AIR POLLUTION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SURVEY
Science
Communication
INCORPORATED
1O79 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D. C.
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AIR POLLUTION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SURVEY
Conducted for
Division of Air Pollution
U. S. Public Health Service
Washington, D. C. 20201
Final Report
26 April 1965
Contract PH 86-65-13
Victor C. Searle, Principal Investigator
Approved:
DeWitt O. Myatt, Project :Director
Science Communication, Inc.
1081 Wisconsin Avenue
Washington, D. C. 200 07
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
A Survey of Air Pollution
Technical Information
Requirements and Resources
CONTENTS
SUMMARY i
INTRODUCTION 1
THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION SURVEY 3
THE STUDY PLAN 4
THE USER POPULATION SAMPLE 5
RESULTS OF THE STUDY 7
SPECIALIZED AIR POLLUTION SUBJECT INTERESTS 8
INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY RESPONDENTS 10
Journals 10
Other Information Sources 12
Personal Contacts 13
Government Reports 13
Specialized Abstracting and Announcement Services 13
INFORMATION SERVICE NEEDS 15
Desire For Specific Services 15
INFORMATION RESOURCES 20
IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS 22
REFERENCES 24
APPENDIX A Sampling and Survey Procedure A-i
APPENDIX B Specialized Air Pollution Subject Interests. . B-i
APPENDIX C Information Sources Used by Respondents.. . C-i
APPENDIX D Abstract Service Suggestions D-i
APPENDIX E Summary Publications. E-i
APPENDIX F Information Resource Descriptions F-i
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
A Survey of Air Pollution
Technical Information
Requirements and Resources
SUMMARY
In January of 1964, the Office of Science and Technology, Executive Office
of the President, assigned government-wide responsibility for assuring full
and adequate handling of scientific information in air pollution prevention
and control to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The assign-
ment was based on both the Weinberg report, "Science, Government and
Information, " and the Clean Air Act of 1963.
The responsibility was further redelegated to the Division of Air Pollution,
U. S. Public Health Service, which then began the establishment of a National
Air Pollution Technical Information Center. The Center is to assure the
bibliographic control of and availability of both the open literature and the
report literature on air pollution research, and provide a service which can
assimilate, digest, and review research results in the field. Its services
will be available to the public, the scientific community, and industry, as well
as to officials of other government agencies.
As an initial step in establishing the Center, the Division of Air Pollution com-
missioned this survey of the technical information requirements of the diverse
sub-populations making up the air pollution "community", and of the resources
presently available for meeting their needs. The objective is to provide a
basis for recommending operational concepts and organization of the Center.
This report is based on the findings from 70 personal interviews and 228 mail
questionnaires obtained from various categories of potential users. Emphasis
was placed on State and local control agencies, research investigators, and
industrial officials responsible for plant engineering and operation from the
standpoint of air pollution control. Major information resources were also
inventoried and evaluated--both those which specialize in the air pollution area,
and those whose coverage is general but includes significant amounts of infor-
mation relevant to air pollution.
The user survey is keyed around four general questions:
• What are your specialized subject interests?
• What are your principal present information sources?
0 What are your difficulties in securing needed air pollution information?
• What services can the Center provide to better meet your needs?
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In the process the interests, sources and desires essentially common to the
"community" were identified, as well as those characteristic of particular
sub-populations.
Taking the population as a whole, four subjects are given the highest impor-
tance rating:
Ambient air standards Sampling methods
Emission standards Analytical methods
Of these, information on standards is considered to be difficult to obtain; that
on methods, relatively easy.
Information on human health effects is considered highly important, but difficult
to obtain, by State and local agency officials and by industrial technologists.
The most generally-used information sources are the APCA Abstracts, pre-
pared and published under Division of Air Pollution contracts with the Library of
Congress and the Air Pollution Control Association, and the Journal of the
Association. Usage patterns of other journals and abstracting services and
personal contacts as information sources are reviewed. The volume of
abstracts published by the major Federal document clearinghouses appears to
inhibit effective use by the air pollution community, even though substantial
amounts of relevant information are contained in these resources.
Problems or deficiencies that were mentioned sufficiently often to be defined
as characteristic attitudes included:
The wide variety of sources of air pollution information and the
excessive effort required to keep up with these sources.
Difficulty in finding specific information or, in the case of biblio-
graphic searching, being confident of reasonably complete
coverage.
Time lags in publication and further time lags in abstracting or
other forms of general announcement.
Inadequate coverage of foreign work.
Substantial amounts of information in various types of files but
which, for one reason or another, is not pulled together and
published.
Dearth of authoritative reviews or critical monographs summa-
rizing the best available information in particular areas.
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Of the services which might be provided or sponsored by the Center, the five
receiving the highest "desire ratings" are:
• Abstracts, with increased coverage and indexing.
• Accession lists of references acquired, as an "express" current
awareness medium and specialized announcement service.
• Bibliographic search services.
• Periodic state-of-the-art reviews.
• Critical monographs, as warranted.
The first three are generally desired by all groups. Of the last two, the
governmental and industrial groups express the greater preference for reviews,
while the research community prefers critical monographs.
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Contract PH 86-65-13
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A Survey of Air Pollution
Technical Information
Requirements and Resources
Introduction
In common with other scientific and technological fields, workers concerned
with air pollution control research and application problems have been
faced with the massive growth of relevant technical information. How to
acquire and utilize the information efficiently, including that from related
scientific disciplines, has become a major question. The difficulties are
compounded by the wide range of scientific, engineering, and industrial
fields involved; by the diversity of the groups whose interests are affected;
and by the health, economic, political, and sociological implications of air
pollution problems and their solutions.
Stemming from the original Air Pollution Act of 1955, the Division of Air
Pollution, U. S. Public Health Service, has been concerned with this
problem, and has supported indexing, abstracting, translating and biblio-
graphic services. In addition, it has been instrumental in distributing air
pollution technical information to individuals, organizations, and institutions
throughout the country.
Three events, occurring in 1963 and early 1964, are destined to have a
major impact in this area. These are the publication of the Weinberg report
by the President's Scientific Advisory Committee in early 1963; passage of
the Clean Air Act of 1963 in December of that year; and assignment to the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare of government-wide respon-
sibility for assuring full and adequate handling of scientific information in
air pollution prevention and control.
The Weinberg report, "Science, Government, and Information1/ x exhaustively
explored the problems of information handling in the current situation and
presented a series of recommendations as guiding policies. Two are partic-
ularly applicable to the present program; the "delegated agent" concept,
whereby a single government agency is assigned responsibility for coordi-
nated handling of scientific and technical information in a designated field;
and the establishment of specialized information centers conceived to function
as the accepted retailers of information through acquiring, switching,
interpreting and processing information from the large central depositories
and archival journals.
The Clean Air Act of 1963 authorizes the Secretary of the Department of
HEW to "collect and make available, through publications and other appro-
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priate means, the results of research and other activities, and other infor-
mation, " and to "collect and disseminate, in cooperation with other public
or private agencies, institutions, and organizations having related respon-
sibilities, basic data on chemical, physical, and biological effects of
varying air quality and other information pertaining to air pollution and
the prevention and control thereof. " This authorization reaffirmed and
expanded the similar clause in the original Air Pollution Act of 1955.
Largely through the impetus of the Weinberg report and its endorsement of
the "delegated agent" concept, the Office of Science and Technology,
Executive Office of the President, assigned responsibility in these terms,
in January of 1964:
". . . . the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (will) take the
necessary steps to assume this government-wide responsibility
for handling the results of research in air pollution prevention as
a companion to the legislative directive for the conduct of research
and development in air pollution.
"The minimal requirements. . . . (are:)
(a) the bibliographic control of and the availability of both the open
literature and the report literature resulting from research
activities in air pollution; and
(b) the establishment of at least one information evaluation center
in air pollution where research results would be assimilated,
digested, and reviewed.
"Other than these requirements there are no stringent guidelines
for establishing a focal point for information services in a
specialized area of science or technology. The character of the
service would be the prerogative of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare. "
A press release announcing the delegation went on to state:
"The Department of Health, Education and Welfare will collect data
and information from both government and non-government facilities
significantly involved in air pollution research and will organize
this information, consolidate it, and provide state-of-the-art
summaries. The service will be available to the public as well as
to officials of other government agencies. "
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Subsequently, this responsibility was redelegated to the Division of Air Pol-
lution, where action was taken to develop a specialized center for the
acquisition, storage, and retrieval of air pollution technical information,
to provide appropriate information services to industrial, national and local
government, academic, and general users.
The Technical Information Survey
The general concept of a technical information center is well expressed
in the definition used by the Elliot Committee:
"Technical Information Center - An organization for acquiring,
processing, and disseminating technical information. A technical
information center may include a library; a staff of scientists and
engineers for extracting, indexing, and evaluating technical
literature; facilities such as centers for documentation, referral,
and information evaluation; a roster of consultants on call; and
capabilities for writing reports, handbooks, and reviews. "2
Effective application of this concept in a particular field, however, requires
specific information, keyed around the identified needs of those whom the
center is to serve--in this case, users of air pollution technical information.
The basic questions include:
What are the sub-populations involved?
By institutional affiliation, e.g., local control agencies,
industrial firms, universities and research institutions,
Federal agencies, etc.
By functional responsibility, e.g., research and develop-
ment, surveillance and enforcement, technical assistance,
plant operating management, etc.
By scientific or technical field, e. g. , chemical, biological,
medical, agricultural, engineering, etc.
What types of information are used, or needed, by each? For what
purposes ? In what forms ?
What are the individual's present sources for such information?
What are recognized deficiencies in satisfying specific needs? In
accessibility? Inform? In timeliness? Incompleteness?
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What are the present organized sources or repositories of scientific
and technical information relevant to air pollution prevention
and control? Their scopes, access channels, and potential
contributions to an information center program?
The purpose of this study, then, is to develop answers to these questions, as
a basis for recommending operational concepts and organization of the pro-
posed Center.
The Study Plan
The project plan utilizes techniques successfully employed in similar previous
studies in other fields.3'4 This approach involves:
Preliminary analysis of the field and tentative identification of sub-
populations and areas of interests.
