&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and
Development
EPA/6QQ/K-92/QQ6
July 1992
The Federal Technology
Transfer Act
Environmental Monitoring
Technologies Opportunities
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The Federal Technology Transfer Act
Environmental Monitoring Technologies Opportunities
This brochure is the second in a series of information packages
prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
promote cooperation with industry and academia under the Federal
Technology Transfer Act (Public Law 99-502). The first publication in
this series, entitled "Opportunities for Cooperative Biosystems Re-
search and Development with the U.S. EPA" is available through
EPA's Center for Environmental Research Information (CERI) listed in
the back of this publication.
Commitment to work with the private sector
To enhance and maintain a clean environment while improving
the nation's productivity, the U.S. EPA is joining with private industry
and academia to seek new, cost-effective technologies to prevent and
control environmental pollution. Both the U.S. government and the
private sector can play key roles in restoring and protecting the
environment, as well as fostering effective competitive markets for
U.S. business. EPA Administrator William K. Reilly captured the
essence of EPA's FTTA effort when he stated "The international
market for environmental goods and services is more than $200 billion
and growing at 5 percent a year. For smart U.S. companies, our federal
laboratories can be a source of innovative technologies, giving them
new opportunities and a competitive edge in the global marketplace."
Other mechanisms
EPA's Research Office has been at the forefront in working with
U.S. Industry. In addition to EPA's efforts under the FTTA, the
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program allows
EPA to work with private sector firms to develop important cost and
performance data on hazardous waste clean-up technologies. EPA has
a successful Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program which
helps start-up companies. EPA established the National Environmen-
tal Technology Applications Corporation (NETAC) with the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh Trust to assist entrepreneurs with business develop-
ment.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
academic institutions, and private industry are develop-
ing new, cost-effective technologies to prevent, monitor,
and control pollution. These technologies eventually
lead to commercial monitoring services that focus on
sampling, analysis, data interpretation, field and labora-
tory methods development, and analytical quality assur-
ance, to name a few. Media tested range from soil, air,
and water to plant and animal tissues. Accurate monitor-
ing is essential to the prevention and control of pollution.
Isolated efforts to solve environmental problems have
been stymied by a lack of resources, such as scientific
experts in particular fields, highly specialized equip-
ment, and avenues for evaluating new technologies.
In 1986, the Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA)
removed many of the legal and institutional barriers that
earlier had prevented government and the private sector
from collaborating to develop and market new environ-
mental technologies. Under FTTA, government scien-
tists can enter into cooperative research and develop-
ment agreements (CRDAs) with industrial or academic
partners. These agreements will, according to the Act,
foster the technological and industrial innovation that is
"central to the economic, environmental, and social well-
being of citizens of the United States."
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What can industry gain from signing a CRDA with EPA?
Access to high-quality science and facilities.
The monitoring laboratories, under the Office of Research and
Development (ORD), have direct experience with the regulators and the
regulated community. Their combined experience covers monitoring
methods for pollutants in soil, air, and water.
Communication between government and private sector.
The basis of knowledge within the monitoring laboratories includes
historical perspective, current interests, and future plans. This pointed
familiarity allows the government scientist to work with the industry or
academic partner to benefit both parties.
An opportunity to access international markets.
Recent international monitoring agreements call for pollution assess-
ment in every foreign city with a U.S. Embassy. By working with the EPA
to provide cutting-edge monitoring technologies to the marketplace,
industries can achieve international visibility.
Exclusive agreements for developing new technologies.
Under some CRDAs, companies are given exclusive licensing rights
for the commercialization and marketing of new technologies. Until
recently, industry had little incentive to cooperate with federal laborato-
ries because any technologies developed during joint research remained
in the public domain for all to use. Now, exclusive rights canbe negotiated
for some projects, though other arrangements are possible, depending on
the type of CRDA that is established.
The advantages of collaboration have prompted EPA and industry to
set up CRDAs in areas ranging from monitoring air pollution to oil spills
cleanup. Monitoring technologies, such as radon measurement devices
and personal exposure dosimeters, offer promising opportunities for
collaborative research and profitable commercialization.
Pollution prevention is currently of great interest to industries wishing
to reduce^ontamination at all stages of manufacturing processes. Coping
with existing regulations portends the dawn of industrial awareness and
environmental concern. It also suggests lucrative avenues of research that are
mutually beneficial to regulators and the regulated community. Environ-
mental monitoring technologies can identify successful pollution prevention
avenues, provide methods for their appraisal, and compare approaches.
