5EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/600/9-88/024
December 1988
Research and Development
1989 Visiting
Scientists and
Engineers Program
Solicitation
Office of Exploratory Research
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
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EPA/600/9-88/024
December 1988
1989 Visiting Scientists and
Engineers Program
Solicitation
Office of Exploratory Research
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington D.C. 20460
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Table of Contents
Page
Program Description 1
Basic Eligibility Requirements 1
Application Requirements 2
1. Cover Page 2
2. Brief Statement of Interest 2
3. Full Resume 2
4. Narrative of Proposed Research 2
Objectives 2
Background 2
Proposed Project 2
Level of Effort 2
Application Deadline 3
Review and Selection 3
1. Administrative Review 3
2. Laboratory Review 4
3. Peer Review 4
Assignment Start Date 4
General Terms 4
Funding Mechanism 5
Participating Laboratories and Research Descriptions 5
Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 6
Environmental Research Laboratory, Athens, GA 7
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory,
Ada, OK , 8
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory,
Cincinnati, OH 9
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory,
Las Vegas, NV 12
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory, RTP, NC 15
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office,
Cincinnati, OH 16
in
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1989 Visiting Scientists and Engineers Program
Program The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of
Description Research and Development (ORD) administers a Visiting
Scientists and Engineers Program (VSEP). The purpose of
the program is to attract eminent researchers in the areas of
environmental science and engineering to the Agency's
research laboratories to collaborate with ORD researchers
on projects proposed by the visitor and tailored to meet the
specific needs of EPA (as identified in annual program
descriptions such as this). The program fosters
collaborative research activities and provides creative
research opportunities intended to benefit EPA, the visitor,
and the environmental research community at large by:
(a) strengthening ties between EPA and the outside
environmental research community, (b) providing an
efficient means for introducing new capabilities into the
research community by creating a setting in which
important environmental problems are jointly tackled by
EPA and outside environmental researchers, and
(c) broadening awareness of respective EPA and external
capabilities throughout the general environmental research
community. The VSEP is a competitive program which has
supported the efforts of over twenty researchers, over half
of whom are currently conducting research under the
program.
Applicants to the program are sought annually through
advertisements in well-known scientific and engineering
literature. For the 1989 program, advertisements will appear
in Science, Environmental Science and Technology, and
The Scientist. Also, copies of this program announcement
will be sent to over 5000, departments at colleges and
universities through EPA's Center for Environmental
Research Information.
Basic Anyone who has established substantial credentials in one
Eligibility or more of the areas of environmental science or
Require- engineering listed under "participating laboratories" and is
ments not an EPA employee is eligible to apply. Individuals with at
least five years experience beyond the Ph.D. in the
environmental sciences or engineering and a good
publication record are particularly encouraged to apply.
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U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for participation in the
VSEP.
Application in order to be considered for the 1989 program, interested
Require- individuals must submit an application containing the
ments following sections and strictly within indicated page
limitations. Joint or group applications will not receive
consideration.
1. Cover Page containing the following: full name,
professional discipline, affiliate institution or organization,
mailing address and phone number, general research area
(as contained in this document, including laboratory) to
which application is directed, and approximate desired
starting date (month and year), (limit 1 page)
2. Brief Statement of Interest indicating interest in
competing in the 1989 program, (limit - 1 single-spaced
page)
3. Full Resume containing education, background, awards,
honors and other qualifying experience, summary of
employment (including current projects), and a bibliography
of publications, (no page limit)
4. Narrative of Proposed Research Project to be conducted
at the relevant EPA laboratory. The following format should
be used to describe the project (limit - 15 double-spaced
pages plus references):
Objectives - Describe the principal and subordinate
objectives (if any) of the proposed project.
Background - Provide a technical synopsis of background
information which places the proposed project in context
relative to on-going efforts in the relevant research area.
Proposed project - Describe the proposed project, tying it
to the background discussion. Indicate results expected
from the project.
Level of effort - List the number of years and approximate
budget per year needed to accomplish the stated objectives
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(VSEP appointments are for one to three years). Budgets
should be broken down into the allowable cost categories
indicated below. Indicate whether additional personnel
would be needed. Also, indicate whether any special
equipment or facilities would be needed at the EPA
laboratory in order to complete the project.