A series of individual interviews, in depth, with representative
members of user groups. These lead to verification or
adjustment of the original assumptions, tentatative con-
clusions as to substantive answers to the questions posed
above, and development of a mail questionnaire for testing
or modifying these conclusions.
Selection of the target sample for the mail questionnaire and
solicitation of participation.
Concurrently, inventorying and evaluating potential information
sources and repositories.
Finally, tabulating and analyzing the responses.
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The User Population Sample
Details of sample acquisition and the survey procedure are discussed in
more detail in Appendix A, which also contains samples of the printed
materials used.
Prospective participants, both for the interview phase and for the mail
inquiry phase, were acquired from a variety of sources, including:
Directories of Government air pollution agencies (State and
local), and Air Pollution Control Association membership.
Public Health Service grantees and contractors.
Air pollution committees of professional and trade associations.
Suggestions from Federal agencies with air pollution interests.
Suggestions obtained during discussion with Division of Air
Pollution representatives and individual interviews.
Inquiries received in response to project announcements in
journals.
In the interview phase, 70 interviews primarily emphasizing information
. usage were conducted, using an extensive check list developed in cooperation
with the Division of Air Pollution. Those interviewed represented the
various categories of potential users, with emphasis on State and local
control agencies, research investigators, and industrial officials responsible
for plant engineering and operation from the standpoint of pollution control.
An additional 46 interviews were conducted in connection with evaluation
of resources, securing leads for particular categories of potential recipients
of the mail questionnaire, and general problem discussions. The mail
questionnaire was then developed, based on experience gained during the
interviews. It is similar in scope to the interview check list, but represents
a considerable condensation and refinement.
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The final returns from the mail survey were:
Questionnaires mailed 445 addressees
Responses
Full Questionnaires 219
Short Comments 11
No current requirement 35
The respondents who submitted full questionnaires were categorized, based
on their organizational affiliations and reported functions and interests,
as follows:
State and Local Agencies - 61
Industrial - 44
Control 26
(Responsibility for plant design, engineering
or operation to minimize pollutant emis-
sion. Includes industrial consultants.)
Equipment 18
(Development or production of equipment for
pollution control, including instrumentation
and automotive exhaust emission control.)
Technical Assistance - (Public Health Service) - 18
(Includes Regional Air Pollution Program Directors
and Sanitary Engineering Center personnel
with assistance or training functions.)
Research - 102
Universities 41
Institutes 26
Public Health Service 19
Other Federal Agencies 16
(e. g., Weather Bureau, Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Mines, etc.)
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"Civic" - 3
Individuals with air pollution interests but without direct
technical responsibilities in air pollution control.
Includes municipal and county executives, planning
and zoning officials, civic groups, etc.)
By scientific discipline, the research category was represented by:
Chemistry, chemical engineering - 52
Basic 12
Applied 14
Both 26
Biomedical - 17
Meteorology - 14
Agricultural - 18
Plants 15
Forestry 3
Economics - 1
The extent and distribution of responses display the diversity of the air
pollution "community. " The number of returns in principal categories was
sufficient to lend significance to differences reported in use or preference
when categories were compared.
Results of the Study
The following discussion summarizes the principal findings concerning
interests, information sources, and service desires of the respondents who
submitted complete questionnaires--essentially those directly concerned
with air pollution problems. Further details are presented in the appendixes
noted. The opinions expressed in the short form responses--generally from
planning and other civic officials --will be discussed later.
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The responses within the sub-populations defined by institutional affiliation
showed a high degree of (1) internal consistency, and (2) differentiation
from other sub-populations. Therefore, the institutional breakdown has been
used for analysis of most of the factors covered in the survey. In a few
cases a further disciplinary breakdown within the research population was
found meaningful.
Specialized Air Pollution Subject Interests
Participants were first asked to rate a series of specialized air pollution
technical information subjects as to the relative importance in their work,
and the ease of obtaining needed information. Three levels of rating were
used for each factor, weighted in analysis as follows:
Relative Importance Weight
High 4
Moderate 2
Little 1
Difficulty of Obtaining Weight
Difficult 4
Varies 2
Easy 1
Using these values and considering only those who rated the item ("No Answers"
disregarded), weighted averages were calculated for each subject as rated
by each sub-population. These, together with percentages of positive response
in each case, are given in Appendix B.
Taking the population as a whole, four subjects were given the highest impor-
tance rating:
Ambient air standards
Emission standards
Sampling methods
Analytical methods
These were rated "high" by over half of those expressing an opinion, and
"moderate" by most of the rest. The industrial control group rated sampling,
analysis, and emission standards somewhat lower than the other groups, as
did the industrial equipment group for ambient air standards.
A median importance group of subjects included:
Human health effects
Applied meteorology
Monitoring methods
Legal aspects
Atmospheric reactions
Economic losses
Effects on plants
Effects on materials
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Typical rating ranges were 50-25% "high", 25-50% "moderate", and 10-25%
"little". The subject of human health effects was given a particularly high
rating by State and local agency personnel, the industrial control group, and
research workers at universities.
The lowest importance ratings, overall, were given to:
Effects on visibility Planning and zoning
Effects on animals Radioactivity
Except for the State and local agency and technical assistance groups, the
response, i.e., the proportion of participants expressing an opinion, was
relatively low for planning and zoning, and radioactivity. Throughout the
study there is a general pattern of low percentage response on subjects
where those who do respond give a low importance rating. Meteorologists
and Department of Defense respondents and, to a lesser degree, workers at
research institutes were the only ones to attach significant importance to
radioactivity information.
Information on economic losses was rated the most difficult to obtain, by
each group. Ratings were high and nearly equal for all groups but industrial
equipment. Except for the latter, all groups gave over 50% "difficult"
responses with the remainder "varies". For the industrial equipment group
the responses were approximately 25% "difficult", 50% "varies", and 25%
"easy".
Five subjects were rated quite difficult with a definite grouping at the upper
levels. Ratings approaching those for economic effects were assigned by
the groups indicated.
Rated Very Difficult By
Ambient air standards SL TA 1C OG
Emission standards SL TA OG
Human health effects SL TA 1C
Atmospheric reactions SL TA 1C
Planning and zoning TA Un Inst
Legend - SL - State and local agency
TA - PHS technical assistance
1C - Industrial control
OG - Other government (non-PHS) research
Un - University research
Inst - Institute research
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Subjects rated moderately difficult over all, but showing a fairly wide spread
in the ratings by individual groups were:
Effects on animals Applied meteorology
Effects on materials Radioactivity
Effects on visibility Legal aspects
Relatively easy subjects, in descending order of difficulty were:
Effects on plants
Monitoring
Analysis
Sampling
To a considerable degree, the highest difficulty ratings tend to be assigned
to subjects on which limited research has been conducted or, at least,
published, and subjects difficult to document with measurements that are
straightforward and generally applicable. Examples are economic losses,
ambient air and emission standards, and planning and zoning. The difficulty
attached to obtaining information on human health effects by the "practitioner"
groups--State and local agencies, technical assistance, and industrial control--
is believed to reflect their need for firm, evaluated conclusions, rather than
detailed research data.
Information Sources used by Respondents
In this portion of the survey, respondents were asked to indicate the principal
journals used, and the relative importance of various types of personal con-
tacts, government documents, and specialized abstracting services in their
work.
Journals
A total of 100 primary journals were listed by the 228 respondents submitting
questionnaires. The ten most frequently mentioned are:
Times Cited
Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 177
International Journal of Air and Water Pollution 38
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 37
Air Engineering 34
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Times Cited
Chemical Engineering 25
Analytical Chemistry 23
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 19
Air/Water Pollution Report 18
Archives of Environmental Health (AMA) 18
Chemical Engineering Progress 11
The Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association and American Industrial
Hygiene Journal were rather uniformly cited by all groups. International
Journal of Air and Water Pollution was most'heavily listed by the research
workers, particularly at the universities. The industrial, State and local,
and technical assistance (PHS) groups are the heaviest users of the engi-
neering journals, and the Air/Water Pollution Report. Journals character-
istically cited by these groups, in addition to those listed above include:
Clean Air Mechanical Engineering
Coal Power
Combustion Staub
Contamination Control
Analytical Chemistry is emphasized primarily by State and local agencies,
and research respondents. University and PHS research workers are the
principal users of the Archives of Environmental Health.
A number of discipline-oriented journals were listed by particular research
groups, in accordance with their special interests. Significant examples
include:
Chemistry, Chemical Engineering
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Specialized ACS journals
Health Physics
Journal of Chromatography
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Meteorology
Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
Journal of Applied Meteorology
Journal of Geophysical Research
Agricultural
Phyto patholo gy
Plant Physiology
Biomedical
Journal of the American Medical Association
Clinical specialty journals, especially American Review of
Respiratory Diseases
Appendix C gives a complete listing of journals mentioned, together with
their frequency.
Among the foreign journals, 8 British journals, 2 German, and one each
Canadian, Swedish, Russian, and Dutch, were mentioned.
Other Information Sources
In reporting on personal contacts, Government publications, and specialized
abstract services the respondents rated each potential source as of "high, "
"moderate, " or "little" importance in their own work. In order to reflect
both the degree of importance and the number sufficiently concerned to express
an evaluation, weights were assigned as follows:
Rating Weight
High importance 4
Moderate Importance 2
Little Importance 1
No Answer 0
Weighted average scores were then computed in each case as a basis for
comparison among sub-populations and between different information sources.
Scores are tabulated in Appendix C.
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Personal Contacts
In this category "Air pollution meetings, conferences, and symposia"
received consistently high ratings, with the highest assigned by industrial
control equipment representatives and Public Health Service technical
assistance personnel.
Contacts with individual technical specialists rated as follows, in descending
order, after meetings:
"Within my organization"
"Outside my organization" (Other than consultants)
"Consultants"
Public Health personnel, both research and technical assistance, rated contacts
within the organization especially high.
Government Reports
Public Health Service reports received the highest acceptance, particularly by
State and local agencies. State and local agency publications rated next in
this category, with State and local respondents giving the highest rating of any
of the sub-population groups. Reports of other Government agencies, e.g.,
Bureau of Mines, Weather Bureau, etc. , rated distinctly lower for most
groups. It may be hypothesized that this is due to the more specialized nature,
and the smaller number, of publications in this class.