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JDevelpp the Technology
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Plan
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Compare
Methods
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Use the Technology
Demonstrate
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Implement
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Technology
Transfer
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Technology
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Environmental Monitoring:
Measurement with Meaning
Environmental monitoring technologies allow the researcher and
remediator to determine the identity and extent of contamination in
matrices as diverse as air, water, soil, and solid waste. By knowing the
concentration of contaminants in a sample, managers can thoughtfully
decide whether to continue or change a process. Smokestack measure-
ments, for example, give critical information about the off-gassing at a
manufacturing plant. Soil-gas measurements allow researchers to identify
and trace a plume of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ground water
monitoring gives a clear view of the underground migration of a contami-
nant, from its source to its potential release into the environment.
New methods may apply to individual use and, therefore, impact a
wide commercial market. Personal exposure monitors (PEMs) are being
developed for workers who may be exposed to injurious chemicals,
radiation, or microorganisms. Small and inexpensive PEMs use immuno-
chemical technology to provide information about individual exposure.
Indoor air monitoring is of growing commercial and residential interest.
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Methods for measuring the types and levels of microbiological and
chemical contamination in ambient air are currently being investigated, at
the EPA's monitoring laboratories.
Additionally, the laboratories provide the Agency and a growing user
community with thoughtful evaluations of innovative technologies that
promise to facilitate the environmental monitoring challenges of the future.
This familiarity with current methods positions the monitoring laboratories
as wise assessors of the potential commercial value of emerging technologies.
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EPA's Interest in Monitoring Technologies
The EPA assesses the nature, extent, and impact of contamination in
all media. This monitoring effort begins with a thoughtful experimental
and sampling design. The design of an environmental study is based upon
the data requirements of the site and the criticality of exposure to the
specific contaminants.
Environmental monitoring generally follows the protocol: plan, screen,
characterize, analyze, remediate, assess, close. That is, after the plan is
agreed upon by the concerned parties, an initial screening study helps
isolate the areas of highest contamination. These areas are subsequently
characterized in greater detail and this detail takes the form of data that
must be translated to information by analysts. The development of
sophisticated yet user-friendly software packages is another area of inter-
est to the EPA and one which should hold commercial promise as indus-
tries become increasingly aware of environmental considerations. Soft-
ware packages can bring complex technological capabilities to non-expert
users in areas ranging from geostatistics to multivariate analysis. The best
remediation process is chosen based on the type and extent of contamina-
tion and the threat to human health. Monitoring assesses the remediation
process to ensure that contamination is not being transferred from one
phase to another (e.g., if contaminated soil is tilled, care must be taken to
measure the off-gassing of VOCs). The closure of a hazardous waste site
(and its removal from the National Priorities List, in the case of Superfund)
ends the environmental monitoring protocol.
The EPA has responded to a number of special monitoring projects,
including the Love Canal incident described on the following pages. The
EPA is very active in the research, development, and application of
innovative monitoring technologies. One area of monitoring research is
the development of assessment methods and devices for determining
human exposure. Innovative work in the advancement of sensitive, spe-
cific dosimeters is ongoing at the laboratories. These and other technolo-
gies are of interest to the industrial and academic communities for similar
or separate applications. It is this joint interest that is addressed by the
establishment of CRDAs between EPA and the private sector.
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Comprehensive Monitoring at Love Canal
The EPA was directed to respond to a state of emergency that was
declared at Love Canal, NY, and to assess the extent and degree of
environmental contamination that was directly attributable to the migra-
tion of hazardous substances into the nearby residential area. The Love
Canal was originally intended as a water channel for generating hydro-
electric power in the 1890s. When the canal was abandoned, the area was
unused until the 1940s when it was purchased by a chemical company and
used for the disposal of various products ranging from metal chlorides to
chlorobenzenes. The canal was filled, capped, and, subsequently, residen-
tial and commercial development occurred. In 1975, residents began to
notice the legacy of buried contamination.
The study designed and conducted by the EPA fulfilled a threefold
mission:
To determine the level and extent of chemical contamination.
To assess the short-term and long-term implications of ground-
water contamination.
To provide an assessment of the relative environmental quality of
the area.
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During a three-month period, more than 6800 samples were collected
and analyzed, pediment -samples were collected from creeks, rivers,
sanitary sewers, "storm drains, sumps, and from an on-site collection
facility. Ground-water samples were obtained from 136 monitoring wells
and from bedrock aquifer wells. Water samples were taken from rivers,
creeks, sewers, and from domestic water supplies.
The procedure used for collecting soil samples was designed to maxi-
mize the probability of detecting subsurface migration of chemicals through
soil. The monitoring program was also designed to determine the presence
of radionuclides in the Love Canal area.
Air monitoring was continuously conducted in 65 residences. Ambi-
ent air and basement air were sampled and monitored in studies parallel-
ing the indoor air studies.
The result of the intense monitoring effort at Love Canal was a
multilaboratory, multidisciplinary report that detailed the history of a
pollution source. Based on the final report, executive decisions were made
to relocate residents who wished to move.
