U.S.EPA New England
Regional Laboratory
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
EPA- 901-F-04-005
May 2004
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Introduction
Preparing samples for
analysis
I EPA's New England Regional
Laboratory (NERD, part of EPA's
extensive national network of scientific
research and regional laboratories,
supports the New England office.
NERL, located in Chelmsford, Massa-
chusetts, is a state-of-the-art "green"
facility that houses an organization
responsible for the design, collection
and analysis of environmental data.
NERL uses its scientific and engineering staff, with expertise in
chemistry, biology, engineering and environmental science, to ensure
that high quality and sound science are the foundation of the
environmental measurement work conducted in the region. EPA
scientists and engineers use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques
and apply rigorous quality assurance standards.
The results of field and laboratory studies support EPA's mission to
protect human health and the environment by:
monitoring and analyzing environmental conditions to determine
human health risk and ecological health;
1 determining compliance with environmental laws and regulations;
1 measuring environmental benefits and our programs' progress; and,
identifying emerging threats to the environment or
public health.
The New England Regional Laboratory
conducts its monitoring and analytical
work coilaboratively with EPA and state
programs, interstate organizations, New
England tribes, other federal agencies,
local governments, non-governmental
organizations and academic institutions.
Working with our partners, we strive to
be leaders in identifying emerging envi-
ronmental problems and in developing
new and innovative solutions to collecting
and integrating environmental data and
information across all media.
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Inside EPA's Mobile Lab
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Case Studies
Laboratory chemist analyzing samples
Making Urban Yards Safe for Children
Lead poisoning remains a serious threat to
children's health today even though
children's blood lead levels have declined
dramatically in the past 20 years. Lead
contamination in the environment is the
legacy of fed-based paint and leaded
gasoline which were banned in the 1970s.
Residential lead-contaminated soils have
been identified as a major route of Exposure
for children. The Lead Safe Yard Project
reduced exposure of Boston-area children to
lead-contaminated soils. A NERL chemist
and a certified industrial hygienist |rom the
Bowdoin Street Community Health Center
performed on-site analysis of residential soils
for lead content. They developed
contamination "maps" for each residential yard by testing soil adjacent to the house,
children's play areas, and any bare soil areas,,'A I most 100 yards have been tested by
EPA. Contaminated yards were then improved using landscaping treatments to reduce
the risk of lead exposure to children in the tiomes. More information on the Lead Safe
Yard project, including an electronic copy of a handbook for implementing a lead safe
yard project in your community is available at: www.epa.gov/regionl/leadsafe/index.html
the results: Lead hazards reduced and children's health protected.
Drinking Water Contamination in Pascoag
in September of 2001, the Pascoag Utility District (PUD), the water supplier for the
Village of Pascoag in Burrillville, RI, advised its customers unot to drink the water"
because of MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) contamination from leaking fuel storage
tanks. EPA immediately sampled the untreated well water and found MTBE levels
between 300-400 parts per billion (ppb), more than ten times greater than the State of
Rhode Island's health advisory for MTBE. MTBE, an oxygemcontaining compound, is
added to gasoline to reduce air pollutants from autos. Exposure to MTBE has been linked
to cancer. Further investigation revealed seven inches of gasoline floating on top of the
groundwater in the vicinity of some of the
town's drinking water wells. NERL assisted
the state by providing laboratory analyses of
350 water samples for volatile organic
hydrocarbons and MTBE. NERL also
provided support through its Field
Investigations Team, which used a direct
push sampling device to sample groundwater
and soil. NERL's mobile lab analyzed
samples from the sampling wells located
around the site, which supported in-the-field
decisions about where to drill next. The State
of Rhode Island ordered the owner and
operator of the site to clean it up, but
bankruptcy filings by both parties left the
Collecting sediment
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EPA New England Regional Laborato
Chemistry Laboratory - Chemists provide analytical testing capability to
identify and measure chemicals in air, water, soil, sediment and waste
samples. A broad array of sophisticated instrumentation is used to detect very
low concentrations of toxic and indicator contaminants in the environment.
In addition, NERL operates a mobile field chemistry laboratory which
provides on-site analysis in support of on-going investigations.