Specialized Abstracting and Announcement Services
Overall, these services were rated in the following order of descending
importance:
APCA Abstracts
Public Health Engineering Abstracts
Chemical Abstracts
Government Research Reports (Federal Clearinghouse)
Other Federal services--Nuclear Science Abstracts (AEC),
Technical Abstract Bulletin (DOD), and Scientific and
Technical Aerospace Reports (NASA).
Index Medicus (National Library of Medicine)
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The A PC A Abstracts is evidently a major source, receiving a rating of "high"
importance by 57% of all respondents, and "moderate" by an additional 27%.
These ratings were consistent among the sub-populations, and compared
with "high" and "moderate" ratings of 15% each for the next highest abstract
source, Public Health Engineering Abstracts.
The APCA Abstracts find their greatest use, however, as a current awareness
medium. Frequent comments related to the difficulty in retrospective search
for specific information or bibliographic entries, via the cumulative subject
index.
Chemical Abstracts was considered a relatively important source by the
research groups, but is little utilized by the others.
Government Research Reports, the Federal Clearinghouse announcement
publication, was cited more often than the total of the three remaining Federal
services. These latter tended to be cited by specialist groups, particularly
meteorologists, and generally carried "high" importance ratings when cited.
The general reaction to all four of these services, as expressed in interviews,
was that each carried information of value to the air pollution field but that
the individual effort required for screening is excessive.
As might be anticipated, Index Medicus received little emphasis except
among the research workers in the bio medical field. This group, however,
gave it a "high" rating, somewhat higher than that for the APCA Abstracts.
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Information Service Needs
From the standpoint of providing guidance in developing the Air Pollution
Technical Information Center (APTIC) the survey has two important objectives:
Identifying recognized deficiencies in present technical information
availability, and
Determining the services most desired by the air pollution community.
During the interview phase, problems or deficiencies that were mentioned
sufficiently often to be defined as characteristic attitudes included:
The wide variety of sources of air pollution information and the excessive
effort required to keep up with these sources.
Difficulty in finding specific information or, in the case of biblio-
graphic searching, being confident of reasonably complete
coverage.
Time lags in publication and further time lags in abstracting or
other forms of general announcement.
To varying degrees, lack of critical evaluation in accepting papers
for publication and in abstracting.
Inadequate coverage of foreign work.
Substantial amounts of information in various types of files but
which, for one reason or another, is not pulled together and
published.
Dearth of authoritative reviews or critical monographs summa-
rizing the best available information in particular areas.
Indexing problems involved in maintaining personal files.
Desire for Specific Services
To evaluate new or expanded services which might be provided by the Center
to serve these needs better, the survey respondents were asked to rate a
series of such services, according to the following scale:
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Weights Assigned
for Analysis
A - Highly desirable
C - More desirable than means now
available
F - Less desirable than means now
available
Using the weights indicated (and "0" for "No answer") averages* were cal-
culated to arrive at the group value judgements of the sub-populations, and
rank correlations were established. Table 1 summarizes the relative ranking
by the entire sample, and the services given the highest ratings by each of
the sub-populations.
Abstract bulletins, available at one- to two-month intervals, are the most
generally desired service. In the light of a number of comments received
concerning present abstract services, provision was made for expressing
opinions as to possible improvements. Responses from the total samples
were as follows:
"The present APCA Abstracts are satisfactory for my
purposes" 33%
"They would serve me better if they had:
"Greater coverage of topics in
(suggestions by respondents) 32%
"More detailed categorization as
published 13%
* As an aid to interpretation, typical examples of averages derived from a
range of response patterns would be:
A
C
N/A
F
Weighted Av. 3.8 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0
90%
10
--
--
66%
20
10
4
50%
28
16
6
43%
31
18
8
34%
12
44
10
21%
16
47
16
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Table 1
INFORMATION SERVICE DESIRES - RANK CORRELATION
(Weighted Averages)
Governmental
Industrial
Abstracts
Accession
Lists
Bibliographic
Searches
State-of-the-art
Reviews
Critical
Monographs
1.2 2.4
Technical
Newsletters
Professional
Specialist
Services
Data
Compilations
The three highest-rated
services by this sub-
population.
The fourth and fifth-
highest ratings by this
sub-population.
Weights Assigned
Highly desirable 4
More desirable than means
now available ............... 2
No answer ................... 0
Less desirable than means
now available ................ -1
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"More detailed cumulative indexing 16%
"index terms, keywords, or descriptors
printed along with the abstracts" 20%
The suggested topics for greater coverage are summarized in Appendix D.
These indicate areas for increased attention in the planned abstracting
operations.
Accession lists of titles and reference identifications as they are acquired
by APTIC are also generally desired, These could serve as an "express"
current awareness medium and a specialized announcement service, particu-
larly useful in identifying pertinent references appearing in the broad
Federal announcement services such as the Federal Clearinghouse, NASA,
and the National Library of Medicine.
Bibliographic compilations on requested topics receive the heaviest emphasis
by research workers and State and local agency personnel.
On the next three services, respondents were asked to suggest subjects for
coverage and, in the case of reviews and technical newsletters, the preferred
frequency of issue. State-of-the-art reviews (recommended to issue every
6 to 12 months) are emphasized by the industrial and governmental groups;
critical monographs, as warranted, by the research workers. Technical
newsletters (issuing at 1 to 2 month intervals) are principally desired by the
industrial control group, and State and local agencies. Opinions as to fre-
quency of issue and subjects suggested for coverage are detailed in Appendix E.
Professional specialist services, i.e., providing answers to particular tech-
nical questions as distinguished from furnishing documents or bibliographic
citations, are most desired by research workers in government agencies
and by the industrial equipment group. This is a capability which can be de-
veloped from the basic resources essential to providing the other services
desired.
Data compilations, as such, received a relatively low desire rating. Other
than measurements of the type published by the National Air Sampling Net-
work, the subjects suggested were generally appropriate for inclusion in a
state-of-the-art or critical monograph form of publication.
The results of this portion of the study can guide development of APTIC, both
as to priority in service development and in subject areas to be particularly
stressed.
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Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 - 19 -
26 April 1965
Users Without Direct Control Responsibilities
Both the interview phase and the mail survey yielded a number of thoughtful
and provocative responses from municipal officials, particularly those
involved in city planning, leaders of scientific and civic organizations, and
others who are concerned about air pollution problems. The mail responses
were usually in the form of the short questionnaire (Exhibit A 4 to Appendix A).
The five responses from city planning officials reflect an increasing awareness
of air pollution problems in planning. It was noted also that the professional
associations such as American Society of Planning Officials and American
Institute of Planners are giving increased attention to these aspects.
Representative replies to the two questions in the short form questionnaire
include:
My involvement with air pollution problems consists of
"Considering present and possible future air pollution, together
with possible methods of control, as one set of factors to be
considered in comprehensive planning for the urban physical
environment. "
"As director of a metropolitan agency concerned with compre-
hensive planning research which reconnoiters the
nature of the problem and its effects, aimed at eliciting
necessary public and political action to establish appropriate
legislation and programs. "
"Prohibiting expansion of industries which are objectionable
due to air pollution. "
The new Center could help serve my information needs by
"Serving as a centralized source concerning research and
operational programs in this field We note the real
paucity of information concerning the relationship of air
pollution to land use planning. "
"Providing information on:
1. Present and future rates of air pollution generation
related to population and land use
2. Prospects for, and adequacy of, air pollution control
techniques.
3. Performance standards and measurement techniques
applicable to land use control. "
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 - 20 -
26 April 1965
Almost without exception, planning and other municipal officials indicate
reliance on their local control agencies for technical information. One, for
instance, replies that the Center could help serve his needs by, "Having
information available to the Control District. "
Another theme which runs through these and other comments is the need for
educating and informing the general public, a point stressed by Haagen-Smit5
in a recent lecture. Other respondents commenting specifically on this
aspect included the executive secretary of a municipal Air Control League,
a university extension specialist, and an official of a local health association.
The work of the AAAS Commission on Atmospheric Conservation, and the
program of the Scientists' Institute for Public Information reflect the concern
of the community of scientists, in their capacities as citizens, for this
problem. The Center can provide valuable support to educational activities,
both private and governmental, as a source of basic technical information.
Congressional needs for air pollution information fall into two categories:
that required by committees for their legislative functions; and that
needed to reply to a variety of questions from constituents. Interviews with
senior staff members of the two committees dealing with air pollution legis-
lation indicate complete satisfaction with the established services of Public
Health Service liaison officials for legislative needs. Inquiries to individual
congressmen from constituents are usually referred to the Information and
Education Branch, Division of Air Pollution, for handling. In many cases
sending an existing publication is an appropriate reply. In others, specific
information must be obtained. The proper role for the Center appears to be
one of effective support to the responsible officials, rather than direct
participation.
Information Resources
The largest single body of identified air pollution technical information con-
sists of nearly 12, 000 references contained in the Technical Library of the
Bay Area Air Pollution Control District. Duplicate sets of index cards and
microfilms have been purchased by three State control agencies, one univer-
sity, and the Division of Air Pollution. These sets are updated semiannually
by the addition of newly indexed references.
The 6531 items in the APCA abstract series (as of March 1965) con-
stitute the next largest body. This resource has the advantages of wide
distribution and availability, and of providing abstracts as well as biblio-
graphic references. There is naturally a considerable degree of duplication
between this source and the Bay Area collection. However, preliminary
checks indicate that this is less than might have been anticipated.
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Contract PH 86-65-13 - 21 -
26 April 1965
Other major sources include Public Health Engineering Abstracts, the 2-
volume Air Pollution Bibliography prepared by the Library of Congress, and
specialized bibliographies such as the compilation on health effects, prepared
by the Kettering Laboratory.
The collections cited above constitute a basic resource from which the APTIC
"reservoir" of information can be assembled. The process involves identi-
fication of duplication, evaluation for inclusion, acquisition of text and/or
abstracts, and "deep-indexing" into the storage and retrieval system. It can
proceed concurrently with the acquisition of currently produced material and
the refinement and implementation of the retrieval system.