Remedial activities at the Love Canal have enabled residents to move
back into portions of the neighborhood.
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Methods for Sampling Ground Water
A good sampling procedure yields samples that represent the popula-
tion of interest, does not compromise the purpose of sampling, and
contributes to the accuracy of analytical results. Research and develop-
ment on methods of sampling ground water continues at the Robert S.
Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL), Ada, Oklahoma, and
a few studies are given here as examples. These efforts could be enhanced
by CRDAs with industry and other institutions.
Sampling Ground Water for Metals Analysis
RSKERL scientists and their collaborators studied sampling methods
for metals analysis at a copper mining waste site and two chrome metal
facilities. Research at the waste site showed that the use of a high-speed
submersible pump yielded cloudy samples, large suspended particles, and
a great difference in metals concentrations compared to the use of a bladder
pump operated at low speed. However, the high-speed samples equili-
brated after one or two casing volumes. Research at one chrome site
showed that bailers ineffectively collected metal samples. The use of low-
speed purging with a peristaltic pump consistently yielded good samples,
even from wells dug in fine-textured soil. Follow-up work at a chrome
plating facility evaluated these sampling devices. Further validation
studies, testing of other sampling devices, and innovative methods are
needed to sample ground water for metals analysis.
Verifying Mechanical Integrity of Injection Wells
To ensure protection of drinking water from contamination from
underground injection operations, RSKERL develops technologies using
eight research wells at the Mechanical Integrity Test Facility (MITF). The
wells range in depth from 190 to 1,575 feet. Studies at the MITF improved
methods to test cement behind casing in injection wells and produced a
nuclear activation technique to detect water flow behind pipe. Companies
come to this unique facility from all parts of the United States and Canada
to test their latest downhole technology. Additional well studies are
encouraged at the MITF through CRDAs.
Advances in Solids Sampling at Hazardous Waste Sites
Traditionally, remediation designers use water samples, which imper-
fectly describe the complex ecology of an aquifer, to monitor new systems.
10 m^mm^^m^samaamm^mmmm m •• mmwmmt •• mini
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To obtain information necessary to characterize a hazardous waste site and
to track the effectiveness of a remediation design, RSKERL researchers
proposed more {difficult ;bp promising method—collecting subsurface
sediment samples. Conventional drilling and coring to obtain subsurface
samples works well when the sediments are cohesive and stable. Re-
searchers have developed a clamshell-shaped, capped auger fitted with an
internal sand seal and a wireline piston sampler to collect difficult sedi-
ment samples. These new tools and methods are being evaluated at
various sites, but additional studies, methods, and tools need to be devised
for accurate sampling of sediments like these.
Quality of Drinking Water from Deep Aquifers
Some states require monitoring of shallow aquifers, but not of pres-
ently unused deep ones. RSKERL researchers explore alternative meth-
ods to determine if the chemical quality of ground water is being altered
in deep aquifers, because waste may enter them through injection wells.
Drilling monitoring wells to the base of an underground source of drink-
ing water is not economically feasible. Among other possibilities is the
evaluation of "electric logs" (records from monitoring devices lowered
into wells). Studies are needed to develop a valid method for determining
water quality from these records. A second approach might be to investi-
gate the feasibility of using a pulsed neutron or another logging device to
determine water salinity, for example, in geologic formations. The same
questions surrounding electric logs—accuracy in determining water qual-
ity —must be addressed. Field testing is also necessary to validate both
approaches and their applicability, with the final step being that of testing
the technology to monitor deep aquifers.
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Monitoring the Air: Vital Research
EPA's interest in air monitoring ranges from vehicle exhaust fumes to
smokestack emissions from manufacturing processes. The Atmospheric
Research & Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) at Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, is exploring innovative monitoring methods that will
streamline and simplify air sampling protocols yet retain the sensitivity of
traditional methods.
Several research interest areas are summarized here. Agency involve-
ment and industry concern merge with public interest in these critical
technologies that can help safeguard the integrity of the air we breathe.
Particulate monitoring that encompasses aerosol physics, sampler
inlet design, and diagnostics can be applied to the monitoring of indoor
and outdoor air for particulate-bound toxicants and biological pollutants.
Development interests also include technologies for the generation and
monitoring of aerosols. These technologies can also be used to develop
ambient and personal monitors for detection and measurement of human
exposure.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis is important for assessing
sources causing ozone pollution and because many VOCs are considered
toxic to humans. AREAL has already established mutually beneficial
CRDAs in this area. Interests include: automation of sampling and
analysis equipment; enhancing the sensitivity, speed, accuracy, and reli-
ability of the sampling/analysis equipment; improving sampling and
analysis of polar VOCs; development of both passive and active samplers
for monitoring personal exposures or ecological exposures; biologically-
based or other thin-film methodologies for detection and analysis of
exposure; and analysis of complex mixtures for health-based endpoints
rather than chemical-by-chemical analysis.
