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CENTRAL REGIONAL
LABORATORY
REGION V
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:RONMENTAL PROTECTION AGEK<
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aboratory
Introduction and
Background
The Central Regional Laboratory (CRL), located on
Chicago's near south side, provides scientific expertise for
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as State
and local pollution control agencies in Region V (Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
In EPA's early days, shortly after it was established in
December, 1970, there were five laboratories in Region V.
One located at each of five District Offices in Evansville, IN;
Minneapolis, MN; Grosse lie, Ml; Cleveland, OH; and,
Chicago, IL. The purpose of these laboratories was to test
environmental samples collected by District Office field
operations teams.
Although this laboratory system served an important
function, it soon became apparent that such a method of
organization was not economical ly sound nor did it provide a
scientific base to support the more difficult, expensive and
unusual tests required by the Region.
On Feb. 5, 1973, Francis T. Mayo, Midwest Regional
Administrator of the U.S. EPA, reorganized the Region's
laboratory operations to create the Central Regional Labo-
ratory, a major environmental testing facility, in the Surveil-
lance and Analysis Division (S&AD). District offices will
continue to maintain small scientific staffs to perform time
dependent analyses and ship samples to the CRL for all
other analyses.
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Francis T. Mayo—Regional Administrator
Valdas V. Adamkus—Deputy Regional Administrator
Christopher Timm—Director,
Surveillance & Analysis Division
Through the work of the scientists and staff personnel,
the CRL is accomplishing its prime mission—performing
and evaluating environmental measurements for regulatory
actions, evaluating ambient environmental quality and sup-
porting State and local government environmental agencies
in the Region.
In late 1974 and early 1975, the CRL performed over
100,000 chemical and biological analyses. The source of
samples for analysis ranged from the open waters of the
Great Lakes to the bottom sediments of the Mahoning River
in Ohio.
On many occasions, CRL has been requested to analyze
samples for which accurate analytical methods do not exist,
such as organics in bottom sediments. To meet this de-
mand, the CRL is actively developing analytical procedures
to better support existing environmental programs, as well
as developing the capability to handle new programs.
In order to efficiently handle the heavy routine workload,
the CRL continually investigates methods for automating
existing analytical procedures. During FY75, automated
methods for analysis of mercury and chemical oxygen
demand were developed and approved for use with the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
by the Regional Administrator.
Two gas chromatographs were automated and compu-
terized to allow unattended analyses of 55 pesticides. In
addition, a new plasma source emission spectrometer was
placed in operation which performs 20 metal analyses
simultaneously.
Another very important function at the CRL is conducting
training seminars for State and local agencies. In methods
development, the CRL gives considerable attention to the
possibility that the new techniques can be adopted and
used by other EPA, State, local, and private laboratories.
These seminars serve to transfer the latest technology de-
veloped at the CRL to these environmental agencies for
their application.
The CRL staff presently numbers about 30 and is divided
into four major sections: 1. Administration; 2. Chemistry
Branch; 3. Biology Branch; and 4. Quality Assurance
Branch.
Art direction and photography by the Graphic Arts Section,
U.S. EPA, Region V.
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ADMINISTRATION
The Director's office, which is responsible for the admin-
istration of the CRL, consists of a Director, Deputy Director
and a Program Technician. The Director and Deputy Direc-
tor provide coordinated program development, direction
and control. They formulate and execute short and long
range plans for optimum utilization of resources to insure
meeting the responsibilites, obligations and commitments
of the CRL. Day-to-day laboratory operations are delegated
to the Branch Chiefs. The Program Technician is responsi-
ble for fiscal, procurement, property, personnel and other
administrative matters that support the operation of the CRL.
John Quarles—Deputy Administrator, U. S. EPA; Dr. Abbas
E/-Awady—Chemist; Thomas Yeates—Director, Central Regional
Laboratory; and, Christopher Timm—Director, Surveillance & Analysis Division,
discuss the development of the automated cyanide analysis system (l-r).
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A sample is injected into a
total organic carbon analyzer.
A gas chromatograph equipped with flame
photometric detectors sensitive to phosphorus
and sulfur is used to identify oil pollutants.
A water blank is aspirated into the flame of an atomic absorption spectrometer
to insure that the instrument is operating properly.
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CHEMISTRY BRANCH
The Chemistry Branch, by far the largest division in the
CRL, is comprised of the Inorganic, Metals and Organic
Sections. It has the capability to routinely perform over 100
different parameter analyses on each sample submitted.
