantage of features unique to remote sens-
ing such as the space-time averaging over kilome-
ter size grids, the absence of storage stability
problems, and the ability to obtain spatial resolu-
tion and vertical burden information.
The issue has become the identification of applica-
tions in which remote sensing is a cost-effective
means or unique means to obtain air quality data.
Current Activities: The recent methods develop-
ment program within AREAL has included the
development and field evaluation of FTIR-based
commercial-prototype OPMs and of UV-based
commercial OPMs. Continual interaction with
commercial suppliers of this type of equipment has
led to significant reduction in the method detection
limits and to a better understanding of potential
spectral interferences. Symposium presentations
and journal articles originating from AREAL on
the comparison of point monitors and OPMs, and
on the features of path monitors have added
significantly to our information base. Recently,
field testing of OPMs at two Superfund sites, the
Shaver's farm site in Georgia and the French
Limited site in Texas, have helped to establish the
relevancy of the technique to practical problems.
Refinement of the FTIR-techniques to treat the
problems of water vapor and carbon dioxide
interference and the determination of reference
spectra is underway at our new OPM evaluation
range. Two commercial systems are being evalu-
ated based on experience over the past three years.
A guidance document is being prepared for the
operation of FTIR-based systems in field studies.
This document contains the technical detail that is
lacking in existing literature in order to optimize
field performance.
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Opportunities for Collaboration: AREAL is
continuing to develop remote sensing methods
with an even broader scope to address such prob-
lems as the measurement of emission flux from
extended sources, the use of DIAL techniques to
obtain concentration profiles of plumes from
localized sources, and the use of FTIR systems to
detect fugitive emissions.
One important aspect of the development is that of
data processing software and specifically the
customizing of this software to deal with the
sophisticated solutions involving the use of refer-
ence libraries and spectral subtraction. The treat-
ment of data processing, especially for FTIR-based
systems, is far from satisfactory.
106
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Remote Sensing of Trace Gases for Air Quality Analysis of
Volatile Organic Compounds
New and improved remote sensing techniques
involving SONAR and new pulsed laser sources
are of interest. New and innovative remote sensing
solutions to air monitoring problems posed by the
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments are needed on a
priority basis.
The OPM monitoring range and in-house expertise
provides a basis for collaboration on both instru-
ment design and instrument evaluation.
Key Publications:
G.M. Russwurm, el aL, "Long-path FTIR Mea-
surements of Volatile Organic Compounds in
an Industrial Setting," JA&WMA, 41(8), 1062-
1066, 1991.
R.K. Stevens, et.al., "Evaluation of a Differential
Optical Absorption Spectrometer as an Air
Quality Monitor, "Proceedings of the 1990
EPA/A&WMA International Symposium on
Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollut-
ants, Raleigh, NC, April 30, 1990.
Proceedings of the Symposium on Optical Remote
Sensing and Applications to Environmental
and Industrial Safety Problems, 6-8, April
1992, Houston, TX. Available from the
A&WMA.
Contact Person:
William A. McClenny, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-3158
September 1992
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
107
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Climate, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
Issue: The Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory conducts research to
address assessment and decisions which are
sensitive to climate and climate variations. The
research utilizes both in-situ observations and
remotely sensed data in the analyses. Geographic
Information Systems are primary tools in analysis
and display of information. Applications include
assessment for decisions related to ecosystems, air
quality and other environmental issues.
Current Activities: Major products include
geographically resolved climate indices which are
regionally aggregated to reflect climate forcing on
selected ecosystems (forests, estuaries,
agroecosystems). The geographic extent of the
current assessment of forest ecosystem (Cooler
and Truppi) shown in Figure 1 depicts a climate
index directed to assess ice damage. Satellite
indices of vegetation (derived from the NOAA
polar orbiting Advanced Very High Resolution
Radiometer, U.S. Geological Survey, EROS) and
associated surface climate parameters are being
analyzed for input into agroecosystem assessment.
The link between climate and ozone (surface and
tropospheric) is being addressed for the Eastern
United States with plans to extend efforts globally.
Homogeneous regions with respect to surface
ozone are displayed in Figure 2. Satellite derived
(TOMS and SAGE) estimates of tropospheric
ozone are being compared to other physical atmo-
spheric parameters at the surface and in the tropo-
sphere.
Climate and the atmosphere are factors which
determine the demand for energy (for air condi-
tioning). The atmosphere is also a determining
factor in the supply side of the energy equation
when photovoltaics are included. Photovoltaics are
environmentally acceptable but have not been
efficient enough in the past to be economically
feasible. Technology is improving the efficiency
and reducing the cost. Climate data on surface
temperature, humidity and wind can estimate
cooling needs by time of day. The ability of
Figure 1. County frequency of ice
storms events, Oct.
1990-Sept. 1991
Figure 2. Homogeneous 03 concentration regions
108 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Climate, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
photovoltaics to provide expensive peak load
energy generation can be estimated from satellite
data (Figure 3). Cost benefit studies of this prob-
lem for various distribution systems (Figure 4) in
the United States for a representative period of
record would allow determination of year-to-year
variability and payback period.
Opportunities for Collaboration: The imple-
mentation of geographically resolved climate
information, including remotely sensed data, to
address assessment and decision making, offers
many opportunities for AREAL scientists to
cooperate with external groups. Climate data and
remotely sensed data are of limited value when
used alone, but have strong relationships with
many sectors of society, economy and industry.
These relationships can be utilized. AREAL is
receptive to external groups interested in identify-
ing and improving the application of in-situ or
remotely sensed climate information through:
1. advanced visualization techniques;
2. development of faster and friendlier computer
interacitve capability;
3. analytic capability designed to facilitate assess-
ments and address uncertainty in the informa-
tion used by decision makers.
The applications of interest are broad and include
agriculture, forests, estuaries, air quality, energy
demand for air conditioning (cooling and heating)
and energy supply for atmospherically driven
renewable resources (solar and wind).
Key Publications:
Eder, B.K., J.M. Davis and P. Bloomfield. "A
Characterization of the Spatiotemporal Vari-
ability of Non-Urban Ozone Concentrations
over the Eastern United States," in review.
Cooler, EJ. and L. Truppi. "Chapter 6. Selected
Climatic Data Summaries." Forest Health
Monitoring Statistical Summary, (K. Riitters,
B. Conkling, eds.), EPA, in review.
Justus, CG. and J.D. Tarpley. Atlas of Satellite-
Measured Insolation in the U.S. , Mexico, and
South America. Nov. 1984.
Contact Person:
Sharon LeDuc, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-1335
September 1992
Figure 3 Daily total insolation estimated from GOES data,
Mar. 13, 1983.
Figure 4. Municipal utilities in the U.S.
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF 199
Office of Research and Development
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Development of a Continuous Emission Monitor for
Total Gaseous Nonmethane Organic Carbon
Issue: The present method for measuring Total
Gaseous Non-Methane Organic Carbon
(TGNMOC) is by EPA Method 25, a Manual
method for stationary source sampling and analy-
sis for several industrial source categories. Many
laboratories have experienced difficulties in
performing the method. The method has several
drawbacks including the level of detection (50
ppmC) and the fact that it is not continuous.
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Stan-
dards (OAQPS) has expressed a need for a Con-
tinuous Emission Monitor (CEM) for TGNMOC
in addition to Method 25 for assessment of the
reduction of stationary source emissions from
several of the industries regulated under the Clean
Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990,11 tie III.
For this purpose they have defined continuous as
providing a value every 10 minutes or less.
Current Activities: The Source Methods Re-
search Branch has been assessing new procedures
for possibly replacing Method 25 with a more
reliable procedure. We have been evaluating a new
detector that is sensitive to organic carbon with
good results. The detector is the Catalytic Flame
lonization Detector (CFID) with a detection limit
of
-------
Mobile Source Emission Research and Development
Issue: Motor vehicle emissions contribute signifi-
cantly to most urban air quality problems, includ-
ing ozone, CO, and toxics. Estimates suggest the
contributions to be nearly 50% of ozone precursors
and toxics, and 90% of CO. Further, there contin-
ues to be uncertainty about the accuracy of models
used to estimate the magnitude of the mobile
source emissions inventory. Recent roadway
studies suggest that MOBILE 4.1 (EPA's motor
vehicle emissions model) and other similar models
may underestimate the emission rates of motor
vehicle HC and CO by factors of 2 to 3.