Biology Laboratory - Biologists analyze environmental samples for
microbiological agents in water, aquatic and sediment toxicity, as well as
employ new DNA techniques. Other biological activities such as fish
processing and invertebrate identification are also conducted.
Ecology Field Monitoring - The Ecology Monitoring Team measures the
water quality and ecological health of New England's streams, lakes and
estuaries through field investigations, such as pollutant monitoring, flow and
dispersion dye studies, biomonitoring assessments, sediment oxygen demand
studies, fish tissue contaminants (fish and shellfish) and sediment sampling.
state responsible for the cleanup. With federal assistance, the state protected public
health by providing bottled water to PUD customers, and utilizing wells that were not
contaminated and initiating cleanup at the site. For more information, visit:
www.epa.gov/ne/pr/2003/jun/03063b.html
The results: A quick response to a state environmental crisis and protection of
public health.
Investigating Mercury
Contamination of the Sudbury River
EPA has been involved in the clean-up
of the Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump
site since 1987, but to further determine
its impact on the environment, NERL
conducted an extensive ecological
assessment in 2003. The Nyanza site is
a 35-acre parcel of land located
adjacent to an active industrial complex
in Ashland, MA. Due to past industrial
uses and waste disposal practices, the
Fish collection on the Sudbury River
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y Capabilities
Air Monitoring - The Air Monitoring Team oversees the operation of more
than 300 ambient (outdoor) air monitors in New England for the six priority
air pollutants (ozone, sulfur dioxide/ carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides,
participate matter and lead) and real-time monitoring stations for ozone and
chemicals that form ozone (ozone precursors), hazardous air pollutants, and
fineparticulates.
Investigations - The Investigations Team inspects and collects soil, sediment,
water, air, v\
determine compliance with EPA laws, regulations and permits. The team
also oversees the stack testing of air emission sources and provides field
investigations support at hazardous waste sites.
Quality Assurance - Quality assurance staff help ensure that high quality
data and sound science are used to support Agency decisions by providing
technical assistance for project planning, expert chemistry and engineering
advice, method reviews, document and data reviews, training, and
assessments of laboratory and field operations.
For more information, visit: www.epa.gov/ne/lab
land, groundwater, adjacent stream, and the Sudbury
River became contaminated with heavy metals,
including mercury, and chlorinated solvents. It is
estimated that up to 40 metric tons of mercury
entered the Sudbury River during industrial activity
from 1917 to 1978. Mercury remains in the sediment
of the Sudbury River and has been found in nearby
wetlands and in fish. IMERL's ecological risk assessor
worked closely with the site's Superfund project
manager to develop a sampling scheme to sample
tree swallows, mergansers, kingfishers, crayfish,
mink and many species of fish. Scientists used special
techniques to sample and collect eggs, feathers, fur
and bloodwithout sacrificing the animal. Sediments
were also collected. IMERL quality assurance chemists
ensured that the specialized sampling and analysis
would produce quality data. For more information on
Superfund and Nyanza, visit: www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/index2.html
The results: Better understanding of the extent of mercury contamination and impacts
on the wildlife to guide clean up activities.
Water quality monitoring
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Measuring the Health of New England Waters
Despite years of cleaning up New England's waters, EPA and the states still do not have
adequate data to measure the improvements. As a result, NERL has undertaken a multi-
year study to determine the health of New
England waters. From 2000 to 2003, NERL
scientists conducted an extensive biological and
chemical water monitoring effort called the New
England Wadeable Streams Project (NEWS).
The sampling approach, using random
probabilistic design techniques, has provided a
comprehensive assessment of the condition of
the region's wadeable streams in a statistically
and scientifically valid manner providing a data
baseline for measuring future trends. NERL
sampled more than 50 locations all over New
England for invertebrates, fish communities and
water chemistry, f-tabitat quality at each site
was also evaluated, The project provides
scientists with new Information about areas where the status of biological and water
quality conditions were previously unknown. NERL's next effort will be to evaluate lake
and pond health. After lakes and ponds/ NERL will tackle New England's large rivers. To
learn more about NEWS, visit www.epa.gov/ne/1ab/news.html
The results: Improved understanding of the health of New England waters and tetter
information to document our success in protecting them.