An important source of information relevant to air pollution problems is
provided by the major Federal document clearinghouses and associated
abstracting and announcement services. Survey results indicate that these
have not been fully utilized in the past. Such agencies include:
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
National Library of Agriculture (NLA)
Defense Documentation Center (DDC)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
Science Information Exchange (SIE)
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information
(CFSTI) -- Department of Commerce
Bibliographies (demand and retrospective), abstracts, indexes, and relevant
documents forwarded to the Center can contribute to an active acquisition
program for newly announced documents which might otherwise be missed.
A brief description of the scope and functions of each of these resources is
contained in Appendix F.
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Contract PH 86-65-13 - 22 -
26 April 1965
Implementation Recommendations
The first emphasis in developing the Air Pollution Technical Information
Center to a fully operational status must be on gaining early and adequate
cognizance of the air pollution literature, i. e., "to insure bibliographic
control and availability. " This involves:
• Expanding and strengthening the screening and acquisition channels.
• Completing the development of an effective information storage
and retrieval system.
• Indexing and incorporating current material as received.
• Evaluating and indexing selected material retrospectively.
In the screening and acquisition activity, both the previously existing chan-
nels and additional sources identified during the study should be systemati-
cally utilized and exploited. Particular attention should be given to iden-
tifying material relevant to air pollution in the general Federal announcement
services, previously noted. This can efficiently bring to the attention of the
air pollution community much information that might otherwise be buried in
the report literature, or not be readily identifiable in the medical literature.
At the same time, continuing attention must be given to insuring that reports
resulting from Public Health Service support, either by contract or by other
government agencies, are made available to the public through the
Clearinghouse for Scientific and Technical Information.
Effective access to the air pollution literature, in support of the services
which the APTIC should provide, will require a comprehensive information
storage and retrieval system. This will necessitate indexing to a consider-
ably greater depth than systems now in operation, as well as a degree of
automation appropriate to the size of the collection anticipated.
As the indexing and retrieval system is developed and refined, it can be
applied and tested in indexing and incorporating current material as received.
This will not only contribute to a practical system, but will also give an
early capability on current information.
Similarly, the references in present collections of air pollution information
must be reviewed for duplications, evaluated as to currently significant
content and selected items indexed and incorporated into the system.
The resulting store of information and the system for its retrieval and use
constitute the base upon which effective user services must be built. From
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Science Communication
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Contract PH 86-65-13 - 23 -
26 April 1965
the results of the user survey, it is concluded that the most desirable
services to be developed initially would include:
® Prompt announcement of new references via an accession list
or similar medium.
• Strengthening abstract services in terms of coverage, currency,
categorization and indexing.
« Providing "on demand" specialized search services, which
would yield either bibliographic compilations or specific infor-
mation, as required.
• Preparing, or arranging for the preparation of state-of-the-art
summaries or critical monograph publications in areas of
identified need.
In its acquisition, announcement, and summarization activities, the Center
should stress the subject areas for which there is the greatest demand, as
reflected by the topics listed in Appendixes D and E covering desired
services.
In all of its operations, the APTIC must be "service-oriented" and of clearly
professional caliber. An important element in achieving and maintaining
this orientation is frequent and continual contact between the professional
personnel of the Center and the users, as well as the producers, of air pol-
lution information. The experience of other specialized information centers6
underscores the importance of this point. Frequent field visits, to maintain
sensitivity to changing user needs, to make potential users aware of the
services such a center can provide, and to sustain and improve the flow of
information to the center, have been found to be critically important.
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Contract PH 86-65-13 - 24 -
26 April 1965
REFERENCES
1. Science, Government, and Information. A Report of the President's
Science Advisory Committee. Washington, D. C. , Government Printing
Office, 1963.
2. Documentation and Dissemination of Research and Development Results.
House of Representatives, Select Committee on Government Research.
Study Number IV. 1964. (Page 97)
3. A Quantitative Technique for Designing a Technical Information Center.
Myatt, D. O. and Upham, T. E. J. Chem. Doc. .1, 18 (1961).
4. A Guide to Antarctic Information Sources. Science Communication, Inc.
Science Communication, Inc. OTS PB 181156. 1962. Based on NSF
Contract C-214, "A Study of the Informational Resources and Require"
ments of the Antarctic Community. "
5. Public Apathy is Greatest Air Pollution Problem. Haagen-Smit, A. J,
Chem. & Eng. News. April 12, 1965. p. 99.
6. Dissemination of Information on Materials. Materials Advisory Board,
Division of Engineering and Industrial Research, National Research
Council. National Academy of Sciences--National Research Council,
Washington, D. C. 1964. (Pages ix, 21, 22. for example.)
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX A
Sampling and Survey Procedure
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX A
Sampling and Survey Procedure
The objective, in both the personal interview and the mail questionnaire
surveys, was to obtain a sufficient sample of each sub-population to give
confidence that the results adequately reflected the opinions of that group.
This, we believe, was achieved.
On the other hand, the proportional representation of each sub-population in
the total sample is not necessarily the proportion of that sub-group in the
total air pollution population. It is probable that the research group is some-
what over-represented due to high interest and a correspondingly high ratio
of response by addressees. The industrial and "civic"* groups are probably
under-represented in the total, because of a lower ratio of response.
In the final sample, the ratio of Air Pollution Control Association members
to non-members is approximately 60/40.
Sample Acquisition
Prospective participants for the interview phase were acquired through
discussions with Division of Air Pollution representatives, recommen-
dations of consultants, attendance at national meetings of the American
Chemical Society and American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and
referrals received during interviews.
Participants for the mail survey phase were acquired from:
Directory of Government Air Pollution Agencies (APCA)
(for State and local air pollution officials)
APCA Membership Directory
Public Health Service grantees and contractors
"Civic"- Individuals with air pollution interests but without direct tech-
nical responsibilities in air pollution control. Includes municipal
and county executives, planning and zoning officials, civic groups, etc.
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Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 A-ii
26 April 1965
Air Pollution committees of professional and trade associations
American Chemical Society
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American Institute of Planners
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Planning Officials ,
Automobile Manufacturers Association
Manufacturing Chemists Association
National Association of Counties
National Coal Association
National League of Cities
Rosters of Public Health Service personnel
Suggestions from Federal agencies with air pollution interests
Agricultural Research Service
Bureau of Mines
Department of Defense
Public Health Service
Weather Bureau
Suggestions obtained during individual interviews
Inquiries received in response to project announcements in journals
Survey Operations
As a preliminary step, a general announcement (Exhibit A 1) was sent to
representative air pollution publications and other related technical journals.
It was published in whole, or in part, by the following:
Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association
Air/Water Pollution Report
Environmental Health Letter
Prentice-Hall Executive Report
Science Information Notes (NSF)
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Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 A-iii
26 April 1965
Ten inquiries resulted from this announcement, including one from the
National Chemical Research Laboratory, Pretoria, South Africa.
In the interview phase, 70 interviews addressed primarily to information
usage were conducted, using an extensive check list developed in coop-
eration with the Division of Air Pollution. Those interviewed represented
the various categories of potential users, with emphasis on State and local
control agencies, research investigators, and industrial engineers and
officials responsible for plant engineering and operation from the stand-
point of pollution control.
An additional 46 interviews were conducted in connection with evaluation of
resources, securing leads for particular categories of potential recipients
of the mail questionnaire, and general problem discussions.
The mail questionnaire (Exhibit A 3) was developed, based on experience
gained in the interviews. It is similar to the interview check list, but
represents a considerable condensation and refinement.
By transmittal letter (Exhibit A 2), questionnaires were sent to 445 addres-
sees, selected from the sources listed above. An extra copy was enclosed,
for retention for reference, or for passing on to another interested indi-
vidual in the same organization. About 50 of the 228 questionnaires
returned appear to have originated via referral by the original addressee.
For those tentatively classified as "Civic" (see breakdown below) an
alternate short form (Exhibit A 4) was provided, encouraging general com-
ments if the recipient felt that the full questionnaire was not well suited to
describing his situation. Thirteen of the responses were in this or a
similar form.
In the first three weeks following the initial distribution, 154 responses were
received. A follow-up return postcard (Exhibit A 5) was then sent to all who
had not previously replied. This ultimately brought in an additional 92
questionnaires, as well as several requests for another copy in lieu of one mis-
placed. In addition, 37 of the original addressees replied that their current
involvement in air pollution problems was not such as to require specific
technical information. Of these, about one-third were research workers whose
interests were peripheral or who were no longer engaged in air pollution
projects, and one-third were either local government officials whose air
pollution responsibilities are minimal, or technicians primarily engaged in
routine sampling and inspection. The remainder assigned a variety of
miscellaneous reasons.
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Contract PH 86-65-13 A-iv
26 April 1965
As questionnaires were returned the results were transcribed to specially-
designed edge-notched cards (Exhibit A 6). These were later code-punched
to facilitate analysis and comparison.
The final results are summarized as follows:
Survey interviews 70
General interviews 46
Questionnaires mailed 445 addressees
Questionnaire responses
Full questionnaires 228
Short comments 13
No current requirement 37
The short-comment responses comprised:
Planning officials 5
Civic groups 3
State and local air pollution control 5
officials
13
The respondents who submitted full questionnaires are categorized, based
on their organizational affiliations, reported functions and interests, and
research disciplines on pages 6-7 of the report.
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Science Ccmmunlc.ticn
Washington, O. C.
Technical Information Needs of Air Pollution Workers to be Studied
A comprehensive survey of technical information requirements and
resources in the field of air pollution prevention and control has been started
by Science Communication, Inc. , under a contract from the Division of Air
Pollution, U. S. Public Health Service. Science Communication is a Wash-
ington-based consulting organization specializing in studies of the communi-
cation and use of scientific and technical information.
The survey, combining personal interview and questionnaire techniques
will identify the particular information requirements and information use
patterns of the various groups concerned with air pollution control. These
include scientists and engineers engaged in basic and applied research;
control "practitioners"--in industrial organizations and in Federal, state,
district, and municipal units; public administrators and legislators--Federal,
state, and local; and technical societies and trade associations with interests
in air pollution problems.
Concurrently, the study will provide a comprehensive inventory and
characterization of information resources in the air pollution field, looking
toward the supplementing of these resources where the need is evident.