Gaseous and particulate emissions from source stacks present a
complex and often hostile environment for measurement and monitoring.
New techniques for analysis of multiple pollutants are needed. Continu-
ous emission monitors and sampling systems that accurately gauge the
emission flux and ambient distribution of pollutants are also needed.
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Emissions from area or complex sources such as lagoons, warehouses,
or large industrial complexes are difficult to measure and to regulate.
Concentrations and flux must be measured in three dimensions. These
fugitive emissions offer a multidisciplinary challenge to chemists, physi-
cists, and meteorologists. Current work includes the use of open-path
monitoring combined with meteorological measurement of wind flux,
and advanced methods of transport modeling. Approaches that
offer real-time, multidimensional sampling and analysis are needed.
Pollutants from automobiles contribute significantly to a variety of
pollution problems. That contribution must be characterized well. Inno-
vative methods for the direct measurement of non-methane hydrocarbon
emissions are needed as are techniques to estimate better the on-road
emissions of vehicles and real-time emission of vehicle fleets.
Characterization of complex mixtures such as products of incomplete
combustion, polycyclic organic materials, and polychlorinated biphenyls,
is currently very expensive and time consuming. Cost-effective ap-
proaches, e.g., using fuzzy logic, composite biological effects, or general-
ized physicochemical response are badly needed.
Exposure monitoring would benefit greatly from development of
special sensors that combine rapid measurements of toxic pollutants with
detection of location and activity.
New research areas for air monitoring are underway at AREAL and
many of these are good opportunities for CRDAs with the EPA.
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A Monitoring Partnership Results in New System
The AREAL has an interest in innovative methods for the determina-
tion of pollutants in air. Perkin Elmer Corporation is interested in new
instrument designs that meet or exceed the needs of the regulated and
regulatory community. These two facts led to a CRDA partnership.
These common interests and similar approaches led investigators
from these laboratories to pursue and establish a CRDA for the develop-
ment and evaluation of a threefold approach to the sampling and analysis
of ambient air:
Solid adsorbents for organic compounds that are typically found
in ambient air
Gas chromatographic systems capable of analyzing air samples
from canisters
Automated chromatographic systems for ambient air monitoring
The AREAL/Perkin Elmer CRDA resulted in the development of a
new type of adsorbent-based sampler for the collection of volatile organic
compounds from ambient air, a new sampler for sequential collection of
short-term samples to measure temporal concentrations, and a
thermoelectrically cooled, adsorbent-based preconcentrator for VOCs.
Commercial systems resulting from the second and third efforts
should be available by the end of 1992. One of the advantages of CRDAs
is the speed with which a product can be marketed once it is developed.
Concurrent evaluation by two research teams can streamline the testing
procedure.
Working together, government scientists and their industrial partners
have solved these and other challenges that have troubled environmental
workers for years.
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Measuring Contamination
The Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory at Las Vegas,
Nevada (EMSL-LV) pioneers methods for measuring the extent of con-
tamination at hazardous waste sites. Scientists use these techniques to
characterize Superfund and other contaminated sites before and after
remediation. In addition to developing the methods that are given here
as examples, EMSL-LV seeks CRDAs with industry and institutions to
develop new methods and tools to monitor the environment.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) protocol is as important in the field as it is in
the laboratory. The EMSL-LV develops QA methods that serve the data
quality objective needs of particular studies. The ability to customize QA
to fit the demands of the research is a vital scientific tool. The proper use
of QA is critical to the success of a monitoring study. The need to know,
with precision and accuracy, the value of generated data, leads scientists
to investigate easy-to-use methods for determining these factors. Field-
portable methods often rely on the use of site-specific or site-characteristic
standards. These standards replicate the media of the samples and give
a close interpretation of the reliability of the data.
Advanced Analytical Procedures
The EMSL-LV is a leader in the development and modification of
advanced analytical procedures that are able to meet the needs of complex
and subtle environmental samples. EMSL-LV performs rugged method
evaluations that ensure quality in new, field-portable instruments. Ad-
vanced methods in the areas of liquid chromatography - mass spectrom-
etry, open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high reso-
lution mass spectrometry are currently being investigated. Fluorescence
and luminescence techniques are being used to analyze oil and related
compounds. Innovative sample preparation procedures are being inves-
tigated and developed that will accentuate reproducibility in all handling
steps to ensure more precise results. The use of robotics is being
explored and improved for special laboratory processes. Instru-
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mentation is being revolutionized as future users become more involved
with the design and function of the standard laboratory equipment of
tomorrow.