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments have initi-
ated a number of programs to decrease the impact
of motor vehicle emissions on non-attainment of
urban air quality standards. Included are programs
to reduce emissions from new motor vehicles;
programs to introduce new potentially more
environmentally benign fuels, such as reformu-
lated gasolines, methanol, ethanol, compressed
natural gas, low pressure gas (propane), and
electricity with associated compatible vehicle
technologies; and programs to more effectively
identify and repair malfunctioning consumer
owned motor vehicles.
Current Activities: Research programs of the
Mobile Source Emissions Research Branch,
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory (AREAL), located in Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, include activities to support the
development of new motor vehicle emissions
regulations, to characterize emissions from emerg-
ing alternatively-fueled motor vehicles under a
variety of operating conditions, and to characterize
"real world" vehicle emissions making contrasts
with predictive models and determining the source
of differences. Activities to support new regulation
generally take the form of developing necessary
analytical procedures for emission rate measure-
ments. As permitted emission rates are reduced,
the limits of analytical accuracy and precision
must be extended, and as fuel compositions are
changed, the array of compounds that must be
measured is expanded. Characterization of emis-
sions from emerging vehicle and fuel technologies
generally involves chassis dynamometer examina-
tion of prototype vehicles and fuels as made
available by the associated industries.
Emission characterization includes all regulated
compounds and a large number (» 200 com-
pounds) of unregulated compounds to estimate the
potential implication of the technology for such
complex air quality problems as urban ozone.
Study of "real world" vehicle emissions generally
involves performing field studies in cooperation
with industry and academia. These studies exam-
ine emissions at remote roadway sites by collect-
ing and analyzing samples taken at the roadway
edge and by using remote sensing instrumentation
to provide real time tail-pipe emission rates. Such
rates are used to identify unusually high emitters
which can be examined to characterize the reasons
for high emissions. With the cooperation of the
vehicle owner, a malfunction can be diagnosed by
experts, and the emission rates characterized with
standard dynamometer procedures (transportable
chassis dynamometer).
Opportunities for Collaboration: As the new
technologies emerge, numerous opportunities exist
for collaborative evaluation of their performance
and implications for air quality. Collaborative
development of test procedures, (including dyna-
mometer procedures, emissions sampling and
analytical procedures, and associated quality
assurance procedures to provide necessary accu-
racy and precision) and collaborative laboratory
dynamometer and roadway studies of vehicle
emissions will be required to provide the data
necessary to estimate the effectiveness of the
varied emissions control activities. Numerous
vehicle and fuel technologies will require exami-
nation under the widely variant operating condi-
tions known to influence emission rates (vehicle
speed, acceleration-deceleration, road grade,
ambient temperature, altitude, etc.). The character-
istics of "real-world" motor vehicle emissions
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
111
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Mobile Source Emission Research and Development
need to be understood and appropriate strategies to
manage these emissions developed.
Key Publications:
Gabele, P. A., Characterization of Emissions from
a Variable Gasoline/Methanol Fueled Car, J.
Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 40(3), 296-304
1990.
Stump, F.D., Knapp, K.T., Ray, W.D., Burton, C,
and Snow, R., The Seasonal Impact of Blend-
ing Oxygenated Organics with Gasoline on
Motor Vehicle Tail-pipe and Evaporative
Emissions, SAE 902129, Society of Automo-
tive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1990.
Knapp, K.T., Dynamometer Testing of On-Road
Vehicles from the Los Angeles In-Use Emis-
sions Study, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc, in
review, 1992.
Contact Person:
Kenneth Knapp, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919)541-1352
September 1992
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112 Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory - RTF
Office of Research and Development
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Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Aquatic and Terrestrial Animal Facility
Description of Facility: At the Andrew W.
Breidenbach Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,
the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
(EMSL-Cincinnati) maintains a unique, well-
equipped facility to conduct ecotoxicological
research with aquatic and terrestrial animals. The
facility consists of 26 single module rooms (240
sq. ft. each), three double module rooms, and one
triple module room. Of these, seven are hazard
rooms equipped with fume hoods. Other special-
ized rooms within the animal facility for support of
animal research consist of one necropsy room (480
sq. ft.), one surgery room (400 sq. ft.), one cage/
equipment cleaning room (960 sq. ft.), and food
storage room (240 sq. ft.). Two rooms are
equipped with large flow-through fish tanks, and
an additional five modules are devoted to culture
of smaller fish. One group of modules is set up for
invertebrate culture, and there is a small breeding
colony of white-footed mice. The facility is
accredited by AAALAC.
Current Activities: Research in the facility is
conducted by personnel with expertise in
carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, reproductive and
developmental toxicology, physiology and ecol-
ogy. The Ecological Monitoring Division of
EMSL-Cincinnati performs research designed to
detect and quantify responses in aquatic and
terrestrial organisms exposed to environmental
stressors and to correlate the exposure with effects
on chemical and biological indicators. Biochemi-
cal and molecular markers are being developed in
ecologically relevant species that can be used to
document exposures, elucidate stressor-induced
effects, and establish causality in ecosystems.
Modern lexicological assessment techniques being
used include computer-assisted sperm motion
analysis, image-analysis-based histopathology,
fish clinical and histopathological markers, and
molecular biology. Organisms involved in current
research include fish, tadpoles, clams, field mice,
earthworms, and plants and laboratory rodents.
Opportunity for Collaboration: EMSL-Cincin-
nati is interested in collaborative efforts to:
Assist in biological evaluation of remediated
matrices.
Develop new assays and markers needing
toxicological support and testing.
Compare the response of feral and laboratory
species to single and interacting stressors.
Develop cause and effect links between stres-
sor responses at different levels of biological
organization.
Contact Person:
F. Bernard Daniel, Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7401
September 1992
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Chemical Analytical Methods
Issue: The Chemistry Research Division of the
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory -
Cincinnati is responsible for developing laboratory
analytical chemical methods that are incorporated
into Agency monitoring and regulatory programs.
In some Agency programs, these methods are
mandatory and required for monitoring to demon-
strate compliance with environmental regulations.
The analytical methods are detailed, step-by-step
instructions for laboratory analysts and techni-
cians. The methods are written in a "cookbook"
style to provide trained analysts/technicians with
all information necessary to complete acceptable
laboratory analyses of environmental samples.
Included are sections on needed equipment and
supplies, sample collection and preservation,
sample processing and preparation, instrument
calibration, analyte separation and measurement,
data interpretation and presentation of results,
quality assurance and control, waste disposal and
prevention, and references to other sources of
background information.
These analytical methods are used or cited in
numerous Agency programs but most often in the
Safe Drinking Water Act regulations and the Clean
Water Act regulations (Nation Pollution Discharge
Elimination System permits). Therefore, these
methods are in great demand by the regulated
community, Federal, State, and local government
agencies, private laboratories, and industry. These
analytical chemical test methods are also used as
models for methods incorporated into many other
Agency monitoring and regulatory programs
including regulations under the Resource Conser-
vation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Superfund
site investigation and remedial action program,
and the Environmental Monitoring and Assess-
ment Program (EMAP).
Current Activities: Since December 1988, 35
analytical methods have been carefully docu-
mented and distributed in a series of three methods
manuals. Another 30 new or revised methods are
planned for the next several years. In addition,
analytical methods must be updated regularly as
new techniques, instruments, and procedures are
developed.
Opportunity for Collaboration: These analytical
methods are distributed primarily through the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in
Alexandria, VA. The NTIS provides photocopies
of methods manuals, which usually contain 7-13
methods, and estimates six weeks for delivery.
Nevertheless, 1026 copies have been sold by the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) for
a return of over $40,000 to the government.
An additional publication and distribution conduit
is desirable to serve the needs of the regulated
communities and various levels of government.
One approach would be an agreement between
EPA and a private publisher for publication and
sale of the methods manuals prepared by EPA.
EPA could assist the publisher, who would be
selected through open competition, in preparing
the documents for publication. The publisher
would produce and market the manuals at its own
expense. This effort would be consistent with the
purpose of Executive Order 12591, which states
that "The head of each Executive department and
agency shall... (2) identify and encourage persons
to act as conduits between and among Federal
laboratories, universities, and the private sector for
the transfer of technology developed from feder-
ally funded research and development efforts; (3)
ensure that State and local governments, universi-
ties, and the private sector are provided with
information on the technology ... available in
Federal laboratories".
Contact Person:
William L. Budde, Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7309
September 1992
116 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Ecotoxicology and Bioassessment Capability
Issue: Many Federal and State regulatory and
monitoring programs are now using biological
measures to demonstrate compliance with statu-
tory requirements or to determine the status and
trends of ecosystem integrity and health. For
example, EPA's Superfund program is using
sediment, ambient water column, and soil
ecotoxicity tests to determine the impacts of
hazardous waste on aquatic and terrestrial ecosys-
tems and to evaluate treatment alternatives.