Workers with special technical information needs or problems in the
air pollution field are encouraged to communicate with the Project. Corres-
pondence should be addressed to Air Pollution Information Project, c/o
Science Communication, Inc., 1079 Wisconsin Avenue, N, W. , Washington,
D. C. , 200 07.
The project is part of the program carrying out the air pollution in-
formation responsibilities of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
assigned in January of this year by the Office of Science and Technology,
Executive Office of the President. Under this assignment, the Department
will collect data and information from both government and non-government
facilities significantly involved in air pollution research, and will organize
this information, consolidate it, and provide state-of-the-art summaries.
The service will be available to industry and the public as well as to other
government agencies.
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EXHIBIT A2
(SO)
Science Communication, Inc.
Washington. D. C. 20007 Tel. FEderal 3-1343 1O79
Wisconsin
Avenue, N.W.
What technical information do you use in your air pollution work?
What additional information would you use if you could obtain it at reasonable
cost and effort?
To serve your needs most effectively, how should the new Air Pollution Tech-
nical Information Center be designed and operated?
Science Communication, Inc. has been commissioned by the Division of Air
Pollution, U.S. Public Health Service to conduct a user study to develop
answers to those questions. Concurrently we are to inventory and characterize
the principal information resources already serving the air pollution field.
The Center will bear the responsibility within the Federal Government for
scientific information relating to air pollution prevention and control. Informa-
tion from both government and non-government sources will be organized and
consolidated. State-of-the-art reviews and similar summary studies will be
developed as found useful. The service will be available to private and govern-
ment organizations, technical groups and individuals, and the public.
Your candid answers to the enclosed check list will help create a service
equipped with practical resources for meeting the working needs of individual
users. Your reply also will help assure that the special needs of your own
field are known while the service design is being developed. Because air
pollution concerns many fields and specialties, this second factor has required
a list of some length. However, we believe you can readily and rather rapidly
identify the portions bearing on your own interests, and relate them to the
question of service design.
We suggest you treat this inquiry on a "do it and get rid of it" basis. Partial
replies will be used and thankfully received! A second copy is enclosed for
forwarding to another interested professional in your organization, or for your
own retention. Thank you for your contribution to the project.
Sincerely,
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, INC.
Victor C. Searle
Principal Investigator
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C. 200 07
EXHIBIT A3
Budget Bureau No. 68-6457
Approval Expires 6/3/65
Contract PH 86-65-13
AIR POLLUTION TECHNICAL INFORMATION SURVEY
User Checklist
Name
Date
Organization-
Address
Position Title.
My Formal Education
Highest degree
Year
Major Subject_
My Employment in Air Pollution Related Activities
With present organization_ years.
Prior to present organization years.
Membership in Professional Societies or Trade Associations with Air Pollution Interests
My Personal Work in Air Pollution Concerns:
(Please circle all appropriate items and specify where needed)
Industrial:
(Industry)
Control Agencies:
Research:
Technical Services:
Control Equipment:
Administration or Legal:
Other Topics or Activities:
Management
Surveillance
Basic
Education
Development
Legislation
Engineering
Inspection
Applied
Training
Design
Planning
Operations
Enforcement
(disciplines or fields)
Technical Assistance
Application
Zoning
If your air pollution activities are almost entirely related to specific effluents, please list them here:
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
I Use Air Pollution-Related Specialized Technical Information of the Following Nature:
Relative Importance Ease of Obtaining
Generally Diffi-
High Moderate Little Easy Varies cult
1. Pollution Measurement Methods
a. Sampling
Comments
b. Analysis
Comments
c. Monitoring
Comments _
2. Pollution Effects On:
a. Human Health
Comments
b. Materials, e.g. soiling, corrosion
Comments
c. Plants
Comments .
d. Animals
Comments
e. Visibility
Comments
3. Standards
a. Ambient Air
Comments __
b. Emission
Comments
4. Economic Losses
C o mm e nt s
5. Atmospheric Reactions
Comments
G. Applied Meteorology
Comments
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
I Use Air Pollution-Related Technical
Information of the Following Nature:
Relative Importance
High iModerate Little
Ease of Obtaining
Generally Diffi-
Easy Varies cult
7. Radioactivity
Comments
8. Legal Aspects
Comments
9. Planning and Zoning
Comments
10. Other (Specify)_
My Information SOURCES Are;
Relative Importance
High Moderate Little
Purpose
Current Specific
Awareness Information
A. Personal Contacts
1. Air Pollution Meetings, Conferences,
Symposia
Comments
2 . Individual Technical Specialists
a. Within my organization
b. Consultants
c. Others outside my organization
Comments
B. Primary Publications, Reports, and Documents
1. Journals (specify)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Comments
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
My Information SOURCES Are:
Purpose
Relative Importance
Current Specific
High Moderate Little Awareness Information
2. Government Agency Technical Reports
a. ,, Public Health Service
Comments
b. Other Federal Agencies (specify)
o. State and Local Agencies (specify)
3. Ordinances, Decisions, and other Legal Documents
Comments
4. Other
C. Specialized Abstracts, Indexes or
Information Center Services
1. Air Poll. Control Assoc. Abstracts
Comments
2. Index Medicus
Comments
3. Public Health Engineering Abstracts
Comments
4. Bay Area Air Poll. Tech. Info. Library
Comments
5. Chemical Abstracts
Comments
6. Government Research Reports (Abstracts)
(Office of Technical Services)
Comments
7. Nuclear Science Abstracts (AEC)
Comments
_ 4 -
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Relative Importance Purpose
My Information SOURCES Are: Current Specific
High Moderate Little Awareness. Information
8. Scientific & Tech. Aerospace Reports
(NASA) ___ __
Comments "
Technical Abstract Bulletin
(Defense Documentation Center)
Comments
10. Other (Specify)_
D. My Own Reference Files
fj I do not keep a personal reference file
Q I keep a personal reference file
n It is indexed
Brief description of my index system:
FOLLOWING ARE MY ESTIMATES OF THE USEFULNESS--TO ME--of new or expanded services which
might be provided by an Air Pollution Technical Information Center:
(Please circle to indicate rating)
A - Highly desirable
C - More desirable than means now available to me
F - Less desirable than means now available to me
Desirability
1. Accession lists (titles, etc. , of documents acquired by the Center)
issued every ( ) week(s). A C F
2. Abstract bulletins, issued every ( ) month(s). A C F
Q The present Air Pollution Control Association Abstracts are satisfactory
for my purposes
OR
Q They would serve me better if they had:
a. Greater coverage of topics in
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Science Communication
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Desirability
b. l~~l More detailed categorization as published.
c. O More detailed cumulative indexing.
d. CD Index terms, keywords, or descriptors printed along with
the Abstracts.
Comments
3. State-of-the-art reviews.
Periodically, every ( ) month(s).
Critical monographs, as warranted.
Suggested topics
A C F
A C F
4. Technical newsletter, issued every ( ) month(s).
Suggested emphasis
A C F
5. Data compilations
Subject areas
A C F
6. Bibliography compilations on request, on topics I specify.
7. Professional-technical specialist services on request.
AC F
A C F
OTHER SERVICES OR FACTORS THAT WOULD HELP ME meet my technical information needs
in my air pollution work:
-6-
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Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Desirability
SERVICES SUCH AS THOSE DESCRIBED, have the following relative value for me, assuming they:
1. Are "customized" to a subject interest profile I had supplied. A C F
2. Are general, spanning across the field of air pollution. A C F
(If your preference varies with the type of service, please comment:)
WHEN I HAVE A SPECIFIC NEED FOR INFORMATION I MUST obtain from others, I need it:
/
1. The same hour, in % of the instances
2. The same day, in % of the instances
3. In a week or 10 days in % of the instances;
4. No deadline problem in % of the instances.
IN SUMMARY, the technical information significantly useful for my air pollution work is generally:
Q Easy to obtain.
Q Not easy to obtain.
Q Available, but I have special problems with some of it.
(Please add any further comments that will contribute usefully to this inquiry. Thank you!)
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EXHIBIT A4
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Note to Civic Officials. Planners and Citizens' Groups
As you will see, the enclosed check list was designed for a person whose major
activities are directly concerned with air pollution problems. We hope, of
course, that you will answer all the applicable questions in it even though your
specialized needs may be small.
However, if the list may not be well suited to describing your situation, would
you simply fill out the attached self-characterization sheet and give us your
comments below?
My involvement with air pollution consists of:
The new Center could help serve my information needs by:
(If you can pass on the full questionnaire to someone more directly involved,
please indicate his name and position below.)
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Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
EXHIBIT A5
FOLLOW-UP POST CARDS
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE AIR POLLUTION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION SURVEY
We are now compiling and evaluating the check-lists from
survey participants.
The response to date has been gratifying and informative,
but for statistical validity and proper representation of
your specialty, we need your report for our final analysis.
Could you advise, via the attached card? Thanks,
r.
AIR POLLUTION TECHNICAL INFORMATION STUDY
I returned my check-list about
or
I expect to return it about ,
or
My association with air pollution problems, which is
does not require specific technical information.
Signed
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c-i js-z
61 | OZ
0-7 JS'i
7-SF d-a
2-SF 1-0
/•
7 6 | 5 4 1 3 1 2 1 ' •
EXHIBIT A3
Sources
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
1Z | ZZ
B3 Ord /
B4 (
Cl i
2 I
3 I
)ther /
IPA /
M /
3HEA /
4 BAL /
5 CA /
6 GRR /
7 NSA /
8 STAR /
9 TAB /
10 Other /
EZ 1 >Z
I Z t i
KO-53
SZ | 9Z | a \ 8Z
1 I Z t i
!B
!••
tl
!-•
^
*L, A
•« 1BF
?»•
^«
1:
~iK ~
i
-------
Desires
1. Ace. wk.
2. Abs. mo.
CSK 1 1 T3ot 1 1
ur>.|_j .pei.| |
A.
b.Q c.n d-D
3. SOAR mo.
Crit. Mon.
4. Tech. NL mo.
5. Data Comp.
6. Bibliography
7. Prof. Search
Relative Value
Res. Gen.