Field-Portable X-Ray Fluorescence
The mining industry first used field-portable X-ray fluorescence
(FPXRF) devices as metal detectors. In recent years, EMSL-LV scientists
have applied this technology at hazardous waste sites to quantify 18 of the
24 elements on EPA's Inorganic Target Analyte List. The field-portable
unit, used with calibration standards from laboratory-analyzed samples,
generates data of known quality. Its operational principle is based on the
fact that atoms of specific elements fluoresce in a unique way after
excitation. By bombarding a sample with energy, the instrument causes
atomic electron instability. As the electrons "relax" to a stable energy level,
the ensuing X-rays fluoresce. The detector senses and counts the spectrum
of radiation, which is a "fingerprint" of the specific analyte and, on this
basis, identifies the atom. Opportunities exist to make the FPXRF instru-
ments smaller, more sensitive, and accurate. Field methods, including
quality assurance procedures and site-specific standard requirements,
also need development.
Immunochemistry
Current immunochemical
work involves the analysis of
chemicals, like polychlori-
nated biphenyls (PCBs),
nitroaromatics, and certain
pesticides, that are difficult to
analyze by other methods. Im-
munochemistry incorporates
antibodies that have been de-
veloped for specific analytes,
and includes such techniques
as immunoaff inity and immu-
noassay. Immunoaffinity
preparations have great po-
tential for "cleanup" of
samples like dioxins. By rins-
ing a sample over an antibody-
treated surface, chemists can isolate particular compounds in the sample
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that adhere to the antibody. The compounds are then eluted from the
immobilized antibody and can be analyzed by chromatography or immu-
noassay. Most field immunoassays use colorimetry to quantify com-
pounds. Laboratory immunoassays use radioactive methods or fluores-
cence, which have greater sensitivity. EMSL-LV studies show strong
correlation between field immunoassays, laboratory immunoassays, and
gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Additional research and devel-
opment is needed to expand the applicability of immunochemistry to
many more chemicals of environmental interest.
Remote Sensing - Monitoring at a Distance
The monitoring laboratories are able to draw on a valuable resource —
historical data. Much of this historical data is in the aerial photographic
databases generated by remote sensing scientists. More recent advances
in the field have expanded the capability to include geographic informa-
tion systems, global positioning systems, and computerized enhancement
of satellite data. The most novel areas of research include advanced
software programs that allow the user to incorporate accurate data of a
complex nature into a realistic assessment of the site.
Soil-Gas Measurement
The term "soil-gas" refers to the atmosphere in soil pore spaces.
Volatile compounds, such as hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and radon,
become part of this atmosphere by physicochemical processes. Of the 25
most commonly encountered contaminants at Superfund sites, 15 are
amenable to detectionby soil-gas sampling. Techniques for measuring soil
gases came from agricultural and petroleum studies early in this century,
but only within the last 10 years has soil-gas measurement been used to
screen environmental sites for hazardous chemicals. In one method,
samples are collected by driving a probe into the ground and pumping the
gases to the surface for capture and analysis. In another, passive method,
a sampler containing a sorbent with an affinity for the target analyte is
placed in the ground and later removed and analyzed. Soil-gas surveys
can identify contaminants, their sources and extent. Survey results guide
other sampling, such as soil boring and ground water monitoring wells,
and can be used to make decisions on locations for fixed vapor wells for
long-term ^monitoring. Further work is needed on basic research into soil-
gas physicochemistry and statistical sampling design as well as the tech-
nique and materials to improve field monitoring.
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Geophysics: A Key Step in Site Characterization
Geophysical: techniques allow managers to characterize contami-
nated sites with little disturbance to the subsurface. The methods gauge
the physical properties of the subsurface, identifying cultural structures,
such as pipes, and buried objects, such as waste drums. Generally the
methods fall into six categories:
Seismic (including reflection and refraction)
Electric (including direct current resistivity
and electromagnetic techniques)
Magnetic
Gravity
Radiometric
Ground-penetrating radar
These measurements can be made on the surface of the ground, by
airborne instruments, or in boreholes. By observing characteristics of the
measured signal, the geophysicist estimates the size, shape, depth, and
other characteristics of subsurface objects. Computer algorithms aid the
process of interpretation. The equipment varies, but field-deployable
units in all categories are used. A number of EMSL-LV research projects
in geophysics offer fruitful avenues for field application. Cooperators are
needed to develop the equipment and methods to use geophysics as a key
step in site characterization.
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Monitoring Waters and Wastes - New Approaches
The Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Cincinnati
(EMSL-CI) is dedicated to methods research for the chemical, biological,
and microbiological monitoring of waters and wastes, including studies of
environmental stressors, biomarkers, toxicity testing, and biotechnology
research.