Allowable cost categories
• salaries
• fringe benefits
• travel
• equipment
• supplies
• indirect costs charged by parent institution (if
apppropriate)
The complete application should not exceed 17 pages plus
(a) any references necessary to complete the "narrative of
the proposed research project" and (b) the resume. It
should strictly adhere to the above format.
Application Six copies of fully developed applications must be received
Deadline in the Office of Exploratory Research by April 30, 1989.
They should be sent to:
Alvin Edwards
1989 Visiting Scientists and Engineers Program
Office of Exploratory Research, RD-675
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, Southwest, Rm NE306
Washington, DC 20460
Applications received after that date will be returned without
consideration.
Review Applications received on or before April 30, 1989, will
and receive an administrative review, a peer review and a
Selection laboratory review.
Administrative Review: An administrative review will be
performed in the Office of Exploratory Research. Three
grounds for administrative rejection are: (1) disregard of the
application requirements as outlined above, (2) OER's
receipt of an application after the closing date of April 30,
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1989, and (3) a proposal to do work in an area not specified
in this document. Violation of any one of these may result in
automatic rejection.
2. Laboratory Review: Applications will be reviewed by the
EPA laboratory responsible for the topic addressed in a
proposal. Primary emphasis in the laboratory review will be
placed on the degree of relevance of the proposed research
to the objectives and interests of the laboratory.
3. Peer Review: Applications will be competitively reviewed
by an ad hoc committee of outside peer reviewers.
Emphasis will be placed on: (1) the applicant's
qualifications, with a focus on the applicant's research
record within the environmental sciences or environmental
engineering, and (2) the merits of the proposed research
project. The committee will recommend to EPA those
candidates considered best qualified to receive support
under the VSEP.
The Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and
Development within EPA will approve candidates based on
the results of the laboratory and peer reviews. Every effort
will be made to complete the review process and inform
applicants of the outcome prior to August 31, 1989.
Assign- To allow time for settling personal matters, etc., subject to
merit the approval of the sponsoring EPA laboratory, visitors will
Start be allowed to postpone the start of their assignment for
Date more than a year after receiving notification of their
selection and approval. Accordingly, visitors selected under
the 1989 VSEP may start their assignments as late as
September 30, 1990. The exact date, of course, must be
negotiated with and agreed to by the sponsoring laboratory.
General For a candidate selected for assignment, terms, including
Terms salary, travel expenses, equipment allowance, and other
expenses, will be negotiated by him/her directly with the
laboratory to which he/she has been selected for
assignment and will be tailored to meet the research
objectives of the candidate and EPA. Periods of
appointment are also negotiable and may vary from one to
three years. It is assumed that visitors will spiend i a
substantial portion of the project period on-site at the EPA
facility. If, however, a visitor chooses not to, then he/she is
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required to spend at least 15 percent of the project period
on-site, which shall consist of more than mere overnight
visits to deliver status reports, make presentations, discuss
project details, and the like.
Funding For selectees who are not federal employees, appointments
Mechanism under the VSEP will be executed through the cooperative
agreement instrument. Upon successfully completing the
review process and being approved for support by the
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development,
selectees will be sent a formal application kit for federal
assistance. The selectee will complete the kit and forward it
through the administrative offices of his affiliate institution to
the EPA assistance administration office whose address will
be indicated in the application kit. (Selectees who are not
associated with an institution may submit the formal
application directly to the EPA assistance administration
office.) On the basis of the completed application, the
selectee will receive a formal cooperative agreement
through his affiliate institution (or directly as the case may
be). The selectee may begin work under the VSEP in
accordance with the date indicated in the cooperative
agreement.
Selectees who are federal employees will receive support
through an interagency agreement between EPA and their
federal agency.
For further information on the overall program, contact
Alvin Edwards at (202)382-7663.
Participating Visitors are sought to conduct research in the
Laboratories laboratories listed below. Under each laboratory are listed
and general topics of interest to the laboratory followed by a
Research more detailed description of the research needed. The
Descriptions description should provide sufficient detail for applicants to
develop well-focused research proposals. If, however,
more clarity is needed, applicants should contact the
individual listed. It should be apparent that a proposal to
conduct research on a specific topic is also a proposal to
work in collaboration with the corresponding laboratory.