The samples consist of industrial and domestic waste-
waters; lake, river and ground waters; and, drinking water
supplies. Other samples include sludges, soils and sedi-
ments, biological specimens, solid and liquid fuels and
gaseous and impinged air.
The bulk of the workload, at this time, consists of con-
ducting analyses on water samples obtained from industrial
and municipal discharges. By analyzing for the amounts of
various substances present in these effluent waters, it is
possible to determine whether a given facility is meeting
the conditions for discharge set forth in its NPDES permit.
The permit is, in essence, a contract between the Govern-
ment and the facility, which defines maximum amounts of
each chemical that can be discharged to a receiving stream
and still maintain good water quality.
The branch is currently very active in developing and
implementing an automated computerized laboratory
system in cooperation with the EPA Environmental Moni-
toring and Support Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In July, 1975, the CRL began installing a new NOVA 840
computer system which will enter data from the lab instru-
ments directly into a national EPA data bank for future
retrieval. This will eliminate the need to keypunch data for
the Washington computer and will reduce turn-around time
for users.
Software for this new data processing system is being
written at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory at the Univer-
sity of California, Berkeley. This system in Region V, when
operable, will serve as a pilot for other EPA Regional labs.
The new computer system is being designed to handle:
• data listing related to samples to be collected for analyses
• data storing of all measured values
• operation of laboratory instruments including calibration
and statistical analysis on instrument variables and
finished data
• production of comprehensive labels for samples
• multiple typing projects
• other routine computer functions
At the present time, the CRL manually processes data to
support over 125,000 analyses per year. With the new
computer system, it will be able to handle 1000 pieces of
data per day.
A gas chromatograph and associated equipment in
operation to measure the amount of chloroform and
related pollutants in drinking water.
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The technicon Auto Analyzer II system automatically
determines the concentration of ammonia, nitrate and
nitrite and ortho phosphate at the rate of
forty samples per hour.
Inorganic Section
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Scientists of the Inorganic Section of the Chemistry
Branch analyze surface and wastewaters, air, fuel and
sediment samples for nutrient, oxygen demand, mineral,
physical and air pollution parameters. Approximately 2/3
of the resources of the Inorganic Section are devoted to
water and sediment testing for about 30 parameters.
Automated methods using Technicon Auto Analyzer
equipment are used to test for the frequently-run parame-
ters, such as ammonia, nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus,
chemical oxygen demand, mercury, chloride and sulfate
at an average rate of 30 samples per hour.
Since instruments perform the repetitive and more
tedious tasks in the testing procedures, scientists have
more time to interpret the data and develop new procedures.
In order to analyze large numbers of difficult samples
such as Great Lakes' waters, sediments and industrial
wastes, the Inorganic Section has developed several new
analytical methods. Automated methods for the analysis of
chemical oxygen demand and mercury were developed in
FY75 and approved for use with the NPDES permits. In
addition, micro methods for the analysis of dissolved and
suspended solids were also developed.
In addition to devising new and more efficient methods of
performing sample tests, the Section is conducting preser-
vation studies on samples so that they can be held for longer
periods than are now allowed. At present, some of the water
samples collected in the field must be tested almost imme-
diately in order for the results to be valid.
When implemented, the efficiency of the District Office
sampling teams could be greatly increased. Teams could
stay in the field for longer periods, collecting additional
samples and the samples could then be held until there is a
large enough number for analyses to make automation
more efficient. Any headway in this area will have a tremen-
dous effect on how the CRL and the S&AD operate, as well
as State Pollution Control agencies.
More air testing is done in thisSection than in any other
section of the Chemistry Branch—about 1 /3 of their total
testing time is spent with air samples. Ambient air samples
are collected every 12 days by equipment set up and cali-
brated by other offices. These samples are then sent to the
CRL and analyzed for total particulates, sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen dioxide. The analytical results which determine the
trend of air quality in Region V are stored in an EPA national
air data bank located in North Carolina.
The Inorganic Section routinely participates with EPA and
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The measurement of total organic carbon, an
important pollution indicator.
other governmental agency air pollution control laboratories
in special analytical studies. The scope of studies includes
evaluating methods of sampling and analysis for mercury in
stack and ambient air samples and the effect of shelter size
on the collection efficiency of suspended particulate matter
in the air.