The move toward using bioassessments and
ecotoxicity testing for determining ecological
integrity and impairment is a logical one. These
techniques form the most cost-effective and
relevant approach for evaluating ecosystem im-
r lirment caused by contamination, eutrophication,
physical habitat alteration, or some combination of
these stressors. Demand for more sensitive, cost-
effective, and technologically advanced
ecotoxicity and bioassessment methods is ever
increasing.
Current Activities: Scientists at the Environmen-
tal Monitoring Systems Laboratory, in Cincinnati,
OH (EMSL-Cincinnati), are responsible for devel-
oping, standardizing, and publishing biological
methods for EPA's regulatory and monitoring
programs. They also develop indicators for Envi-
ronmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(EMAP) activities. Two new programs will be
underway in FY93: (1) development of metrics to
develop biocriteria for bays and estuaries of the
Great Lakes and (2) development of rapid biologi-
cal assessment techniques for ecological assess-
ments.
Aquatic ecotoxicity tests being developed or
standardized or currently in use are acute and/or
chronic sediment toxicity tests using an amphipod,
Hyalella azteca; a chironomid, Chironomus
tentans', an aquatic vascular plant, Lemna minor
(duckweed); and a fathead minnow embryo/larval
teratagenicity test. Acute and chronic ambient
water column ecotoxicity tests being used for
EMAP, Superfund, NPDES, and other evaluation
programs involve Pimephales promelas (fathead
minnow), Ceriodaphnia, Daphnia magna, D.
pulex, duckweed, and rainbow trout.
Also under development is the use of artificial
stream mesocosms to detect impacts of mine
wastes on periphyton community integrity. Ten
mesocosms have been constructed at the EMSL-
Cincinnati Newtown Facility. Artificial periphy-
ton substrates are colonized in the field, brought
back to the laboratory, and placed in the
mesocosms. After a 28-day acclimation period in
laboratory-modified ground water, a representative
subsample of the periphyton substrates is col-
lected. Community metrics, chlorophyll A, ash-
free dry weight, and enzyme assays are performed
on these subsamples to establish baseline condi-
tions. Then 28-day exposures to single metal,
metal mixtures and mine wastes are performed in
the mesocosms. The goal is to use mesocosms to
establish periphyton indices of biotic integrity and
to determine relationships between metal(s) and
toxicity. Mesocosms will be used to study other
stressors (e.g., eutrophication, light, and tempera-
ture) to determine cause-and-effcct relationships.
Bioassessment collection methods, multivariate
and single- vs. multi-metric assessment techniques
for fish, macroinvertebrate, and plants are being
evaluated and standardized in seven ecoregions
and used at three Superfund sites. Functional
assessment methods (e.g., sediment metabolism)
are also being investigated to evaluate ecosystem
dysfunction. An index of biotic integrity is being
developed for application in EPA Region 3.
More advanced planned studies deal with develop-
ment of electronic biological detection and identi-
fication techniques. Techniques under consider-
ation are electronic systems that combine acousti-
cal, image analyses, and computer interfacing that
can detect and taxonomically identify fish and
other aquatic organisms. The goal is to develop
non-lethal electronic biological surveillance
techniques to determine biological integrity.
Opportunity for Collaboration: The key to
developing cost-effective and ecologically relevant
ecotoxicity and bioassessment methods is access to
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Ecotoxicology and Bioassessment Capability
test sites, mesocosms, and a network of long-term
indicator monitoring stations along with a
multidisciplinary team that is familiar with statu-
tory requirements. With the Newtown facility
testing capabilities and access to off-grid and on-
grid experimental monitoring stations, opportunity
exists to undertake cooperative field studies.
These monitoring activities provide an opportunity
for comparison of electronic biological surveil-
lance systems with more conventional
bioassessment techniques.
Key Publications:
USEPA, 1990. "Macroinvertebrate Field and
Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Bio-
logical Integrity of Surface Waters." Office of
Research and Development, Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Cincinnati,
OH. EPA/600/4-90/030.
USEPA, 1992. "Draft Fish Field and Laboratory
Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integ-
rity of Surface Waters." Office of Research
and Development, Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH. EPA/
600/R-92/111.
USEPA, 1992. "Final Draft: Short-Term Methods
for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Efflu-
ents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater
Organisms." Office of Research and Develop-
ment, Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH. EPA/600/4-91/
022.
USEPA, 1992. Final draft of "Short-Term Meth-
ods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of
Effluents and Receiving Waters to Marine and
Estuarine Organisms." Office of Research and
Development, Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH. EPA/
600/4-91/021.
Contact Person:
F. Bernard Daniel, Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7401
September 1992
118 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Gene Probes to Detect Microorganisms
Issue: Classical methods for isolation and identifi-
cation of hazardous microorganisms in environ-
mental matrices are often time-consuming and
difficult. For example, analysis of potable water
or cooling tower water for Legionella pneumophila
requires approximately five to seven days for
growth of the organisms on the initial isolation
medium and another five to seven days to confirm
the identity of these organisms. Opportunistic
pathogens of the Mycobacterium avium complex
grow even slower and require two weeks for initial
isolation.
Current antibody-based methods to detect the
protozoan parasites, Giardia and
Cryptosporidium, in environmental samples are
cumbersome to perform and prone to both false-
positive and false-negative results. These methods
also do not allow identification at the species level
and do not differentiate between viable and non-
viable cysts.
Fungi that cause health effects in indoor air envi-
ronments are both slow-growing and difficult to
identify. Most of the diagnostic tests rely on
morphological observations and require consider-
able expertise to perform, and very few individuals
in the entire nation possess this expertise.
A serious concern is that existing standard plaque
assay methods for virus detection in environmental
waters underestimate the quantity of vinises or
produce false negatives when viruses are actually
present in the waters, leading ultimately to inad-
equate protection of the American public. Existing
standard methods are time-consuming and cannot
detect the Hepatitis A and Norwalk viruses respon-
sible for most waterborne viral outbreaks. The
time required to perform these assays also pre-
cludes their use as a means of determining the
source of contamination for most outbreaks.
Biotechnology methods based on DNA hybridiza-
tion probes and/or polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) technology circumvent all of the problems
listed above. These methods are rapid and highly
specific, allowing identification of hazardous
microorganisms at the species and even the sub-
species level. The PCR method can be used to
identify an organism within a single day and can
be made sensitive enough to detect a single cell.
These methods are also simple to perform and
require less training than is required for many of
the current methods.
Current Activities: The molecular biology pro-
gram in the Microbiology Research Division at the
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in
Cincinnati, OH (EMSL-Cincinnati) is developing
gene probe methods for a variety of microorgan-
isms that have public health significance. A
chemiluminescent gene probe method is under
development to allow detection of Shigella in
wastewaters, sludges and recreational waters.
Both colony probe methodology and PCR-based
methodology are being tested. Gene probe meth-
ods are also being developed to detect Giardia and
Cryptosporidium in these same matrices. The
question of assessing the viability of Giardia and
Cryptosporidium spores is being addressed at the
molecular level.
A battery of DNA primer sets and DNA hybridiza-
tion probes is being developed for PCR identifica-
tion of fungi commonly found in indoor air. The
gene coding for small subunit ribosomal RNA
(rRNA) is being sequenced and the sequences are
being analyzed comparatively to determine spe-
cific sequences that can be used in species identifi-
cation. A battery of broad-specificity oligonucle-
otide primers has been developed to allow PCR
amplification and subsequent rapid sequencing of
large segments of the fungal small subunit rRNA
genes.
A program to develop gene probes for detection of
waterborne viruses encompasses development of
PCR primers and hybridization probes for amplifi-
cation and identification of key enteric viruses.
Methodology to use primers for Hepatitis A,
Norwalk virus, rotaviruses, enteric adenoviruses,
as well as polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Gene Probes to Detect Microorganisms
echoviruses, has been developed. These new
biotechnology methods have been shown to detect
viruses at levels similar to the standard plaque
assay in one to two days. Methodology to use
PCR with many different types of environmental
samples is currently being developed. These
methods will be extensively field tested in a
national ground water monitoring study that will
begin this fall.
Also being developed are methods for extracting
nucleic acids from large volume environmental
samples for PCR analysis. Problems that need to
be overcome include co-extraction of substances
that inhibit gene amplification. A variety of
physical and chemical separation approaches are
being evaluated.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Resources at
EMSL-Cincinnati include an Applied Biosystems
Model 381 DNA synthesizer, an Applied
Biosystems Model 373A automated DNA se-
quencer, and two Perkin-Elmer thermocyclers.