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Environ-
mental
Research
Laboratory,
Corvallis,
Oregon
General Research Topic 1: Implication of the loss
biological and genetic diversity in a regulatory context
of
Research Focus: Loss of biodiversity is a critical
but extremely complex area of research. Reductions in
species or gene pools may have major ramifications for
mankind as the rate of loss accelerates. The interaction with
global climate and its effect on biological diversity needs to
be determined. Innovative research approaches are needed
to provide policy makers with a relevant scientific data
base.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Robert T. Lackey Phone: (503) 757-4673
General Research Topic 2: Ecological effects of global
climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, tropospheric
ozone, acidic deposition and air toxics
Research Focus: The interactive effects of these pollutant
stresses are very difficult to determine. Research is needed
to develop practical methods to quantify ecological effects,
both caused by single pollutant stresses and multiple
stresses.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Robert T. Lackey Phone: (503) 757-4673
General Research Topic 3: Effects of pollutants on plant
populations
Research Focus: Efforts to use toxicological knowledge for
ecosystem level prediction confront important issues of
population dynamics. There is a need to develop methods
to evaluate chemical impacts on plant population dynamics
and trophic level interactions.
Duration of Effort: 1 -3 years
Contact: Lawrence Kapustka Phone: (503) 757-4606
General Research Topic 4: Applied molecular biology of
plants
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Environ-
mental
Research
Laboratory,
Athens,
Georgia
Research Focus: Recent advances in molecular genetics
and biology offer promise for application to ecological risk
assessment, such as molecular detection assays for plant
exposure and response ("biomarkers"), bioassays for
distinguishing between different classes of toxicants, and
monitoring of degradation processes in plants. In addition,
there is an emerging need to evaluate the risks to plant life
from the products of genetic engineering.
Duration of Effort: 1-3 years
Contact: Lawrence Kapustka Phone: (503) 757-4606
General Research Topic 1: Spectroscopies of transient
processes in natural water systems
Research Focus: Natural luminescence, transient
absorptions, light scattering and optical dispersions
properties of ions, molecules and dispersions in naturally
occurring substances in surface or groundwater systems
will be investigated by various spectroscopic means in
order to understand the natural processes of binding,
complexation, speciation, aggregation-disaggregation, and
other important dynamic processes involving metals and
organic matter in natural water systems.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: Leo Azarraga Phone: (404) 546-3453
General Research Topic 2: Characterization of redox
transformation of inorganic pollutants in aqueous
environments
Research Focus: Research is needed to establish an
alternative to the Eh-equilibrium approach for redox
transformation in the environment. Redox transformation of
inorganic pollutants (e.g., Cr, Se, Aa) in controlled
biologically active laboratory systems will be monitored by
species-specific analysis. The coupling between: 1) redox
active inorganic pollutants and the geochemical matrix;
2) the geochemical matrix and redox sensors; and 3) redox
sensors in the redox active pollutants will be studied
systematically, toward the goal of determining a) under
what conditions particular redox transformations take place
and b) what sort of sensors can detect these conditions.
The study will be conducted on a species-by-species
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basis. The results will then be applied as appropriate to
equilibrium speciation models.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: George Bailey Phone: (404) 546-3307
General Research Topic 3: Analysis of uncertainty in
environmental simulation
Research Focus: The role of uncertainty in the identification
of mathematical models of environmental processes and in
the application of these models to environmental prediction
is of increasing concern to EPA. Four research areas are of
specific interest: uncertainty about model structure,
uncertainty in estimated model parameter values,
propagation of prediction errors, and design of experiments
to reduce model uncertainty. Areas of application include:
terrestrial, surface water, and ground-water fate and
transport models; food chain/bioaccumulation models; and
ecological effects models. Potential research products
include standard procedures, algorithms, and protocols;
documentation of case studies; and a graduate-level
curriculum.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Tom Barnwell Phone: (404) 546-3210
Robert General Research Topic 1: Microbial transport of
S. Kerr hydrophobic neutral organic compounds
Environ-
mental Research Focus: This research will focus on determining
Research the mobility of selected microorganisms through selected
Laboratory, soils under constant nutrient levels by measured batch
Ada, partitioning between water and colloidal suspension of
Oklahoma tritiated microorganisms. Study on the transport of 14c
labeled organic compounds by oligotrophic bacteria and the
ability of oligotrophic bacteria to transport organics without
transformation is also needed.