A recent study by the Section which shows that two auto-
mated methods for the analysis of sulfur dioxide in impinged
air samples are equivalent to the EPA approved manual
method will result in a substantial increase in efficiency of
State and local air pollution control laboratories.
The air pollution scientists also maintain a calibration and
auditing capability to assist the State and local agencies
with continuous sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone
air monitors.
Distillation apparatus for manually measuring
the cyanide concentration of environmental samples.
&m
An ultrasensitive Microbalance is used to weigh
materials to within one millionth of a gram.
Calibration of an ozone monitor with a
dynamic calibration system.
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Samples are digested in concentrated acids
before they are analyzed for metals.
Metals Section
Determination of arsenic using a heated
graphite atomizer at 2700° C.
A "Lead Free" gasoline sample is analyzed for
lead content by an atomic absorption spectrometer.
The Metals Section is primarily concerned with the test-
ing of water, sediment and air samples for the presence and
quantification of metallic elements, compounds and related
components.
By using chemical and physical methods of analysis and
applying various analytical techniques, the scientists rou-
tinely test for 30 different metals. The results of many of
these tests are used to determine compliance for the dis-
charger as defined by his NPDES permit.
Currently, most of the metal analyses are performed by
atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The sample is atom-
ized either in a flame or an electrically heated furnace and
monochromatic light is passed through the cloud of neutral
atoms. The concentration of a single metal can be deter-
mined by the amount of specific light the particles absorb.
In flame atomic absorption, the Section has automated
alkali and alkaline earth determinations by applying current
state-of-the-art automatic sampling techniques. This
approach provides for an increase in productivity and a
decrease in operator-related errors.
Some bodies of water, i.e. the Great Lakes, are so low in
metal content that the traditional flame atomic absorption
procedures lack the required sensitivity for a meaningful
characterization.
As a consequence, flameless methods have been devel-
oped and are currently being used which are capable of
detecting element concentrations in the low part per billion
(10~9 grams per liter) range. This generates data that are
useful as baseline information for the assessment of envi-
ronmental water quality trends.
As with all of the testing procedures employed in the CRL,
only those that are EPA approved can be used to monitor
for permit compliance.
The Metals Section is evaluating a new "emission spec-
trometer-inductively coupled argon plasma system" which
can perform tests for 20 parameters simultaneously, as
opposed to one at a time by atomic absorption.
Although this is not yet an EPA approved method, prelim-
inary data indicate that this approach will justify acceptance
and result in substantial time-savings, not only for the CRL,
but also for the many environmental laboratories in EPA and
State agencies.
In the areas relating to air pollution problems, the Metals
Section is currently testing levels of lead in gasoline. The
District Offices, with the aid of portable testing kits, perform
on-site analyses at gas stations.
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Analysis of a water sample for magnesium
by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Any samples registering lead contents above 0.04 grams/
gallon are sent to the CRL where rigorous tests are per-
formed to determine if the gasoline supply is contaminated.
Any level of lead above O.OSgrams/gallon signifies contam-
ination, and prohibits the sale of the gasoline. Although
smaller in scope, the characterization of air particulate
samples for trace metals is an on-going activity.
As with all of the Sections in the CRL, the Metals Section
develops, implements and maintains a state-of-the-art ana-
lytical quality control program to insure that data generated
are within the accuracy range of the methods used to pro-
duce the results.
Simultaneous multielement analysis of twenty metals
by direct sample nebulization using an inductively
coupled argon plasma optical emission spectrometer.
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An infra-red spectrometer is calibrated before
being used to identify oils and other
organic compounds.
Organic Section
A high pressure liquid chromatograph is used to
purify a sample for subsequent analysis.
The primary function of the Organic Section, as with the
other Sections of the Chemistry Branch, is to test water, air
and biological samples for environmental pollutants.
Since there is an extremely large number of organic or
carbon containing molecules in the environment, the Or-
ganic Section must allocate considerable resources just to
identify which organic pollutants are present in a sample.
Once this qualitative analysis has been completed, the
process of measuring the amount of each organic material
in the sample can begin. Frequently, over one hundred
different organic pollutants are found in a single water or air
sample, and there is seldom enough resources to complete
quantitative analyses on all compounds.
Therefore, emphasis is placed on those materials that
are known or suspected to be highly toxic or carcinogenic.
The highly competent staff has many sophisticated instru-
ments with which to perform these difficult analyses.