These instruments and researchers with expertise
in DNA sequencing and synthesis of gene probes
and primer sets are available for rapid develop-
ment of gene probes for any specific microorgan-
ism or group of microorganisms of interest to
environmental scientists.
Some specific development opportunities are:
Gene probe kits for opportunistic pathogens
that are becoming increasingly more important,
such as some of the nontuberculosis mycobac-
teria.
Gene probes for Legionella based on potential
pathogenicity rather than species.
DNA hybridization kits to identify the various
fungi that occur in indoor air.
Biotechnology-based methods to distinguish
between viable and non-viable cysts of
Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Molecular detection methods for other para-
sites with established public health signifi-
cance, such as Entamoeba histolytica and
Blastocystis hominis.
Virus detection kits that can be used by field
personnel with no virology and little molecular
biology training.
Contact Person:
Gerard N. Stelma, Jr., Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7384
September 1992
120 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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New Membrane Filter Medium for Simultaneous Detection of
Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in Drinking Water
Issue: Total coliforms have been used for many
years to indicate fecal pollution in drinking water,
effectiveness of treatment processes, and deteriora-
tion of the water quality in distribution systems.
More recently, there has been a shift toward
monitoring for Escherichia coli in drinking water
because this organism is always found in feces and
is, therefore, a more direct indicator of fecal
contamination.
Drinking water regulations under the Final
Coliform Rule require that total coliform-positive
drinking water samples be examined for the
presence of E. coli or fecal coliforms. Current
approved membrane filter methods necessitate
serial analyses or confirmation procedures using
several different types of media and two different
incubation temperatures. These procedures can
take up to 72 hours. Use of a rapid, sensitive, and
specific medium that simultaneously detects both
types of microorganisms in a single drinking water
sample will simplify laboratory compliance with
the Final Total Coliform Rule, eliminate the
additional time, labor and expense of procedures
that can delay detection of contaminated drinking
water, and obviate the need for a second incubator.
Current Activities: Scientist at the Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Cincinnati, OH
(EMSL-Cincinnati), have developed a sensitive,
selective, and specific membrane filter method for
simultaneous detection of total coliforms and E.
coli on the basis of enzyme activity. The method
has been shown to be superior to currently used
membrane filter media for a variety of water
samples, including drinking water. A study of the
recovery of chlorine-stressed or damaged organ-
isms is in progress and a collaborative study is
planned.
Opportunity for Collaboration: An opportunity
is available to collaborate with EMSL-Cincinnati
scientists in development, production, and com-
mercialization of this new medium for drinking
water. Other potential uses for the medium are
recreational and surface waters, groundwater,
treatment plant effluents, water from drinking
water distribution lines, bottled water, foods,
Pharmaceuticals, veterinary and human clinical
specimens, and other environmental samples (e.g.,
aerosols, soil, or sludge).
A second opportunity exists in preparation of the
sterile ampouled antibiotic solution used in the
medium. In addition, because of its specificity for
E. coli and other coliforms, the medium has the
potential for use in clinical and veterinary labs and
may be used to separate E. coli transformants from
non-transformants in cloning work utilizing the lac
and/or GUS genes.
Key Publications:
Brenner, K.P., C.C. Rankin, Y.R. Roybal, G.N.
Stelma, Jr., and A.P. Dufour. 1992. New
Medium for the Simultaneous Detection of
Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in Water.
Manuscript is currently under review before
planned submission to the journal, Applied
and Environmental Microbiology.
Brenner, K.P., C.C. Rankin, Y.R. Roybal, and A.P.
Dufour. Patent application entitled "Mem-
brane Filter Medium for Detection of Total
Coliforms and E. coir was filed 11-18-91.
Contact Person:
Gerard N. Stelma, Jr., Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7384
September 1992
Environmental Monitor ing Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Research Containment Facility
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's first
self-contained, freestanding, high-hazard research
facility is located adjacent to the Andrew W.
Breidenbach Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
It is dedicated to performing research and develop-
ment with toxic or hazardous materials that cannot
be handled in conventional buildings. The Re-
search Containment Facility was designed with
maximum safety features to prevent exposure of
workers in the building and contamination of the
surrounding area. Building access is strictly
controlled through card-activated door locking
mechanisms, and entry and egress are monitored
continually. Samples are received at a specially-
designed area that incorporates an air-lock system
so that delivery personnel have no need to enter
the facility.
The building features a one-pass air system with
air locks to ensure a negative air pressure differen-
tial throughout the entire containment area. All
exhaust air from the building is treated and moni-
tored through a three-stage filtering system before
being discharged. The first and third stages con-
sist of high-efficient particle filters, and the second
stage is a high-efficiency vapor filter. Two ex-
haust treatment systems are installed in tandem to
allow uninterrupted operation during malfunctions
or maintenance.
This facility provides about 7000 sq. ft. of floor
space for laboratory-scale experimental studies on
high-hazard, non-radioactive materials in a setting
designed for maximum safety and control. Several
analytical instruments are currently in service, and
equipment is modified as necessary to accomplish
research projects.
Through a cooperative agreement with the Envi-
ronmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in
Cincinnati, OH, the private sector could use this
facility to conduct research and development
involving hazardous substances. In toxic
treatability studies, liquid and solid wastes could
be studied to characterize, destroy, or detoxify
materials containing toxic chemical contaminants,
such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (dioxins),
dibenzofurans, and biphenyls (PCBs).
Examples of Collaborative Opportunities:
Removal of Asbestos from Surfaces
Using a glove box in a controlled, negative pres-
sure atmosphere, the effectiveness of various
techniques (vacuum, chemical, wet dusting, and
electrostatic) for cleaning carpets, furniture, walls,
and ceilings can be assessed.
Stored Drum Treatment Tests The
effectiveness of sequential chemical and biological
treatment for destroying organic contaminants can
be determined using small scale reactors.
Lead Removal from Contaminated Soil
A small-scale furnace and scrubber can be used to
determine the feasibility of pyro-metallurgical
extraction of lead.
Biokinetics of Toxic Compounds
Kinetic parameters and inhibitory effects related to
biodegradation of RCRA and CERCLA com-
pounds can be determined with respirometry
apparatus and measurement units.
Hazardous Waste Treatment Lab-scale
reactors, chemostats, and respirometers can be
used to study the biodegradability of complex
toxic wastes in both aerobic and anaerobic sys-
tems.
Contact Person:
Harold Clements
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7398
September 1992
122 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Frontiers in Ecological Monitoring
Issue: Federal and state laws mandate monitoring
and characterization of natural resources in asso-
ciation with effluent discharge permits, environ-
mental monitoring programs, Superfund activities,
and ecological risk assessment. Consequently,
practical tools are needed to economically and
efficiently perform these activities. Although
specific chemical characterization has played a
major role in this arena, biological evaluation is
not only relevant, but also can provide cost effec-
tive alternatives to identification of chemical
analytes.
Biological endpoints have the advantage of being
sensitive to multiple stressors, detecting actual
exposure and effect not just the presence of com-
pounds, detecting rapidly metabolized contami-
nants, sometimes acting as a record of pulsed
events, and integrating contaminant distribution
for mobile organisms in their home range. Further-
more, because biological changes occur before
organism death or disease, they can act as a ba-
rometer of change, before permanent damage to
the ecology occurs or as a record of improved
condition following remediation.
Current Activities: The Ecological Monitoring
Research Division conducts research to develop
methods to evaluate the health of ecosystems using
biochemical, cellular and organismal responses to
stressors. Methods are developed for monitoring,
assessment and diagnosis of likely causes of
altered or attenuated biological integrity and
robustness. Ecological, epidemiological and
laboratory controlled data are used in methods
development. Studies are conducted to perfect
methods for practical application to field-collected
samples, to demonstrate dose response relation-
ships between environmental exposure and bio-
logical responses and to establish meaningful
relationships between stressors and their ecologi-
cal effects. Developed tools are integrated with
existing monitoring and evaluative methods of
ecological characterization and assessment.
Current research is focused in the development
and demonstrations of methods using 1) gene
probes, 2) immunoassays, 3) image analysis, 4)
flow cytometry, 5) spectrophotometric and fluoro-
metric analyses, 6) high performance liquid chro-
matography and 7) DNA fingerprinting. Some
analyses are being used for the evaluation of
reproductive and physiological condition, genetic
diversity, immunocompetence and damage to
genetic material. Emphasis is placed on develop-
ing tools that use samples with a practical storage
life and assays that are relatively easy to perform
and are low cost. A number of tests have been
developed using automated systems or modifying
technologies, developed by human clinical labora-
tories, for wildlife use.