Stream sampling for biological
assessment
Informing the Public of Unhealthy Air Quality Conditions
While the number of days each year that New England's air quality violates health-based
standards; has decreased from the 1980s, we still have too many unhealthy days of
ground-level ozone (smog) and fine particles, NERL's Air Monitoring Team, in partnership
with the states and tribes, ensures that we have real-time monitoring data from dozens of
monitoring sites throughout New England. This data can be used to forecast high pollution
levels and warn the public appropriately. Each day, through computer downloads over
telephone lines, EPA collects the monitored readings from each of the sites and uploads
them to a publicly accessible website. EPA and
state experts use this data, to forecast air
quality for the following day. When unhealthy
levels are predicted, EPA and the states
quickly disseminate the forecasts to
newspapers, radio and TV stations, with simple
tips that New Englanders can follow to reduce
health risks, the air quality forecasts on the
local evening news have their origin in the high
quality monitoring network overseen by NERL.
For more about EPA's air quality forecasts/ go
to: www.epa.gov/ne/airquality/forecast.html
The results: A better informed public and
reduced health risks from air pollution.
Air monitoring station
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Protecting Our Environment through
Sound Science
EPA's (Mew England Regional Laboratory monitors the health of our
environment and its impacts on public health
Monitoring the Environment
EPA, states and tribes collect data critical to implementation of our environment
programs:
Sampling for clean up of contaminated sites
Analyzing residential soil for lead
Measuring mercury deposition
Monitoring air for smog, particulates and other pollutants
* Testing drinking water wells for arsenic
Measuring water pollution
Monitoring Air Quality
Air monitors allow us to:
Identify areas with unhealthy air
Identify trends
Use real-time data to forecast unh
althy levels
Monitoring Ecosystem Health
EPA is embarking on a multi-year assessment of New England's waters and
aquatic life, allowing us to:
* Measure the biological health of lakes, rivers and streams
Provide baselines by which we can measure our progress
Identify polluted rivers and lakes
Assuring Compliance
Provides critical data to assure compliance with environmental laws and rules:
Inspect facilities and collect soil, sediment, water, air, and waste samples
Analyze samples to determine compliance with permit limits
Observe air emission stack tests
Responding to Emergencies
Enhancing our laboratory's ability to analyze samples and provide critical
information to responders to disasters or terrorist incidents
Building a network of regional laboratories, each with unique abilities, foi
coordinated responses
Supporting air monitoring for biological agents for homeland security
Leading by Example
The New England Regional Laboratory has received a LEED (Leadership in
Energy-and Environmental Design) Gold Award in recognition of its state-of-the-
art green design:
Energy efficient heating, cooling and lighting
Active and passive solar power
Wind-powered electricity
Recycled materials, environmentally friendly landscaping
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Contacts
EPA New England Regional Laboratory
11 Technology Dr.
North Chelmsford, MA 01863
1-617-918-8300
Toll Free Customer Service
1-888-EPA-7341 (within New England)
www.epa.gov/ne/lab
Directions to NERL
From Downtown Boston
Take 1-93 north 22 miles to
1-495; take 1-495 south 8 miles
to exit 35 Route 3; take
Route 3 north about 2 miles; take exit 32; go straight through first
light and bear right at second light onto Route 4 north; turn right at
the first ight onto Technology Drive; about 1/4 mile on the right is the
lab, a brick building with an EPA sign.
From Route 128
Take exit 32 off Route 128 onto Route 3 north; take Route 3 north
about 15 miles; take exit 32; go straight through first light and bear
right at second light onto Route 4 north; turn right at the first light
onto Technology Drive; about 1/4 mile on the right is the lab, a brick
building with an EPA sign.
From Interstate 495
Take exit 35 off 1-495 onto Route 3 north; take Route 3 north about
2 miles; take exit 32; go straight through first light and bear right
at second light onto Route 4 north; turn right at the first light onto
Technology Drive; about 1/4 mile on the right is the lab, a brick
building with an EPA sign.
From the North
Take Route 3 south to exit 32; go straight through first light; bear left
at second and third lights; bear right at the fourth light onto Route 4
north; turn right at the first light onto Technology Drive; about 1/4
mile on the right is the lab, a brick building with an EPA sign.
100% post-con
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