In addition to a number of gas chromatographs, there is
a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a liquid chro-
matograph, a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and
several infrared spectrometers.
The largest class of organic pollutants studied by the
Organic Section this past year was pesticides. This class of
chemicals include selected chlorinated hydrocarbon, organ-
ophosphorus, organosulfur compounds, the phthalates and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's).
A semiautomated analysis system in which a computer
operates and collects data from several different kinds of
gas chromatographs was developed to handle the workload
for these programs. The system is used to routinely screen
samples for 55 pesticides. These analyses are performed
at a rate of over 24,000 reported concentration values per
year. Pesticides not included in this group of 55 require
much more time to identify and quantify.
The Section has also developed and implemented a sim-
ple, but highly effective, method of measuring the concen-
trations of volatile organic compounds such as chloroform
in drinking waters. Hundreds of these analyses were per-
formed on Region V drinking water supplies to establish
baseline concentrations of these materials.
Programs to identify causes for taste and odor problems
in both air and water have been initiated, and many samples
were analyzed during the first program year. New tech-
niques are continually being studied to provide more capa-
bilities in this area.
The Section supports the U.S. Coast Guard, State and
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A computer is being programmed which is interfaced
to four gas chromatographs equipped to analyze
pesticides on an around-the-clock basis.
other Federal agencies by performing oil and hazardous
material identifications. When a spill occurs, samples are
sent to the CRL for immediate analysis and the spill is moni-
tored to assess damage to the environment. The analytical
result will determine the actions to be taken by the govern-
ment officials to protect the public and wildlife.
In these situations, it is imperative that the CRL be re-
sponsive and accurate. If the spilled material is identical to
that from a suspected source, the responsible parties can
be identified and appropriate enforcement actions taken.
The Organic Section scientists pride themselves in often
being able to provide technical assistance to other Federal,
State, and local environmental regulatory agencies and to
analyze some of the most difficult environmental samples.
Unknown organic compounds are frequently identified
by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer
system.
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BIOLOGY BRANCH
The Biology Branch provides biological and microbiolog-
ical support for the Region. Emphasis is given to the areas
of fish, macro-invertebrate and algal bioassays for toxic
materials. It is also well equipped to perform detailed tax-
onomy on many different kinds of aquatic organisms.
V
The Biology Branch develops new field and laboratory
procedures and guidelines to more effectively evaluate
biological conditions in lakes and streams throughout the
Region.
This includes such aspects as sediment bioassays for
determining toxicity levels in the Great Lakes harbor sedi-
ments ; on-site adenosine triphosphate (ATP) photometric
analysis of biomass in areas of municipal and industrial dis-
charges; and, mobile field bioassay testing. It also offers
technical support to State and local agencies when re-
quested and serves as a member of the National Biological
Advisory Committee.
The Branch is divided into two sections: a Bioassay-ln-
vertebrate Section and a Plankton-Periphyton Section.
Analysis of a diatom slide to determine the
proportional count of the diatom species.
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Pennate diatom—Cymbella sp.
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Zooplankton—Daphnia sp.
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Assortment ofplanktonic algae.
Head capsule of the chironomid larva—Tribelos sp.
PHOTOMICROGRAPHS OF
PLANCTONIC AND BENTHIC
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
'ooplankton—Bpsmina longirostris
—Pinnularia sp.
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Bioassay- Invertebrate
Section
Major emphasis is given to toxicity testing with fish,
macro-invertebrates and algae. Both static and continuous
flow tests are run on such organisms as fathead minnows,
goldfish, algae and Daphnia—a small crustacean.
All test organisms, except goldfish, are hatched, reared
or cultured at the CRL in order to maintain an adequate
supply of organisms of the highest quality. The minnows are
raised in a specially designed system developed at the CRL
to operate using dechlorinated tap water and is temperature
controlled by a series of solenoid switches working off the
regular hot and cold tap water. A total of 400 to 600 min-
nows can be hatched weekly.
The bioassay experiments consist of observing the re-
action of the organisms when placed in water containing
varying amounts of specific toxic chemicals or industrial
plant effluents. This is done to determine the lethal levels
for the organisms in an attempt to understand what effects
pollutants discharged in our waterways have on aquatic life.
In support of these areas of testing, a 19 foot mobile bio-
assay trailer designed for running continuous flow and static
bioassays at on-site locations is used.