Opportunities for Collaboration:
Develop methods to measure the exposure of
wildlife to environmental stressors and corre-
late these findings with effects on the physi-
ological condition or community structure and
function. For instance, assays for polyaromatic
hydrocarbon and halogenated compound-
inducible enzymes have been correlated with
fish community indices.
Commercialize technology in the form of
methods publications and assay kits that can be
used for the estimation of risk to wildlife or
diagnosis of cause at impacted sites. One
example is an automated method that has been
developed to measure the free radical scaveng-
ing capacity of cell extracts.
Adapt methods to automated systems or
specific analytical equipment and supporting
software for application to the assessment of
wildlife health and risk assessment. Human
clinical blood chemistry kits have been adapted
for use with fish plasma.
Use biomarkers and biocriteria to evaluate
potentially impacted sites, effluents or reme-
dial efforts. Worm toxicity tests have been
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Frontiers in Ecological Monitoring
used to evaluate the fungal remediation of
creosote contaminated soils.
Publish a scientific journal especially dedi-
cated to biological monitoring and assessment
and special issues or books dedicated to step-
by-step instructions in selection and perfor-
mance of standard EPA methods.
Key Publications:
Cormier, S. M. and R. N. Racine, 1990,
"Histopathology of Atlantic Tomcod: A
Possible Monitor of Xenobiotics in Northeast
Tidal Rivers and Estuaries". In: Biomarkers
of Environmental Contamination, Ed. J. F.
McCarthy and L. R. Shugart. Lewis Publishers,
Boca Raton, FL. pp. 59-72.
Cormier, S. M. and R. N. Racine. In press.
"Biomarkers of Environmental Exposure and
Multivariate Approaches for Assessment and
Monitoring. In: Ecological Indicators. Elsevier
Applied Science Publ., Barking, Essex, En-
gland.
Contact Person:
F. Bernard Daniel, Ph.D.
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and
Quality Assurance
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
(513)569-7995
September 1992
124
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati
Office of Research and Development
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Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
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Development and Evaluation of Immunochemical
Methods for Environmental Monitoring
Issue: Monitoring and characterization of hazard-
ous waste sites are essential under the Superfund
Program. The number of sites requiring cleanup
under Superfund is increasing and likely to con-
tinue to increase. Unavoidably, the accompanying
sampling requirements and analytical costs will
increase as well.
The EPA is considering the inclusion of immu-
nochemical methods in newly proposed regula-
tions on farm worker safety. Under the Toxic
Substances Control Act, the EPA is also required
to assess exposure to other potentially hazardous
chemicals including products of biotechnology,
such as genetically engineered microorganisms.
Site characterization and effective implementation
of regulations require analytical methods that are
applicable to widely different classes of com-
pounds ranging from small molecules to complex
protein products. There is a need to develop rapid
and cost-effective field screening methods to meet
these requirements. Ideally, methods should
provide data in a timely manner to protect human
and environmental health. These methods must
also be cost-effective, sensitive, and capable of
high sample throughput. Immunochemical meth-
ods often can fulfill these requirements and have
broad applications for a wide variety of environ-
mental contaminants. The potential for applying
immunochemical methods to environmental
measurements is just beginning to be realized.
Current Activities: The immunochemistry pro-
gram at the EMSL-LV encompasses the develop-
ment of: (1) immunologic reagents, (2) immunoas-
says for pesticides in environmental and food
samples, (3) immunoassays for industrial wastes
and by-products, (4) immunologic-based personal
exposure monitoring devices, (5) immunoaffmity
chromatography systems, (6) robotics, (7) training
and instructional programs, (8) the integration of
immunochemical techniques into instrumental
methods and (9) laboratory and field evaluations.
EMSL-LV has an active program to develop
haptens, immunogens and antibodies for a diver-
sity of pollutants, e.g., nitroaromatics, polychlori-
nated biphenyls (PCBs), pentachlorophenol,
carbaryl, parathion, various pyrethroids and other
pesticides, and BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene).
These reagents are then used in the development of
simple, field-portable methods for environmental
monitoring. Quantitative laboratory methods that
have a high sample capacity and rapid throughput
are also formatted. Robotic methods are being
investigated to automate immunoassays, sample
preparation procedures, and confirmatory analysis.
We have developed the first reported immu-
nochemical technique for the direct sampling of
vaporous analytes. These immunologic-based
dosimeters are under development for applications
to farmworker health and safety such as determin-
ing safe reentry into pesticide-treated fields. Other
workplace monitoring and indoor air studies are
also possible.
Laboratory evaluations and field demonstrations
are conducted for immunochemical methods that
have potential for use in environmental monitoring
studies. Evaluations already completed include
those for alachlor, pentachlorophenol, and gasoline
components.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Opportunity
exists to participate in ongoing immunochemistry
research at the EPA Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) in the
following areas: chemical synthesis, immunologic
reagent development, field-portable and labora-
tory-based immunoassays, immunologic-based
personal exposure monitoring dosimeters,
immunoaffmity chromatography, robotics, labora-
tory evaluations, field studies, and development of
antibodies to specific analytes .
The key to developing a particular immunochemi-
cal method is the availability of specific immuno-
logic reagents. The development of these reagents
can oftentimes be technically demanding. How-
ever, once suitable reagents are obtained, they can
be used in a wide variety of applications. EMSL-
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
127
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Development and Evaluation of Immunochemical
Methods for Environmental Monitoring
LV personnel have extensive experience in devel-
oping immunochemical methods ranging from
hapten design and synthesis to final assay evalua-
tions. Collaboration may also include the use of
the EMSL-LV immunochemistry laboratories,
which are equipped with state-of-the-art instru-
mentation. A dedicated robotic system is available
to automate immunoassays, sample preparations
and confirmatory analysis. The EPA is also inter-
ested in the development of new immunoassay
formats and their potential for environmental
measurements.
Immunoassays that have been developed for
hazardous compounds must be evaluated using
real-world environmental samples. Such evalua-
tions determine the potential applications of the
method and facilitate acceptance and implementa-
tion. EMSL-LV conducts evaluations to character-
ize and test individual immunochemical methods.
Evaluations are conducted on commercially
available immunoassay methods which are in-
tended for general widespread use such as charac-
terization of hazardous waste sites. Evaluations are
also conducted on immunoassay methods that are
intended to support registration and re-registration
of chemical products. Opportunity exists to under-
take field and laboratory studies for integration of
methods within monitoring programs. The EPA
can provide authentic environmental samples as
well as access to contaminated sites. Evaluations
are conducted following EPA guidelines for
testing new methods. The cost of these studies is
shared by the developer and the EPA. When
appropriate, studies are published in the peer-
reviewed literature and presented at national
meetings.
Key Publications:
Van Emon, J.M. and Lopez-Avila, V. "Immu-
nochemical Methods for Environmental Analy-
sis" Analytical Chemistry, 64 pp. 78A-88A
1992.
Van Emon, J.M.; Seiber, J.N.; and Hammock,
B.D. "Immunoassay Techniques for Pesticide
Analysis" in: Analytical Methods for Pesti-
cides and Plant Growth Regulators, Vol. XVII
Advanced Analytical Techniques, J. Sherma
ed. pp. 217-263, 1989.
Related Patents: Antibody development for
ivermectin and paraquat.
Contact Person:
Jeanette Van Emon, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702)798-2154
September 1992
128
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
-------
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Soil Sampling
Issue: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are
common contaminants encountered at Superfund
and other hazardous waste sites. As much as 80%
of the total error associated with the analysis of a
contaminated soil sample can be attributed to
improper sampling. It has been reported that up to
99% of the VOCs are lost during sampling and
sample handling. EPA research is focusing on
techniques to help control and quantify the errors
associated with sampling. This research will
satisfy the needs of the RCRA and Superfund
programs as well as for any monitoring program in
which this type of sampling is involved.
Current Activities: We are beginning work to
identify factors influencing the collection and
analysis of VOCs. Additionally, we are designing
a novel sampling device for VOCs in which
atmospheric exposure is extremely limited, thereby
controlling losses of VOCs. Experiments to im-
prove the use of internal standards and matrix and
surrogate spikes for QA/QC purposes are also
underway.
A revised and updated report describing various
soil sampling techniques and strategies has just
been submitted for printing. It presents critical
analysis on geostatistics, quality assurance, par-
ticulate sampling theory, field analysis, and sample
handling as they relate to soil sampling.
We also have begun work in conjunction with the
American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) to develop standards that will support the
revisions under way to Chapters 9 and 10 of the
SW-846 Methods Manual. Examples include drum
sampling and sampling from waste piles.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Two areas ol
opportunity are readily available. These are (1)
working with the EPA and ASTM to develop
sampling standards using their professional experi-
ences in the area, and (2) eventual production and
sale of a modified VOC sampler after development
and testing are completed.