Duration of Effort: 1.5 years
Contact: C. Enfield Phone: (405) 332-8800 Ext 334
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General Research Topic 2: Solute transport in subsurface
systems, particularly with respect to.macromolecules
Research Focus: This research will focus ori determining
what parameters control the rate and extent of transport of
large, non-ionic, nonreactive molecules through a
characterized soil column. The variables will be molecular
size and configuration and pore size distribution of the soil.
Duration of Effort: 1 year
Contact: Candida West Phone: (405) 332-8800 Ext 257
General Research Topic 3: Modeling of the transport of
hazardous materials through structured soils
Research Focus: This research will focus on the
development of mathematical techniques to aid in the
modeling of the transport of hazardous chemicals through
structured soils which contain a large number of pores
and/or aggregates. The results of the study will allow
estimates of the pollutant profile in the soil as a function of
time. The methods to be developed will be capable of
utilizing specific information on the size and geometry of all
the structure elements in the soil to estimate the amounts of
materials contained in the pores, aggregates, and the
remainder of the soil. The method must be able to deal with
nonuniform structure. Soils containing mixtures of structure
sizes as well as geometries must be considered.
Duration of Effort: 1 year
Contact: Thomas E. Short Phone: (405) 332-8800 Ext 292
Environ-
mental
Monitoring
Systems
Laboratory,
Cincinnati,
Ohio
General Research Topic 1: Development of methods to
detect and measure biomarkers of environmental exposure
Research Focus: This research will focus on the
development of bioanalytical methods for quantifying
(a) chemicals in biological tissues and fluids,
(b) metabolites or adducts resulting from biotransformation
of organic or inorganic environmental pollutants in biological
tissues and fluids, and (c) enzyme activity affected by
exposure to environmental contaminants. These methods
will be developed for both plant and animal biomarkers. The
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resulting methods will be used to monitor environmental
exposures to adverse and nonadverse toxicants.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: Alfred Dufour Phone: (513) 569-7218
General Research Topic 2: Development of recombinant
DNA methods for measuring bacteria, viruses and protozoa
in environmental samples
Research Focus: This research will focus on the
development of highly specific and sensitive methods for
quantifying or detecting bacteria, viruses and protozoa in
environmental samples such as sludge, sewage effluents,
surface water and drinking water. These methods will be
applied to the surveillance of aquatic and terrestrial
environments to determine the presence of potential health
hazards. Emphasis will be placed on techniques using the
polymerase chain reaction and similar gene probe
technology.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Alfred Dufour Phone: (513) 569-7218
General Research Topic 3: Investigate the application of
advanced analytical techniques to current problems in
microbial ecology
Research Focus: This research will be oriented toward the
development and application of advanced analytical
techniques to obtain information on community
composition, physiological state, and metabolic activity of
microbial populations found in environmental samples. This
will be accomplished through the extraction of microbial
cellular components and their subsequent analysis to give
information on microbial biomass, metabolic activities,
nutritional status and community structure. This information
will be used to monitor ecological processes related to
biodegradation of hazardous compounds in the environment
and to monitor the movement of genetically engineered
microorganisms deliberately or accidentally released into
the environment.
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Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Alfred Dufour Phone: (513) 569-7218
General Research Topic 4: Identification and adaptation of
biomarkers for use in establishing ecosystem status and
trends
Research Focus: This research will involve identifying new,
potentially useful, biomarkers for fish and other aquatic life
at molecular and cellular levels which would be suitable for
monitoring ecosystem status and trends, determining the
relationship between the most promising biomarkers and
exposure to xenobiotics, developing predictive models for
exposure risk assessment, and adapting methods for use in
surface water monitoring programs by selecting cost
effective, user-friendly techniques.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Cornelius Weber Phone: (513) 569-8350
General Research Topic 5: Enhanced, short-term
methods for measuring chronic, aquatic toxicity of wastes
and water
Research Focus: This research will focus on identifying
new, more sensitive, test end-points for fish and other
aquatic life which will result in shorter, more cost-effective
methods of measuring threshold toxicity. Test conditions
will be evaluated and optimized and the applicability of
tests to measurement of effluent and surface water toxicity
as predictors of ecosystem effects should be demonstrated.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: Cornelius Weber Phone: (513) 569-8350
General Research Topic 6: Development of analytical
methods for organic disinfection by-products in drinking
water
Research Focus: Disinfection of drinking water with chlorine
has been in use for many years. In the last 15 years, a
number of chemical by-products of the disinfection
process have been discovered, and questions raised about
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Environ-
mental
Monitoring
Systems
Laboratory,
Las Vegas,
Nevada
the potential adverse health effects of these materials.