The trailer, manned by CRL personnel, will be used
Region-wide to test the toxicity of industrial effluents in the
field for a continuous 96 hour period. It can be moved easily
from one location to another and is equipped for use during
all seasons of the year.
Other functions of this Section include conducting de-
tailed identification and enumeration of macroinvertebrate
organisms and biomass determinations. In order to perform
species identification on some organisms, it is necessary to
extractor prepare certain anatomical structures through
special techniques. These techniques are being employed
routinely at CRL in all phases of taxonomy.
All microbiological functions are also a part of the Bio-
assay Invertebrate Section, and include bacteriological ex-
aminations of freshwater, domestic and industrial effluents.
(A) Fathead minnow eggs attached
to the underside of spawning tile.
(6) Harvesting brine shrimp from a hatcher
that will be fed to fathead minnows.
(C) Brine shrimp are fed to newly-hatched minnows.
(D) Eight-week-old fathead minnows.
(£) Static bioassay being conducted on an industrial
waste sample in an environmental chamber.
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,*. *
Male and female fathead minnows under spawning tile.
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Plankton-Periphyton
Section
Determination of chlorophyll a by spectrofluorometry.
This Section conducts identification and enumeration of
phytoplankton, zooplankton and periphyton on samples
collected throughout the Region.
These organisms are an important group as indicators of
the trophic status of a particular body of water and contri-
bute significantly to the total productivity of any given
aquatic system. Some are also notorious in causing taste
and odor problems in municipal water supplies or off-flavors
in commercial or sport fishes. DetaNed species identifica-
tion is often necessary in order to identify the algae causing
these problems and this capability is available at the CRL.
Another important function of this Section is in running
algal bioassays in conjunction with the Bioassay-lnverte-
brate Section. A series of pure cultures of algae are main-
tained at CRL as test organisms. The specimens are sub-
jected to predetermined concentrations of a known toxicant
or to a municipal or industrial effluent and specific observa-
tions are then made to determine the effect of these test
materials on the algae.
In addition, the algalogists also examine the productivity
of the water by means of spectrophotometric and fluoro-
metric analysis of chlorophyll, ATP photometry, and ash-
free dry weight determinations.
Photomicrograph of the zooplankton Keratella quadrate.
Environmental Protection Agency
Region V, Library
230 South Dearbo'rn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Pure cultures of algae being grown
in an environmental chamber.
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*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1975—652-998
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QUALITY ASSURANCE
BRANCH
The Quality Assurance Branch is responsible for quality
assurance management in the S&AD and draws upon the
resources of the S&AD to carry out this function. The
Branch develops and implements, on a continuing basis, a
quality assurance management plan for the division.
The plan sets policy for the quality of the division's moni-
toring data; details operating procedures for sample collec-
tion, preservation, analysis, and data reporting; and speci-
fies calibrations and audits required. The Branch Chief
serves as the Regional Analytical Quality Control Coordi-
nator to assure implementation of national quality assurance
policies of EPA.
The Branch recommends approval or disapproval to the
Regional Administrator of alternate test procedures for the
NPDES. This very important function has considerable
impact on the validity of the data generated by the industrial
and municipal dischargers. The Branch, in coordination
with the U.S. EPA District offices, evaluates State labora-
tories.
Through the presentation of seminars, the use of refer-
ence samples, split samples, and on-site visits, the Branch
provides support to the States for upgrading data quality. It
assists the States in developing and implementing a quality
assurance program to assure that only approved field and
laboratory procedures are being used.
The Branch also actively works within the Great Lakes
monitoring activities of the International Joint Commission
Water Quality Board to implement and coordinate interlabo-
ratory quality assurance.
It is necessary for data provided by Canadian and United
States agencies to be of quantified validity so that water
quality assessments, such as long-term trends of the Great
Lakes, can be made more accurately.
The Branch receives hundreds of requests for technical
information of a non-routine nature from State and local
pollution control agencies, private laboratories and indus-
trial and municipal dischargers. It also serves as a distribu-
tion point for EPA's publications on analytical methodology
and quality assurance.
Dr. Mark Carter—Chief, Inorganic Section and
David Payne—Chief, Quality Assurance Branch,
discuss the Inorganic Section's quality assurance
program (l-r).
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION V
CENTRAL REGIONAL LABORATORY
1819 W PERSHING RD
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60609
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA-335
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE. S3OO
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