Other Information:
Publications:
1. Preparation of Soil Sampling Protocols: Sam-
pling Techniques and Strategies, EPA/600/R-
92/128, July 1992.
2. Soil Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide,
Second Edition, EPA/600/8-89/046, March
1989.
3.
4.
5.
Investigations of Method 8240 Modifications
for Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds
in Soils: Matrix Modification. In review.
Investigations of Method 8240 Modifications
for Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds
in Soils: Analytical Method. In review.
Correct Sampling Using the Theories of Pierre
Gy. Technology Support Center Fact Sheet,
EMSL-LV, Las Vegas, NV.
Contact Person:
B. A. Schumacher
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702) 798-2242
September 1992
130
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegt
Office of Research and Development
-------
Ecological Indicators
Issue: EPA's Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP) will provide unbi-
ased information on the condition and trends of the
nation's ecological resources. The key to EMAPs
success is development of ecological indicators
appropriate for large-scale, long-term, monitoring.
This will require: instrumentation to measure
ecological parameters in the field; innovative ways
to measure and characterize the condition of
ecological systems; and identification of economi-
cally feasible means of operating a continuous
large-scale field sampling and ecological monitor-
ing program.
We are developing and testing ecological indica-
tors in support of EMAP, This has not been done
before across multiple resource types (agricultural,
forest, lakes, streams, etc.) on a regional or na-
tional scale. EMSL-LV is coordinating these
activities for arid, forest, and agricultural ecosys-
tems in conjunction with other federal agencies.
Current Activities: One of our primary activities
is the development of indicators (ways to evaluate
or represent condition) for ecological resources
(soil, water, wildlife, vegetated systems) appropri-
ate for use over regional or national scales. Also,
the development of capabilities in other support
areas vital to a large-scale field monitoring pro-
gram is under way, including 1) data management,
2) statistics and analysis, 3) application of remote
sensing and Geographic Information System
technology, 4) instrumentation and methods for
ecological measurements, 5) quality assurance of
data and field data collection activities, and 6) the
planning and management for implementation of
large scale field data collection programs.
EMAP is organized around resource groups
(Agroecosystems, Arid Ecosystems, Forests, Great
Lakes, Near Coastal, Surface Waters and Wet-
lands), and crosscutting-support activity areas
(Information Management, Implementation and
Logistics, Quality Assurance, Statistics and De-
sign, Integration and Assessment, Indicators, and
Landscape Characterization and Ecology). Each
resource group develops protocols for implementa-
tion of a field monitoring program in conjunction
with input from the cross-cutting groups. The
monitoring design and strategies are written and
peer-reviewed before each group is allowed to
conduct field sampling. Once sampling programs
are ready to be initiated, indicators are tested in the
field on a small scale (pilot level). When indicators
and field implementation designs prove to be
successful, each group scales up their program to
sample larger areas, until full national coverage is
achieved.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Our primary
interest in collaboration is in the area of research
and development of technology designed to sup-
port ecological field sampling and monitoring.
Opportunities for collaboration at EMSL-LV exist
for developing and testing 1) ecological indicators
for soils, vegetation, wildlife, benthos of lakes and
streams, and trophic state of lakes, 2) instrumenta-
tion designed for ecological measurements, 3)
computer software supporting field data collection
and analysis of environmental information, 4)
Quality Assurance measures for field sampling
programs and ecological data, and 5) cost effec-
tive, efficient and dependable means of imple-
menting large scale field sampling programs.
Other Information:
Hunsaker, C.T. and D.E. Carpenter, eds. 1990.
Ecological indicators for the Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program. EPA/
600/3-90-606. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and Development,
Research Triangle Park, NC.
This report is a compendium of indicators from all
resource groups.
The following reports provide specific plans for
each resource group.
Forests:
Palmer, C.J., K.H. Riitters, T. Strickland, D.L.
Cassell, G.E. Byers, M.L. Papp, and C.I. Liff.
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
131
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Ecological Indicators
1991. Monitoring and Research Strategy for
Forests-Environmental Monitoring and Assess-
ment Program (EMAP). EPA/600/4-91/012.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wash-
ington, D.C.
Arid Ecosystems:
Kepner, W.G., C.A. Fox, J. Baker, B.
Breckenridge, C. Elvidge, V. Eno, J. Flueck, S.
Franson, J. Jackson, B. Jones, M. Meyer, D.
Mouat, M. Rose, C. Thompson. 1991. Arid
Ecosystems Strategic Monitoring Plan-Envi-
ronmental Monitoring and Assessment Pro-
gram (EMAP). EPA/600/4-91/081. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Washing-
ton, D.C.
Agroecosystems:
Heck, W.W., C.L. Campbell, R.P. Breckenridge,
G.E. Byers, A.L. Finkner, G.R. Hess, J.R.
Meyer, T.J. Moser, S.L. Peck, J.O. Rawlings,
C.N. Smith. 1991. Agroecosystem Monitoring
and Research Strategy-Environmental Moni-
toring and Assessment Program (EMAP)
EPA/600/4-91/013. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Surface Waters:
Paulsen, S.G., D.P. Larsen, P.Kaufmann, T.
Whittier, J.R. Baker, D.V. Peck, J. McGue, R.
Hughes, D. McMullen, D. Stevens, J.
Stoddard, J. Lazorchak, W. Kinney, A.R. Selle,
R. Hjort. 1991. Surface Waters Monitoring and
Research Strategy, Fiscal Year 1991-Environ-
mental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(EMAP). EPA/600/3-91/022. U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Contact Person:
Ann Pitchford
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Exposure Assessment Research Division
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702)798-2366
September 1992
132
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vepas
Office of Research and Development
------- An error occurred while trying to OCR this image.
-------
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE): Pollution Prevention in the
Chemical Analysis Laboratory
advantages, including (i) greater versatility; (ii)
shorter extraction time; (iii) reduced solvent use
(notably chlorofluorocarbons), which leads to
lower cost, improved occupational safety, and less
waste solvent that must be disposed of
Of the possiMe supercritica, fluids to use for SFE,
C02 ,s the most attractive because it is
^ (3 ' "Q
restrictor heating
Planned exploratory SFE studies include: effect of
ultras°und application on extraction efficiency;
effect of macroscopic pressure fluctuations on '
immunosorbent assay) for rani on- site analyses-
feasibili* °f SFE «ion Tr e fie " '
nie
Current Activities: Near- and long-term research
for SFE is being planned and coordinated from
EMSL-LV. Recently, EMSL-LV completed work
on the Agency's first SFE method for chemical
analysis. This method (for petroleum hydrocarbons
?^S MSSSK f T riUSnn injhce EPA
MY-846 Methods Manual In the United Slates
weight and polar compounds from solid matrices;
feasibility of SFE for on-line sample cleanup; and
enhancement of SFE extraction efficiencies for
refractory matrices (e.g., fly ash, weathered oil
Spl11 samPles) bY use of various pretreatment
methods-
°PP°rtuni* f°r Collaboration: In the chemical
analysis laboratory itself, a major effort will be
Although this SFE method represents an historic We are pursuing several approaches for minimiz
-'
134 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - La
Office of Research and Development
-------
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE): Pollution Prevention in the
Chemical Analysis Laboratory
over conventional liquid extraction methods,
especially when applied to heterogeneous matrices
such as soils, sludges, and tissues. Moreover, they
enable tremendous savings in reducing the use of
organic solvents (and possibly in eliminating the
use of chlorofluorocarbon extractants). Methods
such as these, when combined with robotics, could
also greatly minimize occupational exposure to
hazardous reagents and solvents.
One of the most promising emerging extraction
technologies supercritical fluid extraction
(SFE) uses supercritical fluids (especially non-
polluting supercritical carbon dioxide) to replace
organic solvents. The private sector (especially
instrument manufacturers) could have a large
influence in the advancement of SFE technology
and in its eventual acceptance as a routine labora-
tory technique.
Key Publications:
Lopez-Avila, V; Dodhiwala, N.S., Benedicto, I,
and Young, R. "SFE/IR Method for the Deter-
mination of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils
and Sediments," EPA/600/A-92/046, April
1992.
Lopez-Avila, V; Dodhiwala, N.S., Benedicto, J.
"Evaluation of Various Supercritical Fluid
Extraction Systems for Extracting Organics
from Environmental Samples," EPA/600/X-92/
024, February 1992.