Time
Hr. % Day %
Wk. % ND %
Summary
E D
NVE 1 1
Ahnt 1 1
-------
8ol*nc« Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX B
Specialized Air Pollution Subject Interests
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX B
Specialized Air Pollution Subject Interests
In assessing "relative importance" in their work, and "difficulty of obtaining"
information on selected specialized air pollution subjects, participants rated
each of these factors on three levels. These, together with the weights used
in analysis are:
Relative Importance Weight
High 4
Moderate 2
Little 1
Difficulty of Obtaining Weight
Difficult 4
Varies 2
Easy 1
Consideration was given to scoring a "No answer" as "0", but variations in the
proportions answering on different subjects and from different sub-populations
tended to obscure the "importance" and "difficulty" opinions reported by
those who replied. Therefore, the averages shown in Exhibit B-l reflect
only those who answered on the particular subject. As a secondary indication
of importance to a given sub-population., the percentages answering are also
shown.
Respondents indicating the importance of a subject as "little" and also indi-
cating a "difficulty" rating are assumed to make some use of the subject and
are included in the scoring. On the other hand, those who reported a "little"
rating unaccompanied by a "difficulty" rating on a series of subjects are
assumed to make no use of these subjects and are omitted from the averages.
As a general trend, a low percentage of response is accompanied by a low
importance rating by those who did respond. Ratings where the response is
less than 50%, particularly for the smaller sub-populations, should be
regarded as merely indicative, because of the small number represented.
As an aid to interpretation, typical examples of averages derived from a
range of response patterns would be:
Importance / Difficulty
High/Difficult
Moderate /Varies
Little/Easy
Weighted Average
75%
25
--
3. 5
60%
20
20
3.0
49%
30
30
2.5
20%
40
40
2.0
5%
35
60
1. 5
-------
SPECIALIZED AIR POLLUTION SUBJECT INTERESTS
(Weighted Averages)
EXHIBIT B-l
Imp = Importance
Rating
% = Percent
Answering
Dif = Difficulty
Rating
Number in Group
Sampling
Methods
Analysis
Methods
Monitoring
Methods
Human Health
Effects
Effects on
Materials
Effects on
Plants
Effects on
Animals
Effects on
Visibility
Ambient air
Standards
Emission
Standards
Economic
Losses
Atmospheric
Reactions
Applied
Meteorology
Radioactivity
Legal
Aspects
Planning and
Zoning
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
gf
70
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
Imp
%
Dif
GOVERNMENTAL
State &
Local
Agencies
61
.Imp % Dif
3.4
95
1.8
2.9
89
1. 9
3.0
79
1. 9
3. 1
97
2. 7
2.8
91
2. 4
2.3
81
2.2
2. 0
77
2.4
2.4
87
2. 3
3. 1
89
2.8
3.5
90
2. 7
2. 5
78
2. 9
2.2
81
2. 9
2.8
78
2.4
1.7
87
1. 7
2.7
78
2. 5
2.4
71
2. 3
PHS -
Tech.
Assist.
18
Imp % Dif
3. 4
100
1.8
2. 8
100
2. 1
3.2
100
2. 0
2.6
100
3. 1
2.4
100
2. 7
2. 1
94
2.4
2.0
94
2. 6
1. 9
100
2. 3
3.2
94
3. 1
2.9
94
2. £
2.3
94
3. 1
2.0
88
2,. 7
2. 6
100
2.i
1. 7
71
2.4
2.9
82
2. 3
2. 1
88
2. 7
INDUSTRIAL
Control
26
Imp|%|Dif
2.6
77
1.9
2. 3
73
2. 0
2.6
73
2.0
3. 1
81
2. 5
2.4
54
2. 7
2.4
63
2.4
2. 3
45
2. 5
2. 1
54
1. 9
3. 1
78
2. 9
2.6
88
2. 1
2. 3
63
2. 9
2.1
54
2. 9
2.7
65
2. 3
1.8
19
2.8
2.8
61
2. 1
2. 0
42
2.2
Equip-
ment
18
Imp % Dif
3. 1
94
1.7
3.4
94
1. 9
2.3
50
1.8
1. 9
39
2.3
2.4
39
2. 7
1. 3
39
1. 7
1.3
39
2. 0
2. 5
45
2.6
2. 1
53
2. 3
4.0
95
1. 9
2. 6
50
2. 3
2. 9
61
2.4
1.4
45
2. 5
1.4
50
2.2
2. 1
78
1. 8
2.0
39
1. 7
RESEARCH
PHS
19
Imp % Dif
2.9
84
1.7
3. 0
84
2. 0
2.7
47
1. 7
2.8
84
2.3
1.4
37
1. 9
2.0
37
1. 5
2.7
74
1. 9
1. 9
39
2.0
2.8
72
2.4
3.2 '
68
2. 0
1.8
47
2.9
2.9
58
2. 3
1.7
33
1. 7
1.4
28
1.8
1.7-
17
1. 7
1.3
17
1.3
Other
Govt.
Agencies
16
Imp % Dif
3. 1
75
2.0
3.2
75
2.4
3.0
63
2.2
2.7
56
2.4
2. 1
44
2. 6
2.8
69
2.4
2.3
44
2.9
1.9
56
1. 6
3.3
62
2.7
3. 5
63
2. 7
2.4
63
3.0
2.8
75
2.4
3. 1
56
1. 7
4.0
37
1.8
2.8
37
2.2
2. 5
37
1. 8
Univer-
sities
37
Imp °/c Dif
3. 1
81
1.9
3. 1
80
1.8
2.9
61
2. 1
3. 1
68
2. 3
2.8
45
2. 1
2.9
69
1. 6
2. 5
51
2. 1
2.4
46
2.8
3.3
67
2. 3
3. 1
49
2. 1
3.0
63
3.2
3,1
66
2.2
2. 6
67
2.4
1. 9
35
1.8
1.9
36
2.4
2. 1
39
3.2
Institutes
26
Imp| % Dif
3. 3
96
1.8
3. 1
83
1.8
2.6
83
1.6
2.7
88
2.0
2.2
71
2.2
2.3
67
2. 3
1. 9
58
2.3
2.4
54
2. 3
3.2
78
2. 1
3.4
.7,1
1.9
1. 6
54
3.*
2.8
67
2. 1
2.8
71
2.0
2.3
44
1.7
1.8
46
2.4
1.7
42
3.0
-------
Science Comrtiiinlcation
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX C
Information Sources Used by Respondents
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX C
Information Sources Used by Respondents
Journals
A total of 100 primary journals were listed by the 228 respondents submit-
ting questionnaires. The ten most frequently mentioned are shown on page
10 of the report. A complete listing of the primary journals, with frequency,
is given in Exhibit C-l. The ranking of the highest ten is included paren-
thetically. Publications of State and local control agencies are omitted,
since in many instances they were not indicated by name.
Disciplinary abstract journals mentioned by the respondents in addition to
Chemical Abstracts include:
Analytical Abstracts Fuel Abstracts
Biological Abstracts Meteorological Abstracts
Current Contents Review of Applied Mycology
Forestry Abstracts
Other Information Sources
In reporting on personal contacts, Government publications, and specialized
abstract services the respondents rated each potential source as of "high",
moderate", or "little" importance in their own work. In order to reflect
both the degree of importance and the number sufficiently concerned to express
an evaluation, weights were assigned as follows:
Rating Weight
High importance 4
Moderate importance 2
Little importance 1
No Answer 0
Weighted average scores were then computed in each case as a. basis for
comparison among sub-populations and between different information sources.
Scores are tabulated in Exhibit C-2.
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 C-ii
26 April 1965
Typical examples of averages derived from a range of response patterns
would be:
Importance
High 75% 60% 45% 30% 15% 10%
Moderate 25 25 25 30 30 20
Little -- 10 20 20 30 20
No Answer -- 5 10 20 25 50
Weighted Average 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
JOURNAL
Air in the News
Air Repair
Air Engineering (4)
Air/Water News
Air/Water Pollution Report (8)
American City
American Engineer
American Industrial Hygiene
Association Journal (3)
American Journal of Botany
American Journal of Pathology
American Journal of Public Health
American Review of Respiratory
Diseases
American Society for Testing
Materials Bulletin
American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, Transactions
American Society of Planning
Officials
Analytical Chemistry (6)
Archives of Biochemical
Biophysics
Archives of Environmental Health
AMA (9)
EXHIBIT C-l
Frequency
7
1
34
1
8) 17
2
1
37
1
& 2
lealth 8
JOURNAL Frequency
Archives of Industrial Hygiene
and Occupational Medicine
Archives of Pathology
ASHRAE Journal
Automotive Industries
Botanical Gazette
British Chemical Engineering (Brit.)
British Medical Journal (Brit.)
Canadian Journal of Biochemistry
(Canada)
Cancer Research
Chemical Engineering (5)
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
25
23
1
18
Chemical and Engineering News 10
Chemical Engineering Progress (10) 11
Chemical Week 6
Coal 3
Coal Age
Combustion
Combustion/Flame
Compost Science
Contamination Control
Diseases of Chest
1
5
1
1
10
3
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
EXHIBIT C-l
JOURNAL
Frequency
JOURNAL
Frequency
Electroencephalography and Clinical
Neurophysiology 1
Energie (Germany) 1
Engineering News Record 1
Environmental Health Letter 1
Experimental Cell Research 1
Fueloil and Oil Heat 1
Health Physics 5
Industrial and Engineering
Chemistry (7) 19
Industrial Hygiene Digest 2
Industrial Water and Wastes 1
Instrument Society of America,
Journal 1
International Journal of Air and
Water Pollution (2) 38
Iron Steel Engineering 1
Journal of Air Pollution Control
Association (1) 177
Journal of the American Chemical
Society 5
Journal of the American Medical
Association 3
Journal of Applied Chemistry
(USSR) 1
Journal of Applied Meteorology 9
Journal of Atmospheric Sciences 7
Journal of Biological Chemistry 3
Journal of Chemical Physics 3
Journal of Chromatography (Holland) 1
Journal of Colloid Science 3
Journal of Gas Chromatography 3
Journal of Geophysical Research 2
Journal of Industrial Hygiene
Quarterly 1
Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 1
Journal of Institute of Fuel (Brit.) 2
Journal of Optical Society of
America 1
Journal of Pharmacology and
Experimental Therapeutics 1
Journal of Physical Chemistry 3
Journal of Public Hygiene 1
Journal of Sanitary Division,
American Society of Civil
Engineers 3
Journal of Scientific Instru-
mentation (Brit.) 1
Lancet (Brit.) 1
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
JOURNAL Frequency
Machine Design
Mechanical Engineering
Micro chemical Journal
Mining Engineering
Nucleonics
Pharmocologic Review
Physiological Reviews
Phytopathology
Plant Disease Reporter
Plant Physiology
Power
Proceedings, American Pet-
roleum Institute 1
Proceedings, American Society
for Horticultural Science 1
Proceedings, Federation of
American Societies for Experi-
mental Biology 2
Public Health Reports 4
Public Works 2
Quarterly Journal of Royal
Meteorological Society (Brit.) 3
Radiological Health Data 2
Science 10
JOURNAL
EXHIBIT C- 1
Frequency
1
6
1
1
2
1
1
10
2
5
9
Sewage and Industrial Waste
Disposal
Smokeless Air (Brit. )
Society of Automotive Engineers,
Journal
Staub (Germany)
Technical Association of Pulp and
Paper Industrial Journal
Tellus (Sweden)
Thorax (Brit.)