Studies of alternative disinfection agents, including ozone,
have shown that the nature and concentration of disinfection
by-products is a complex function of a number of process
variables. Laboratory analytical methods are needed to
ascertain the nature and concentration of organic
disinfection by-products produced by chlorine, ozone, and
other agents in various types of source waters. Additional
real-time methods are needed for process control in water
treatment plants. The most efficient and powerful
instrumental analytical techniques will be applied in this
research.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Confacf: William L. Budde Phone: (513) 569-7309
General Research Topic 1: Development of
immunochemical methods for monitoring environmental
contaminants: sample preparation techniques, new
immunoassay formats, portable assay kits
Research Focus: It is certain that immunoassays will have a
major role in the analysis of environmental contaminants;
therefore, acceptance by analytical chemists is essential.
The immunoassay program at this laboratory includes
development and evaluation of immunoassays. Such
research activities will provide stimulation to the field and
expedite acceptance of immunoassays for environmental
contaminants. In-house development efforts include
specific antibodies for sample preparation steps such as
extraction, cleanup, and concentration, as well as
integration of immunochemical methods into conventional
analytical procedures.
Duration of Effort: 1 year
Contact: Jeanette M. Van Emon Phone: (702) 798-2154
General Research Topic 2: Use of remote sensing digital
imagery in conjunction with geographical information
systems (GIS), to delineate, map, and monitor wetlands
ecosystems
Research Focus: Research is needed (1) on the use of
aircraft MSS, satellite TM and SPOT digital imagery to
delineate, map, and produce data base products for wetland
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ecosystem evaluations and (2) to evaluate the use of new
passive sensor systems using prototpye aircraft sensors.
There is also a need (1) to demonstrate the use of map
products and digital data base products to evaluate the
impacts associated with specific contaminant insults,
hydrologic perturbations, and Section 404 activities on both
a site specific and regional basis and (2) to develop and
demonstrate the use of GIS to perform remote sensing data
analysis to develop data base products for input into
ecosystem models.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: Ross Lunetta Phone: (702) 798-2175
General Research Topic 3: Advanced instrumentation for
analysis of environmental and biological samples
Research Focus: Efforts are needed to develop an
expanded research theme in the area of environmental
mass spectrometry (including LC/MC, FAB/MS, ICP/MS,
LC/MS/MS and hyphenated techniques such as
GC/FTIR/MS) and to develop bioanalytical mass spectral
techniques associated with DMA and protein adduct
characterization and associated isolation.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: Ronald K. Mitchum Phone: (702) 798-2103
General Research Topic 4: Mathematical methods such
as statistical approaches (including multivariate techniques
and pattern recognition) for the improvement of the
assessment of large analytical chemistry data bases
Research Focus: Research is needed to expand the
general area of improving data quality through quality
assurance/control research targeted for analytical and
bioanalytical chemistry. Mathematical methods, such as
statistical approaches, including multivariate techniques and
pattern recognition, need to be developed for the
improvement of the assessment of large analytical
chemistry data bases. Research is needed to develop
innovative performance based approaches for assessing
data quality, including performance material research,
methods improvements research, field sampling/design and
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implementation of new technology into the analytical
laboratory.
Duration of Effort: 2 years
Contact: Jimmy D. Petty Phone: (702) 798-2103
General Research Topic 5: Free product monitoring in the
vadose zone
Research Focus: There is a national need to concentrate on
vadose zone monitoring techniques as an alternative to
saturated zone monitoring as required under RCRA. New
compounds need to be incorporated into lysimeter
manufacturing to increase the ability of the sensor to reach
the lower end of matrix potentials.
Duration of Effort: 1 year or more
Contact: Joseph J. DLugosz Phone: (702) 798-2103
General Research Topic 6: Development and application
of advanced analytical methods for measurement and
monitoring of toxic chemicals at or around hazardous waste
sites
Research Focus: Recent advances in analytical technique
and miniaturization offer opportunities for development of
portable instruments and field screening methods for rapid,
cost-effective measurement and monitoring of toxic
chemicals at or around hazardous waste sites. Rapid
developments in such technologies as fiber optics and solid
state chemical sensors, immunochemical techniques, x-
ray spectrometers, "suitcase" mass spectrometers, ion
mobility spectrometers, and long-path-length FTIR
spectrometers may revolutionize the way in which on-site
measurement is carried out. Research will involve testing
and modification, as required, of prototype or existing
instrumentation, development of field test kit technology
based on antibodies, fabrication of chemical sensors, or
development of expert systems for selection and use of
field methods for hazardous waste site monitoring.