Contact Person:
Werner Beckert, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702)798-2137
September 1992
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
135
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Specialized Gamma-Ray Detection Systems
Issue: Federal law requires agencies that manage
Federal facilities where radioactive hazardous
substances have been released into the environ-
ment to comply with requirements for site assess-
ments and hazard ranking procedures. In addition,
the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollu-
tion Contingency Plan (NCP) requires that the
responsible agencies sample, monitor, and assess
exposure to determine the necessity for and pro-
posed extent of remedial action.
The effectiveness of a characterization depends on
the timeliness and accuracy of analytical results.
Until recently, the sophisticated equipment re-
quired for radioactive analysis has been limited to
stationary laboratories, and has required extensive
sample preparation. It is now possible to acquire
reliable in situ analytical results.
Adaptation of analytical equipment for field use is
technically challenging. However, the capability to
obtain accurate results in real-time, without sample
preparation, presents a potential for large savings
in many site characterizations.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: The gamma ray
analysis program at the Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) is
responsible for the routine analysis of several
types of samples. This includes monitoring con-
centrations of gamma-ray emitting nuclides on and
around the Nevada Test Site, and other sites
previously used for nuclear activities.
Research activities include the development of an
ultra low-level counting system to increase the
signal-to-noise ratio and reduce required analysis
times, and the characterization of fractionated soils
suspected of plutonium contamination.
EMSL-LV has an active program to characterize
surface conditions at several locations away from
the Nevada Test Site by the use of portable semi-
conductor detectors. The objective of the project
has been to quantify nuclides in surface soil and
the resulting dose rate.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Advances in
semiconductor technology and the ruggedization
of portable detector systems have made in-situ
evaluation of contaminated sites an important part
of the characterization process. Electronic shield-
ing techniques used for reduction of background
signal help produce more sensitive analytical
results than those of more conventional systems,
and can allow increased sampling by reducing the
required analysis time.
There is an opportunity for collaboration with EPA
to develop specialized detection equipment for use
in field evaluations. Specifically, there is a need
for the further development and testing of systems
to accurately ascertain the concentrations and
types of radionuclide contaminants in surface
soils. The ability to reliably map the horizontal and
vertical distributions of radionuclides would
greatly simplify the excavation and decontamina-
tion phases of a clean up operation. Additionally,
there exists a need for nonintrusive detector sys-'
terns to monitor underground pipelines and storage
tank facilities.
Key Publications:
Faller, S.H., In-Situ Gamma-K.y Site Character-
ization of the Tatum Salt Dome Test Site in
Lamar County, Mississippi. Health Physics,
62,pp.571-575, 1992.
Contact Person:
Scott H. Faller, Ph.D.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702) 798-2323
September 1992
136
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vest
Office of Research and Development
-------
Radiological Contamination Measurement Program
Issue: Site characterization, including analysis for
radiocontaminants, is an essential requirement of
the Superfund Program. A growing number of
sites on the National Priorities List are suspected
of being radiologically contaminated. Full radio-
logical characterization may be required in many
cases, even in the absence of known contamina-
tion. There is a need to develop the most cost-
effective and efficient radiation detectors and
screening methods, including underwater systems
suitable for accurate location and identification of
submerged radioactive waste and debris.
Current Activities: The environmental radioactiv-
ity monitoring program at the Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas
(EMSL-LV) consists of 1) statistically-based
sampling network design, 2) operation of air,
water, milk, vegetation, dosimetry, and animal
bioassay networks, 3) radioanalytical method and
radiation quality assurance research, 4) data
analysis using Geographic Information System
(GIS), and 5) radiation dose modeling and assess-
ment.
The Laboratory is a leader in sampling and net-
work design, using the latest statistical techniques
and software. Environmental monitoring is con-
ducted by collecting air, water, milk, vegetation
and tissue samples and analyzing them in a fully
equipped radiochemistry laboratory. Data is
analyzed for trends, using state-of-the-art com-
puter hardware and modeling software, which also
permits calculation of radiation dose estimates and
safety assessments based on analytical data.
Opportunity for Collaboration: EMSL-LV
provides radiological site assessment, using its
extensive inventory of field survey equipment,
trained sampling personnel, and in-house
radioanalysis laboratory. Opportunity exists for
industry to cooperate with EMSL-LV, utilizing its
expertise in environmental radioactivity character-
ization, nuclear chemistry, nuclear physics and
radiological risk assessment. Collaborative oppor-
tunities may include development of improved
sampling systems, environmental radiation sensors
and recorders, or portable automated monitoring
stations suitable for use in areas surrounding EPA
and Department of Energy sites or off-shore
nuclear waste disposal areas.
Key Publications:
Yearly reports of EMSL-LV radiological monitor-
ing activities: "Offsite Environmental Monitor-
ing Report: Radiation Monitoring Around
United States Nuclear Test Areas, Calendar
Year 1990." EPA/600/4-91/030.
Contact Person:
Paul J. Weeden
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702) 798-2305
September 1992
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
137
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Vacuum Distillation Instrument
Issue: Pollution measurement necessitated by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) and other regulations requires accu-
rate, rapid chemical analysis. Current methods
have severe limitations in dealing with high or-
ganic content samples like tissue, oil and sedi-
ments. These limitations include low recoveries
and poor precision. However, studies indicate
samples of these difficult matrices as well as water
can be analyzed routinely and successfully by the
novel application of vacuum distillation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory-
Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) has developed a prototype
vacuum distillation apparatus to separate organic-
volatile and semi-volatile chemicals from a variety
of matrices prior to analysis by gas chromatogra-
phy. Laboratory studies indicate that this device is
superior to conventional techniques in fully ex-
tracting analytes from difficult samples. It "is
amenable to automation, which is highly desirable
for commercial applications. As vacuum distilla-
tion is quick, sensitive (ppb) and does not require
solvents, it represents a very attractive option to
the laboratory community.
We expect an adaptation of this method to be
proposed as Method 5032 in the Third Update of
the Second Edition of "Test Methods for Evaluat-
ing Solid Waste Physical/Chemical Methods"
(SW846). Method 5032 was introduced to the
laboratory community at the 8th Annual Waste
Testing & Quality Assurance Symposium held
July 1992.
Current Activities: The research focusing on
volatile analytes is being concluded. Final studies
assessing method performance on tissue samples
are completed.
Experiments are now being designed to evaluate
semi-volatile analytes distillation efficiencies,
mass balances, and method performance. The
development of this method is of interest as it
would not require organic solvents. Such a method
may also provide both semi-volatile and volatile
analyses on the same sample aliquot which would
be very advantageous when dealing with limited
sample mass.
Opportunity for Collaboration: We are seeking
License Agreements under the terms of the Federal
Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (FTTA) to
automate and manufacture the vacuum distillation
device for which EPA has a patent.
Volatile analytes have been the focus of EMSL-
LV research to date. Preliminary evidence indi-
cates that semi-volatile compounds are also poten-
tial analytes using the device; however this has not
been a focus of rigorous studies to date. The use of
this device to determine semi-volatile compounds
would have an additional advantage over present
methods in that environmentally undesirable
solvents currently used are not required. Presently
the EPA is intent on the investigation of the addi-
tional analytes and would also be interested in
collaborating with successful licensees.
Other Information: EPA has announced the
availability of U.S. Patent Number 4,600,559 for
licensing through the Federal Technology Transfer
Act and is seeking interested parties. There is a
U.S. Patent Pending for stream-lining modifica-
tions to the invention, which are described in draft
Method 5032. The technology has been docu-
mented in the peer-reviewed scientific literature
and presented at national scientific conferences.
Further information is available upon request.
Key Publications:
M.H. Hiatt, Anal. Chem. 53 (1981) 1541-1543
M.H. Hiatt, Anal. Chem. 55 (1983) 506-516.
138 Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
-------
Vacuum Distillation Instrument
Contact Person:
Richard L. Garnas
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702)798-2103
September 1992
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
-------
Experimental Room for Indoor Air Studies
Issue: Concern for indoor air quality is growing
nationally. The Environmental Monitoring Sys-
tems Laboratory at Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) has an
experimental room constructed to resemble a
residential indoor environment. It was constructed
under a previous Cooperative Research and Devel-
opment Agreement (CRADA), the objective of
which was to investigate the relative efficiency of
five different airborne microbial samplers, detail
the effect of various human activities on the
retrieval of microorganisms, and test the efficiency
of an antimicrobial agent. Airborne microorgan-
isms arc known to cause adverse human health
effects such as allergic and asthmatic reactions,
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and infectious
disease. Threshold limit values (TLVs) for expo-
sure to airborne microorganisms, howevei, have
not been established, and monitoring for airborne
microbes in indoor environments has not been
standardized. Information on sampling methods,
sources of indoor microorganisms (e.g., air han-
dling components, carpet, ceiling tiles, wall cover-
ings), and mitigation strategies can be obtained in
this controlled experimental room resembling
indoor environments to assist the Agency in
establishing standardized protocols and exposure
TLVs.