Toxicology and Applied Pharma~
cology
1
1
3
6
1
1
1
1
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
EXHIBIT C-2
INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY RESPONDENTS
i
1
Personal Contacts
Air Poll. Meetings, Etc.
!
| Specialists
i
] Within Organization
Consultants
I
1 Others Outside
j Government Reports
1
I Public Health Service
1
/
i Other Federal Agencies
State and Local Agencies
Specialized Abstracts,
Indexes, etc.
| APCA Abstracts
\ Index Medicus
; Public Health Eng. Absts.
: Chemical Abstracts
;
U.S. Govt. Res. Repts.
' STAR-NSA-TAB
1 ....
(Weighted Averages)
Govt. | Industrial
L
" 8 1 is
fll U >• C
i "2 F-H S '< _, ®
r S " ro s Ti fl
TO H-> J O C
.. r-j ' CQ { tl Q,
O CO __ -rH
+* o JQ ra
^2o W ra
2.6 3.0
'
2.2 3.7
1.7 1.6
2.2 1.6
3.3 3.8
0.9 1.4
1.8 1.4
2.9 3.2
0.3 0.5
1.7 1.4
4J •;-!
, C! 3
i 0 O1
' 0 W
2.3 3.2
1.6 2.1
1.2 1.3
1.5 1.6
2.0 2.2
0.9 0.3
0.9 1.1
2.6 3.1
0.1 0.1
0.5 0.4
0.7 1.0 0.4 0.2
1.0 0.5 ': 0.6 0.8
0. 5 0. 5 j 0. 5 1. 3
Research j
: g f
i O 03 S W
i 2« S : 1
! .
i ' 1
i :
i |
2.3 2. 1 2.4 . 2.5
i
! 2.8 2.6 1.8 ; 2.2
i 1.0 1.6 1.0 1.2
;
! 2.2 2.3 2.0 2.4
!
:
'
i
2.8 2.7 2,4 2. 1
•
; 0.7 2.0 0.8 0..3
0.9 0.8 1.0 0.0
2.8 2.6 3..0 3.1
0.9 0.0 0.6 0.4
1.2 0.4 1.1 0.5
i
1.8 0.9 2. 5 ' 2.0
1.3 0.5 1.2 0.9
0. 5 0.8 0. 5 : 0.7
-------
Sol«ho* Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX D
Abstract Service Suggestions
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX D
Abstract Service Suggestions
The expressed desires on frequency of issue of abstract bulletins divide:
Monthly 51%
Bimonthly 13%
Quarterly 27%
Semiannually 8%
Annually 1 %
While it is a minority preference, the 40% acceptance of the 2-3 month
interval was unexpected, in view of criticism of delay in receiving current
information. Two possible factors may explain this response. First, there
may be a feeling that lags are inherent in abstract preparation and publi-
cation, and a dissemination schedule involving an additional one or two
months delay for some item is of little real consequence. Second, some of
the answers may have been in anticipation of establishment of an accession
list or technical newsletter service to fulfill the "current awareness"
function, with abstracts then becoming more of a "look-up" reference tool.
More detailed categorization of the abstracts as published is rated as
desirable by 13% of the respondents. Comments indicate that this is
related to ease of scanning for current awareness, particularly for indi-
viduals with specialized interests. In addition it has implications in
retrospective search for specific information.
Sixteen percent recommend more detailed cumulative indexing than the APCA
Abstracts now provide. This again is consistent with comments on diffi-
culties in locating specific information, or all relevant information, with
assurance.
A total of 18% of all respondents desire index terms, keywords, or de-
scriptors to be printed along with the abstracts. This question was included
to evaluate the impression received from several comments concerning
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 D-ii
26 April 1965
indexing problems in maintaining personal files. Responses broken down
by categories were:
74% of respondents maintain personal reference files
61. 5% of these are indexed by various systems
18. 5% of those with indexed files ask for index-term
publication.
38. 5% are not indexed
12. 5% of these respondents ask for index-term publication.
26% of respondents do not report personal files, but;
24% of them ask for index-term publication.
In addition to the utility of terms in indexing personal files, some of the
responses may reflect use of the terms in facilitating scanning, or in the
case of those not maintaining files, value of the terms in indexing and
retrieval by library facilities within their agencies.
Among subjects in which greater abstract coverage is desired, control
equipment installation and application is the most frequently cited. It is
mentioned by 19 out of the 75 respondents who recommend greater coverage.
Those listing this subject comprise about one-sixth of each of the following
groups: State and local agencies, technical assistance, and industrial.
Typical entries include:
"Practical control applications"
"Effectiveness of specific installations"
"Engineering details"
"Abatement devices"
"Control techniques for specific sources"
Next most frequently requested is control testing methods - sampling,
monitoring, and analytical techniques and instrumentation. This is
mentioned by 14, again predominantly from State and local agencies.
Health and medical effects is cited by 8, primarily from the research groups
but including 2 State and local respondents. In addition, more basic bio-
medical coverage is requested in terms of respiratory pathology (2), toxi-
cology of pollutants, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and "biosciences"
(1 each).
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 D-ii
26 April 1965
Emission standards are mentioned by 4 State and local and one industrial
control respondent.
Greater coverage of plant and agricultural subjects is desired by 5, with
2 of these stressing plant biochemistry.
Planning and zoning, including the effects of air pollution on land use, is
cited by 2.
Seven emphasize greater coverage of foreign work, especially control
applications. This is consistent with frequent comments received during
the interview phase and in other sections of the questionnaire concerning
the difficulty in keeping up with foreign work.
Other subjects, mentioned once each, are:
Aerosols and particulates Foundry emissions
Combustion effects Instrumental analysis
Economics Meteorology
Effects on animals Organic analysis
Effects on materials Regional problems
Equilibrium and kinetic data Separation of organics
Field surveys
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX E
Summary Publication Desires
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX E
Summary Publications
To provide guidance in developing the re view-evaluation function of the Center,
respondents were asked to rate the desirability of four types of summary
publications:
Periodic state-of-the art reviews
Critical monographs, as warranted
Technical newsletters
Data compilations
They were also asked to suggest subjects for coverage (or emphasis, in the
case of the technical newsletter) as well as frequency of issue for state-of-the-
art reviews and for a newsletter.
Reviews and Monographs
In scope and format, this type of publication ranges from a periodically-
recurring recapitulation of new literature of interest to a sector of a field, to
a critical review and analysis of a major technique or area of developing
knowledge at a definitive point in its history. The biennial review of air pollution
analytical developments in Analytical Chemistry is an example of the first;
"Photochemistry of Atmospheric Pollution, " by Leighton, illustrates the second.
Another type is represented by the reviews of the pulp and paper industry and
the iron and steel industry in the Environmental Health series, published by
the PHS Sanitary Engineering Center.
Frequency-of-issue suggestions for state-of-the-art reviews divide as follows;
1-2 months 22%
3-5 (mostly 3) 24%
6-12 51%
24-26 3%
Reviews, in the sense defined, would appear to be impractical at intervals of
less than 6 months, with annual issue preferable. Subjects suggested by a
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PH 86-65-13 Appendix E-ii
26 April 1965
number of respondents who indicated the greater frequency would be more
suitable for the technical newsletter discussed below.
Subjects suggested for reviews and monographs are grouped as follows:
(Parenthetical numbers indicate frequency of citation. )
Sampling and Analysis
Sampling and analysis (3)
Analytical methods (4)
Sampling equipment and techniques (3)
New or improved methods in fields such as
chromatography, automatic sampling, etc. (1)
Monitoring
Equipment, automatic instrumentation,
standards, performance evaluation (3)
Planning automatic and manual networks (2)
Data reduction techniques, survey evaluation (2)
Pollutants
Sulfur dioxide - sources, levels, effects, prevention (3)
Sulfur oxides (2)
Nitrogen oxides (2)
Carbon oxides, ozone, hydrocarbons, lead,
particulates (1 each)
Effects
Vegetation, crops, trees (9)
Human health (4)
categorized by pollutants (2)
Materials (3)
Animals (1)
Economic losses (2)
Control Equipment
Particle removal equipment, e. g. , scrubbers,
precipitators, etc. (4)
Efficiencies vs. various sources (2)
Research and development on new equipment and
processes (2)
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PHS 86-65-13 Appendix E-iii
26 April 1965
Control of Emissions from Specific Processes
Methods and equipment (3)
Incinerators (3)
Chemical processes (1)
Coal power plants (1)
Emissions from various sources; cupolas,
non-ferrous foundries, oil burners (4)
Auto exhaust review (2)
Odor measurement and control (2)
Fluoride emissions (1)
Meteorology
Theoretical and applied (3)
Diffusion and transport of effluents (5)
Research and Theoretical
Aerosol research,sampling, analysis (2)
Atmospheric chemistry, photochemistry, of
air pollution (5)
Reaction rates, constants (2)
Standards
Ambient air (3)
Community (3)
Emission (3)
Miscellanous
New legislation (1)
New programs - city and state (1)
Technical Newsletters
A technical newsletter is essentially a "current awareness" medium, announcing
new technical developments and activities.
Suggestions on frequency of issue divide:
Monthly 51%
2-3 months 39%
4-6 mdnth,; 10%
-------
Science Communication
Washington, D. C.