Research Containment Facility
The Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center
(AWBERC) in Cincinnati has a Research Containment Facility (RCF) that
is used for scientific research involving hazardous and toxic materials. It
is the EPA's first high-hazard facility and features secured areas for
employee protection, fire protection, and waste containment and disposal.
Special care is taken to minimize employee exposure to hazardous sub-
stances. The building features a special air system that ensures negative
air pressure differential throughout the containment facility. The private
sector, through a CRDA with the laboratory, could use the facility to
conduct research and development involving hazardous substances.
Biotechnological Monitoring: An EPA Goal
Innovative monitoring methods are critical to the development of
biotechnology processes because the effectiveness of the new technologies
must be accurately measured and evaluated. Ongoing research at EMSL-
CI will interest private sector researchers who are working on the state of
the science in biotechnology.
The technology of molecular genetics has revolutionized biology in
the last 15 years and given environmental microbiologists new tools for
monitoring harmful organisms in water and air. EMSL-CI researchers use
these techniques, such as gene probes, polymerase chain reactions (PCR),
and immunoassays to detect harmful microorganisms. Through CRDAs,
instrumentation and technology for environmental sampling and moni-
toring can be further developed.
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Gene Probes. EMSL-CI microbiologists use gene probes to analyze
samples for harmful protozoa and viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium
occur in contaminated natural waters, and it is important to trace them to
the animal host of origin. Current methods for detecting these organisms
through their cysts may overestimate their number, because the methods
detect empty cysts. Gene probes, because of their great specificity for
genetic material, detect viable cysts. EMSL-CI develops gene probes for
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) against these
protozoa, and against viruses that infect humans, such as Norwalk and
hepatitis A, which cannot be grown in cell culture. Gene probes can detect
genetic material in samples having a background of up to a million
unrelated chemical sequences. Messenger RNA synthesis from purified
DNA can be detected and quantitated in amounts as low as 1 to 10 copies
per cell. Through CRDAs, devices can be commercialized and field-tested
from this research. After testing, the devices could be developed into gene
probe kits for important protozoa and viruses.
Chain Reaction Methods. EMSL-CI is conducting in-house research
and sponsors extramural R&D to detect, enumerate, and determine the
health effects of pathogens in the environment using the PCR technique.
Nucleic acids, the components of DNA and RNA, are polymers or chains
of chemicals. Many viruses can now be detected by making hybrids of
them with gene probes, using PCR to amplify the genetic material, and
identifying the viruses in 1 or 2 days.
Water-borne pathogens of immediate interest for development of
PCR technology are Legionella, non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, and vi-
ruses that cannot be grown in cell culture. Methods that can differentiate
species would greatly improve risk assessment of pathogen detection. A
number of CRDAs for technology transfer could be made with the private
sector to assess existing proprietary technology for these microorganisms.
For example, a company or institution could thoroughly evaluate alterna-
tive sampling methods compatible with PCR technology to identify
microorganisms from a variety of environmental sources. Further, exist-
ing methods could be compared to new methods of sample preparation
and PCR methods. In addition, PCR environmental reagents and instru-
mentation produced commercially could be evaluated for their efficacy,
sensitivity, precision, and specificity.
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Using Biotechnology to Monitor Indoor Air. Fungi of ten cause
building-related illnesses, such as humidifier fever, hypersensitivity
pneumonitis, and asthma. Identifying fungi can be difficult and requires
specialized training possessed by few microbiologists. EMSL-CI seeks to
identify fungi from indoor air within 24 hours without culturing the
organisms. Needed are (1) a battery of gene probes for rapid identification
of indoor-air fungi that cause human infection and (2) a screening test that
does not require fungi culture. Through CRDAs, successful probes could
be field-tested and commercially produced in kits.
Animal Facility
The EMSL-CI offers a well-equipped animal facility and the technical
staff for conducting a full range of research in ecological toxicology, for
using animal models to study infectious diseases, and to differentiate
virulent and avirulent strains of opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella.
The facility is equipped to handle aquatic and terrestrial organisms,
including vertebrates and invertebrates. The EMSL-CI staff has particular
expertise in carcinogenesis/mutagenesis and in reproductive and devel-
opmental toxicology and a particular interest in biochemical and molecu-
lar markers for documenting exposure stress effects and causality in
ecosystems. The development and application of modern toxicological
assessment approaches, such as computer-assisted sperm-motion analy-
ses or image analyses-based histopathology to ecological assessment, are
major research activities.
Chemical Methods Research
The EMSL-CI is investigating cost-effective methods that can help
fulfill regulatory requirements. New methods and instruments are being
considered that have demonstrated equivalency with traditional tech-
nologies. The focus is on safety and waste minimization. When an
analytical procedure can be performed with 1 g of material, for example,
it is imperative that the analytical laboratory not generate 50 g of toxic
material in the analytical process.