Current Activities: The contribution of fungal-
contaminated fiberglass and bare metal duct to
microbial contamination in the indoor environment
and the measurement of airborne glass fibers
released from fungal-contaminated rigid fibrous
glass ducting are future issues to be evaluated in
the experimental room. Negotiations are ongoing
with industries to utilize the room for studies to
determine growth and dissemination of microor-
ganisms on fiber glass and metal air handling
system ductwork. The purpose of this approach
will be to define the conditions under which
ductwork may be a potential source of microbial
contamination for indoor air. Industry has already
set aside resources for this investigation and the
research protocols and experimental design are
being developed. It is anticipated that a formal
CRADA utilizing the microbial experimental room
in FY93 and 94 will be submitted to the Agency
shortly.
Opportunity for Collaboration: The experimen-
tal room is available to interested cooperators. The
unique characteristics of this 13 x 13 x 7.5 ft room
include: 1) computerized monitoring and/or con-
trol of temperature, humidity, air turnover rates,
and air exchange rates, 2) ability to change internal
physical characteristics, including carpets, paint,
wallpaper, furniture, etc., 3) ability to modify air
handling system characteristics including ducting
(rigid fibrous glass, fiberglass-lined, bare metal,
etc.) use of in-line HEPA filtration or by-pass, 4)
entrance to the room through a HEPA filtered air
shower anteroom, 5) availability of the latest
aerobiological monitoring equipment including
aerodynamic particle sizer (laser), 6) a viewing
window for observation or video taping, and 7)
sampling ports for remote monitoring of room or
ductwork. Microbial contamination (fungal spores,
bacterial cells, etc.) can be introduced through the
air handling system, room building materials, and
furnishings. With these features, the experimental
room can simulate a variety of indoor environmen-
tal conditions. The data are obtained under con-
trolled conditions minimizing uncertainty encoun-
tered with survey data.
Other Information (Publications):
Buttner, M.P. and Stetzenbach, L.D. 1992. Evalua-
tion of four aerobiological methods for the
retrieval of aerosolized Pseudomonas syringae.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:1268-1270.
Buttner, M.P., J.R. Meldrum, L.E.M. Pifer, and
L.D. Stetzenbach. 1992. Effectiveness of
aerobiological sampling for the detection of
indoor fungal contamination. Abstr Q165,
92nd Gen. Meeting, Am. Soc. Microbiol.
Meldrum J.R., M.P. Buttner, L.E.M. Pifer, and
L.D. Stetzenbach. 1992. A one-year survey of
140
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
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Experimental Room for Indoor Air Studies
airborne fungi in residential environments. Contact Person:
Abstr Q164, 92nd Gen. Meeting, Am. Soc. Stephen
Microbiol. jj s Environmental Protection Agency
Buttner, M.P. and Stetzenbach. L.D. 1991. An Environmental Monitoring Systems
experimental room for monitoring airborne Laboratory - Las Vegas
microorganisms. Conf. Measuring, Under- Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
standing, and Predicting Exposures in the 21 st (702) 798-2594
Century.
September 1992
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Office of Research and Development
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Design of Optimum Sampling Plans for Hazardous Waste Sites
Issue: Characterization of hazardous waste sites
typically involves soil sampling at various loca-
tions, in varying numbers, and in various ways.
Logical and objective strategies for collecting the
samples are needed to ensure that the contami-
nated and uncontaminated areas of a site are
defined at the lowest cost with the greatest pos-
sible certainty. Improperly characterized sites can
lead to unacceptable risks, excessive costs, and
loss of confidence in the methodology used to
assess and clean up contaminated sites. Computer
software offers the opportunity to develop consis-
tent, statistically-sound strategies for determining
the number and location of samples needed to
characterize contamination of soil at a site.
Current Activities: EMSL-LV is currently devel-
oping the algorithms and computer software to
build a Sampling Design Optimization Methodol-
ogy and Software called SAMPLAN (for
SAMpling PLANner). The key statistical logic of
the method is a conditional (spatial) simulator
algorithm. This statistical procedure estimates
many realizations of the whole site from the
information (semi-variogram) obtained from initial
sampling of the site. (A small number of samples
from a pilot study is sufficient to estimate probable
distributions of contaminants at a site). The pro-
posed sampling design for a more detailed investi-
gation of the site is simulated with a personal
computer on these realizations over the range of a
design parameter of interest, such as sample si/e,
sample method (random or grid), etc.. From runs
on a computer, a cost (of remediation) and loss
(cost of mis-classification) curve is generated as a
function of the parameter of interest (number of
samples) and the optimum number of samples can
be chosen as the abscissa of the minimum cost
plus loss point on the curve. The end result is a
recommendation of the number and location of
samples necessary to characterize the site at low
risk of error and least cost.
The methodology when implemented by PC
software will be a tool for Superfund Remedial
Project Managers, On Scene Coordinators, and
RCRA Permit Writers.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Software devel-
opment (including beta-testing of the initial soft-
ware, distribution, and maintenance) is an opportu-
nity for collaboration with geostatisticians and
professionals at the EPA.
Other Information:
Englund, E.J., 1990, "A Variance of
Geostatisticians," Mathematical Geology, v 22
p.417-456.
Englund, E.J., et. al., 1992, "The Effects of Sam-
pling Design Parameters on Block Selection,"
Mathematical Geology, v. 24, No.3.
Englund, E.J. & Weber, D., 1992, "Evaluation and
Comparison of Spatial Interpolators," Math-
ematical Geology, v. 24, No. 4.
Englund, E.J. & Sparks, A. R., 1988, Geo-EAS
1.2.1 (Geostatistical Environmental Assess-
ment Software) User's Guide: EPA/600/4-88/
033, U.S. EPA Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, 170p.
Messner, M.J., et. al., 1990, "Retrospective Design
Solutions for a Remedial Investigation,"
Hazardous Materials Control, v. 3, No. 3.
Neptune, D., et. al., 1990, "Quantitative Decision
Making in Superfund: A Data Quality Objec-
tives Case Study," Hazard Materials Control,
May/June.
Contact Person:
Jeff van Ee
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702) 798-2367
September 1992
142
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Ve^as
Office of Research and Development
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Geostatistics for Soils Studies
Issue: Estimating concentrations of contaminants
in soil often is time consuming and costly.
Geostatistical algorithms can greatly facilitate this
process. However, frequently they are not used
because of the perceived complexity and lack of
familiarity by the environmental scientist. Those
charged with remediation of RCRA and Superfund
sites need better tools for characterizing contami-
nation. We expect the use of geostatistical soft-
ware to improve the delineation of contamination
at hazardous waste sites, which will result in more
cost-effective remedial actions.
Current Activities: The Geostatistics Project at
the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
in Las Vegas has developed and distributed a
program called Geostatistical Environmental
Assessment Software (Geo-EAS), which consists
of a collection of interactive software tools for
performing two-dimensional geostatistical analy-
ses (kriging) of spatially distributed data. Other
geostatistical algorithms need to be developed in
like manner to make them readily useable and
accessible; these techniques include co-kriging,
multivariate kriging (vector kriging), and condi-
tional simulations (spatial simulation). As the use
of these techniques becomes widespread and better
understood, they will be incorporated widely into
environmental decision-making processes.
Opportunity for Collaboration: Software devel-
opment (including beta-testing of the initial soft-
ware, distribution, and maintenance) is an opportu-
nity for collaboration with geostatisticians and
professionals at the EPA. Geo-EAS has been
developed by EMSL-Las Vegas as public-domain
software at a price that covers only the cost of
distribution. This has made it the tool of college
and government researchers nationally and inter-
nationally. Thousands of copies have been distrib-
uted within the United States and to over forty-five
countries. A goal is to provide low-cost, easily-
obtainable, easy-to-use software to environmental
scientists to assist them in performing better, more
consistent evaluations of contamination in soil.
Other Information:
Englund, E.J. and A. R. Sparks, 1988, Geo-EAS
1.2.1 (Geostatistical Environmental Assess-
ment Software) User's Guide: EPA/600/4-88/
033, U.S. EPA Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, 170p.
Contact Person:
Jeff van Ee
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(702) 798-2367
September 1992
*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:! 9 9 2 -7 5 0 - ci o a^e o 0
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas ......
Office of Research and Development
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