Contract PHS 86-65-13 Appendix E-iv
26 April 1965
Technical areas suggested for emphasis include:
Development of Control Methods and Equipment
New developments (9), phrased as:
"New control developments - procedures, equipment processes"
"Summary of developments, new techniques, etc. "
"Advances in methods of control"
"Latest control methods"
Applications (7)
"Controls installed - costs, effectiveness"
"Source control methods and equipment"
"Factual information from finders of specific control equipment"
"Specific adequate controls"
"Particularly successful applications"
"Solved problems, pushing back frontiers of unsolved problems"
Research Fields
Health (3)
"Health effects"
"Health effects being studied, epidemiological findings"
"Research in biomedical field"
Atmospheric chemistry (2)
Relation to meteorology (1)
Life cycles of pollutants (1)
Industrial emissions and controls (2)
Measurement (2)
"Measurement data and means"
"Mass data handling techniques"
Auto exhaust control (4)
Measurement, Sampling and Analysis
Sampling and analysis (3)
"Collection techniques"
"New or improved instruments"
"New or improved analytical methods"
Measurement (2)
"Measurement data and means"
"Mass data handling techniques"
Standards
Standards adopted (3)
Emission standards, criteria (2)
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Contract PHS 86-65-13 Appendix E-v
26 April 1965
Current Activities
"Current activities of various workers" (2)
"Projects at various laboratories, with recent developments" (2)
"State and local developments in air pollution activities" (1)
"Progress on government-sponsored projects" (1)
"Control district research projects" (1)
"Air pollution activities in industry" (1)
Legal and Administrative
"Current legislation" (5)
"New regulations" (2)
'legal requirements" (1)
"National trends" (1)
General suggestions include:
"Technical results not suitable for a full paper, or in advance
of formal publication. "
"Conferences and technical meetings partly or wholly related to
air pollution, scheduled for the next 3 months. "
"Rotate monthly on effects of specific contaminants all for faster
output of information - perhaps like Science. "
Data Compilations
As noted in the survey report (p, 17) many of the subjects suggested for data
compilations are more appropriate for inclusion in reviews or monographs.
The subjects listed for reviews cover these adequately. The remaining
subjects, appropriate for data compilations, fall into five general groups:
Air Quality Measurements
"Ambient air quality"
"Long-term data - urban areas and isolated industrial
locations"
"Dust fall records"
"Air monitoring reports and analyses of data"
Emissions
"Emission rates from various sources"
"Composition of emissions from sources in large
metropolitan areas"
"Dust emissions - weight, composition, particle sizes"
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26 April 1965
Health Effects
"Toxicity"
"Threshold limits"
"Odor threshold limits"
Theoretical
"Reaction kinetics"
"Reaction mechanisms"
"Rate constants"
"Equilibrium (phase) data"
Industrial
"Riant locations (by industry), production figures,
fuel usage"
"Emission factors related to horsepower requivalent,
or value added by manufacture"
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Contract PH 86-65-13
APPENDIX F
Information Resource Descriptions
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Contract PH 86-65-13
26 April 1965
APPENDIX F
Information Resource Descriptions
In addition to the journal and abstract literature discussed in Appendix C,
two broad categories of air pollution information resources exist--those
which are specialized in the field, and those which are general in coverage
but contain significant amounts of information related to air pollution.
Most of them are both "reservoirs" of previously-published information and
continuing sources of currently-published information. Brief descriptions
of each follow.
Specialized Resources
APCA Abstracts
This series, supported by the Division of Air Pollution, is published as a
monthly supplement to the Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association.
In addition to the membership of the Association, it is sent to some 800
addressees specified by the Division. The Association prepares abstracts
of papers in English language journals, primarily in the physical science
and engineering fields. Under a separate contract the Library of Congress
covers the health and agricultural effects of air pollution as well as the
non-English air pollution literature generally. These abstracts, identified
by the symbol "LC", are published in the APCA series.
Cumulative subject indexes, author indexes, and journal lists are published
annually. The 6531 abstracts (as of March 1965) in this series constitute
one of the major sources of identified air pollution information for develop-
ment of the APTIC "basic stock. "
Technical Library of the Bay Area Air Pollution Control District
This collection, containing nearly 12, 000 references, was developed and is
presently maintained under contract with the Division of Air Pollution. The
references are indexed in a Uniterm system designed for manual search by
comparison of term cards. Most of the material, with the exception of books,
is stored in microfilm form.
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Duplicate sets of index cards and microfilms have been purchased by:
New York State Air Pollution Control Board
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Air Pollution
Control
Province of Ontario
University of West Virginia
Division of Air Pollution
These sets are updated semiannually by the addition of newly indexed refer-
ences. The index cards at the New York State Board are being converted to
punched-card form to permit rapid search by machine methods.
Public Health Engineering Abstracts
A monthly publication prepared by the Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering
Center, this journal carries abstracts of articles from more than 800
domestic and foreign sources in the field of environmental health. A section
on "Atmospheric Pollution" averages 35 abstracts per month, An annual
index is published.
Atmospheric Pollution Bulletin
For some years, the Warren Spring Laboratory of the British Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) has published periodic abstracts
of air pollution literature. Although there is a considerable degree of dupli-
cation of the APCA Abstracts, these publications can also serve as an
additional check on acquisition and a source of additional abstracts, partic-
ularly of foreign work.
Abstract Compilations
The specialized sources discussed above can represent a continuing input to
the APTIC. In addition, there are a number of abstract or bibliographic
compilations to be considered in developing its "basic stock.11 Examples
include:
Air Pollution Bibliography, Volumes I and II, covering publi-
cations appearing from 1952 to 1958. Prepared by the
Library of Congress with Public Health Service support.
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The Effect of Atmospheric Pollution on the Health of Man--An
Annotated Bibliography. Prepared by the Kettering Laboratory,
Cincinnati, Ohio, under a PHS research grant, 1957,
Air Pollution Publications. Bureau of Mines, 1964.
Selected Bibliography of Air Pollution Publications, 1955-1963.
Division of Air Pollution, 1964.
Sulfur Oxides and Other Sulfur Compounds. Division of Air
Pollution, 1965.
General Coverage Sources
The major Federal document clearinghouses, with their associated announce-
ment and abstracting services, provide both current and retrospective access
to the report literature, as distinguished from the journal literature*
Defense Documentation Center, Defense Supply Agency
The Center (DDC), formerly ASTIA, is a repository and distribution agency
for all reports on DOD-supported research, both in-house and contract. Its
report collection contains over 750, 000 titles and is increasing at a rate in
excess of 45, 000 per year. A semimonthly publication, "Technical Abstract
Bulletin, " provides abstracts of both classified and unclassified accessions,
with a separate index volume. Bibliographic searches are provided to
authorized users on request. DDC services are available, without cost, to
other government agencies, DOD contractors, and to contractors of other
government agencies at the request of their sponsors.
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information
A Department of Commerce agency (formerly OTS), the Clearinghouse is the
sales point for all government research reports available to the general public,
except for those sold by the Government Printing Office. Its semimonthly
publication, "U. S. Government Research and Development Reports,'1 pub-
lishes abstracts and prices for all unclassified and unlimited DDC reports, as
well as reports of civilian government agencies. The Clearinghouse also
publishes "Technical Translations" twice each month, listing and abstracting
translated technical literature available from the Clearinghouse, the
Special Libraries Association, and other sources.
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Through its Scientific and Technical Information Facility, NASA publishes
"Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, " a comprehensive abstracting
and indexing journal covering worldwide report literature in the fields of
space and aeronautics. "International Aerospace Abstracts," published by
the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in cooperation with
NASA, gives similar coverage of the book and journal literature. In
addition to bibliographic searches on demand, NASA provides a selective
dissemination service based on interest profiles established by the using
agency. These utilize both the report literature and the open literature
covered by AIAA. The types of air pollution information covered by these
services are primarily meteorology, analytical methods, and health effects.
Atomic Energy Commission
"Nuclear Science Abstracts, " prepared by the Division of Technical Infor-
mation, AEC, covers the international literature on nuclear science and
technology. It is naturally a primary source for air pollution information
related to radioactivity, and in addition provides material on meteorology,
sampling methods, and air filtration.
Comments obtained during interviews, screening of current issues, and a
number of demand searches secured by the Division of Air Pollution and the
contractor during the survey, all confirm that these Federal clearinghouse
services contain substantial amounts of air pollution information. The sheer
volume of their publications, however, makes it impractical for the individual
to screen them all routinely for relevant material.
Another type of Federal resource, concerned with the open literature rather
than the report literature, is represented by the National Library of Medicine
and the National Library of Agriculture.
National Library of Medicine
In its monthly publication, "index Medicus, " the Library indexes the biblio-
graphic references obtained from its coverage of nearly 2500 of the 6000
biomedical journals published world wide. In addition, some 150 journals,
such as Science, Nature, etc., are selectively screened for papers of bio-
medical interest. Each paper is "deep-indexed", with as many as 12
"tracings" or subject headings, which are then fed into the MEDLARS
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26 April 1965
computer system. While "index Medicus, " which is prepared by the com-
puter, only publishes each citation under two or three subject headings, all
"tracings" are in the system for use in searching. Bibliographic searches,
both demand and recurring, are available. The computer presently contains
all journal citations published in "index Medicus" since April 1963.
National Library of Agriculture
This library is a principal resource for information on air pollution as it
relates to crops, forestry, and plants in general, as well as to animals. Its
monthly "Bibliography of Agriculture" is an index to the world's literature
on agriculture and related sciences, as received in the Library. Items are
listed under appropriate subjects. Its extensive card catalog permits manual
search, but the Library does not currently have a computerized search
capability. Expansion in this area is under consideration. The Pesticide
Information Center, recently established at the Library, should also be a
source of certain types of air pollution-related information.
Science Information Exchange
This agency, administered by the Smithsonian Institution with support from
the National Science Foundation, differs from the others discussed in that it
is concerned with research in progress rather than published research
results. SIE has some 70,000 current research projects registered and
indexed in the computer. The file for each contains the name of the agency
supporting the research, a short title, names of all investigators, location
of the work, and a 200 word summary of the work in progress. Most of the
information is on work performed by or supported by Federal agencies, but
registration of university and industrial projects is encouraged. Coverage
of work in the biological and medical fields is relatively complete, and
coverage in the engineering and physical sciences is increasing. Any
research worker in a recognized scientific laboratory, and any government
agency, may use the services of the Exchange without charge.
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