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Duration of Effort: 1 -2 years
Contact: Llew Williams Phone: (702) 798-2138
Atmospheric General Research Topic 1: Development of human
Research exposure models to accurately predict exposures to
and environmental pollutants
Exposure
Assessment Research Focus: A large data base has been collected in
Laboratory, the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM)
Research programs for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs),
Triangle pesticides, and carbon monoxide. Using the information
Park, gathered on human activity patterns and micro-
Worth environmental concentrations, a statistical model can be
Carolina developed and validated which will account for the
contribution of the major sources. Possible approaches may
include source receptor modeling and stochastic
multivariate modeling.
Duration of effort: 2 years
Contact: William C. Nelson Phone: (919) 541-3184
General Research Topic 2: Management and assessment
of quality assurance data from large air pollution monitoring
programs
Research Focus: This laboratory is involved in the
collection of air quality data for numerous national or
otherwise large scale monitoring projects. Current Agency
quality assurance policy and requirements (for regulated air
pollutant monitoring) result in the generation of very large
and complex data bases for assessing and characterizing
the quality of the primary data. Currently, these data are
assessed under the minimum requirements of existing
policy and regulations. Important and pertinent information,
such as sampler performance, methodology, problem
areas, and geographical effects on precision and accuracy,
could be obtained with a definitive and thorough analysis of
these data bases. This research will be focused on
developing better quality assurance data bases in improved
formats and procedures for interpreting and assessing the
data.
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Duration of effort: 2 years
Contact: William J. Mitchell Phone: (919) 541-2769
General Research Topic 3: Laboratory simulation of
buoyant plume penetration of elevated inversions
Research Focus: The Fluid Modeling Facility (FMF) is
about to embark on a new project involving laboratory
simulation of atmospheric diffusion in the convective
boundary layer (CBL). Highly buoyant plumes released in
the CBL rise rapidly to the top of the CBL, partially
penetrate the stably stratified layer capping the CBL, then
mix gradually downwards to the ground surface. Recent
field experiments have shown that the maximum surface
concentrations around tall stacks occur under these
conditions when effluent is trapped within a shallow mixed
layer. The laboratory convective-tank studies will attempt
to simulate the dynamics of these CBL processes. The
FMF desires the expertise of an accomplished researcher
to spearhead these studies.
Duration of Effort: 3 years
Contact: William H. Snyder Phone: (919) 541-1198
Environ- General Research Topic 1: Statistical problems in the
mental application of probabilistic simulation methods to existing
Criteria EPA risk assessment models
and
Assessment Research Focus: Algorithms used for estimating human
Office, exposure/risk from chemicals must employ data
Cincinnati, gathered from diverse sources (e.g., chemical properties,
Ohio concentrations, soil or subsoil characteristics, human
consumption of food and water, residential patterns, etc.),
which typically are inconsistent or incomplete as to
distribution type. Simulation methods (e.g., monte carlo,
latin hypercube) have been employed to sample these input
distributions and provide supposed distributions of results.
Research should address the statistical problems inherent
in such analyses to answer the following questions:
1. What means exist to overcome or minimize these
problems?
2. How can the meaning and limitations of the
results be best expressed so as to guide their
interpretation and use?
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Duration of Effort: 1 year
Contact: R. Bruins Phone: (513) 569-7539
General Research Topic 2: Development of models to
describe interactions between agents in binary mixtures
Research Focus: Biologically based mathematical models
will be developed that relate intensity of toxic interaction
(e.g., synergism and antagonism) to dose. The processes
to be described include cellular mechanisms of interaction
at sites of toxicity as well as pharmacokinetic interactions.
Primary focus is on interactions not directly involving
carcinogenesis, i.e., pharmacokinetic interactions between
carcinogens will be included but not interactions involving
DNA adducts. Real data will be available, but simulation
studies will also be conducted to determine model behavior.
Statistical methods may need to be developed for
parameter estimation.
Duration of Effort: 1 year
Contact: R. Hertzberg Phone: (513) 569-7582
•&U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1989/648-163/87050
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