Complete instrumentation will be developed that will include modu-
lar sample collection, assessment, cleanup, concentration, and quality
control. The use of robotics and specialized computer processes is of
interest to the EMSL-CI.
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Pathogenic Suite - A Public Health Facility
The AWBE]|C contain^ a state-of-the-art facility for the safe study of
disease organisms that pose a public health risk in the environment. The
pathogenic suite features its own Hepa-filtered air circulation system,
media preparation, glassware washing, and sterilization areas. There is a
secure, limited access to the facility and a clean room entry, if required. The
pathogenic suite provides a research environment for Class 3 pathogens.
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mmmm m
••••*
sss
EMAP - Monitoring for Trends
The environmental monitoring laboratories of the EPA, in 1990, began
an extensive monitoring project that spans their geographies, media, arid
specialties: the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(EMAP). It has an ambitious goal —the measurement of current ecologi-
cal status, the incorporation of pertinent historical information, and the
eventual documentation of trends in the environment of the entire United
States.
Specialties within EMAP include forestry, arid, and agricultural re-
search, water monitoring, and the measurement of various terrestrial
ecological parameters. This program needs innovative physical and
biological monitoring methods and EPA scientists are rising to the
challenges. The program provides opportunities for CRDAs to engage
other researchers in this valuable work.
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j Radiation Monitoring:
A Public Service; A National Commitment
Monitoring the environment for naturally-occurring and man-made
radiation is a responsibility shared by EPA, other federal, state and local
agencies, and many industries; Mature technologies exist for radiation
monitoring in all phases, but new work is in progress too!
New devices are being designed and tested that are capable of detect-
ing radioactive material underwater by using innovative scanning equip-
ment. Renewable radon generators can provide a steady source of radon
in water to be used for laboratory standards and in comparison studies.
This is achieved by using an impregnated resin.
There is strong EPA interest in the development of smaller, more
sensitive, field-portable, and interactive detectors for alpha, beta, and
gamma detection.
In-situ sensors for radiation in pipe scale is a new area of concern for
environmental scientists. The radiation in the iron-steel pipes used in the
oil industry must be measured by a remote device. Work on the smaller,
remote devices is of great interest.
Also, satellite telemetry can provide transmission of monitoring data
that is virtually continuous by employing satellite transmitters matched
with pressurized ion chambers. This technology has proven successful for
monitoring sites for radioactive atmospheric releases.
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The Nevada Test Site:
Monitoring Challenges in Mixed Matrices
Since 1951, the DOE and its predecessor agencies have maintained a
nuclear weapons test site in the desert about 90 miles north of Las Vegas.
This facility, known as the Nevada Test Site (NTS), has been the location
of hundreds of nuclear weapons tests over the decades. Early tests were
done above ground but, since 1962, all weapons-related tests have been
conducted underground. TheEMSL-LV actively monitors the amount of
radiation in the water, air, soil, vegetation, and grazing animals within 100
miles of the NTS. Meticulous testing of sites in the sparsely populated
areas downwind from NTS monitors the presence of any radioactive
isotopes traceable to the test site work.
The apparatus in place includes various air samplers that use charcoal
filters, particulate filters, and molecular sieves to continuously sample air
atstrategiclocations. Radiationlevels in water are monitored by sampling
and analyzing water from various monitoring wells near the NTS. Con-
taminated soil is monitored by taking samples at specified locations and
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EitablisfWlg a CRDA with the EPA
f -1
The authority to negotiate and sign CRDAs and licensing agreements
under the FTTA is delegated to laboratory directors". This decentralization
of authority is subject to EPA's requirements for coordination with the
Office of theJIeneral Counselandjwith the Grants Administrator of the
Office of Administration, who will offer advice on the wording of CRDAs
and will maintain official Agency files on all agreements.
The first step in establishing a CRDA is to contact the FTTA Coordi-
nator, listed on the last page of this booklet. Next, meetings and conver-
sations must be held with principal investigators to determine the advan-
tages of the cooperative research. Finally, a liaison will be appointed to
work with both parties and with a legal review team to assemble the
appropriate documents in a timely and legally defensible manner.
The laboratories are committed to making the process as simple as
possible so that research will not be delayed by unnecessary paperwork.
Consistent with the intent of the act, the procedures are streamlined for
efficiency but provide adequate legal review to avoid future problems.
The Environmental Monitoring Menu
Several areas of research are currently active at the various EPA
monitoring laboratories. These can be divided into categories by media
(soil, water, air) or by technology (chromatography, spectroscopy, geo-
chemical). A menu is presented here by media. The technologies fre-
quently cover several media, such as high resolution-mass spectrometry
for organic compounds in water, soil extracts, or air.
4
Experts are available at the EPA monitoring laboratories to answer
questions about these technologies and regarding the first steps to take in
establishing a CRDA with the Agency.
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sending them to an accredited laboratory or by using the latest in field-
portable instruments to screen areas for radioactivity.
Though many of these radiation technologies are mature, incremental
improvements are ongoing, making possible better sensitivity, lower cost,
and integrated use of robotics and computerization.
The EMSL-LV has been a leader in environmental radiation monitor-
ing and radiological emergency response for nearly four decades, with a
history of support for the NTS that predates the Agency itself! This
commitment continues today with exploration of innovative technologies
that will answer the challenges of radiation monitoring tomorrow.
Some innovative technologies for radiochemical monitoring that are
being investigated at EMSL-LV are:
Radon generators that supply renewable, reliable standards for
quality assurance in the radiation laboratory.
In-situ sensors for the measurement of radiation in pipe scale, a
recently identified area of concern to the oil industry.
Underwater scanning devices that are able to detect drums con-
taining radioactive material that lie on the ocean floor.
Continuous monitoring devices that provide constant vigilance.
The improvement of current dosimetry devices to detect exposure
in a sensitive and timely manner.
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Monitoring Technologies
AIR
Particulates
Indoor air
Microbiological
Exhaust fumes
Factory emissions
Ozone
Chlorofluorocarbons
On-road vehicle
SOFTWARE
Expert systems
Data validation
Geostatistics
Error isolation
Multivariate outlier
identification
REMOTE SENSING
Photogrammetry
Photointerpretation
Global positioning systems
Geographic information
systems
. Wetlands delineation
Topographic mapping
Vehicle exhaust
High-resolution satellite
imagery
WATER 4
Ground water
Surface water
Wellhead protection
Subsurface monitoring
ADVANCED ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
Liquid chromatography-
mass spectrometry
Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy
Inductively-coupled
plasma-mass spectrometry
Novel sample preparation
Quick-turnaround methods
Immunochemistry
Screening and field
methods
SOIL
Field-portable X-ray
fluorescence
Soil-gas measurement
Geophysics
RADIATION
Radon
Dosimeters
Counters
Passive monitors
Community monitoring
stations
Mixed waste
^M. ,0**,-J 29
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SPECIAL PROJECTS
Three-Mile Island
Love Canal
National Lake Eutrophication Survey
Missouri dioxin studies
National Surface Water Survey
Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program
Nevada Test Site
International Monitoring Agreements
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The EPA l\jonitpring Laboratories • Contact List
.' A'- ' v
Tlie Coordinator of the Federal Technology Transfer Act CRDAs Program is:
Mr. Larry Fradkin • FTTA Coordinator
Office of Technology Transfer and Regulatory Support
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive • Cincinnati, OH 45268
Center for Environmental Research Information (CERI)
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive • Cincinnati, OH 45268-1072
The Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
P.O. Box 93478 • Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
(Specializing in advanced monitoring methods for soil, solid ivaste, and
radioactive material.)
Radiochemical Analysis:
Radiation Dose Assessment:
Exposure Assessment:
Sampling Quality Assurance/EMAP:
Quality Assurance:
Analytical Methods Development
Advanced Monitoring:
4
Remote Sensing:
EMSL-LV FTTA Coordinator:
Terry Grady
(702) 798-2136
Bill Phillips
(702) 798-2331
Steve Hern
(702) 798-2594
Ann Pitchford
(702) 798-2366
LLewellyn Williams
(702) 798-2138
Christian Daughton
(702) 798-2207
Joseph DLugosz
(702) 798-2598
Don Garofalo
(703) 349-7503
Ken Brown
(702) 798-2270
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Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
P.O. Box 1198 • Ada, OK 74820
(Specializing in innovative monitoring for ground water and drinking water.)
Ground water Monitoring:
RSKERL FTTA Coordinator:
Jerry Thornhill
(405) 332-8800
Jerry Jones
(405) 332-8800
Atmospheric Research & Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(Specializing in air monitoring and mathematical modeling applications.)
Methods Development:
AREAL FTTA Coordinator:
Larry Cupitt
(919) 541-2454
Ron Patterson
(919) 541-3779
Ttie Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory-Cincinnati
26 West Martin Luther King • Cincinnati, OH 45268
(Specializing in chemical, biological, and microbiological monitoring
of waters and wastes.)
Quality Assurance Research:
Microbiology Research:
Ecological Monitoring Research:
Chemistry Research:
John Winter
(513) 569-7325
Al Dufour
(513) 569-7218
Bernard Daniel
(513) 569-7401
Bill Budde
(513) 569-7309
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