Science
loRESULTS
SCIENCE lies at the heart of the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Agency must rely on cutting edge research, accurate
measurements and effective technology to implement its programs to protect the environment and human health. Without sound science and credible data,
EPA con not wisely set environmental and health standards, clean up contaminated sites, measure ambient air and water quality conditions, or identify the new
technologies or practices that will reduce releases to the environment. These fact sheets share with you some of our EPA New England's laboratory capabilities
and exemplify some of the very best science we do to meet our agency mission.
GOAL:
EPA's New England Regional Laboratory, in collaboration with EPA's Office of Research and Development
and Office of Water, is developing innovative cost-effective analytical capabilities to enhance existing microbial
assessment of water resources by the application of a biochemical technology for rapid, same-day detection and
quantification of naturally occurring microbes and microbial pollution.
KEY CONTACTS:
JACK PAAR
Biologist
(617) 918-8604
paar.jack@epa.gov
KATRINA KIPP
Chief, Ecosystem Assessment
(b!7) 918-8309
kipp.katrina@epa.gov
MICHAEL KENYON
Director, EPA New England
Regional Laboratory
(617) 918-8317
kenyon.michael@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
REGIONAL LABORATORY
11 Technology Dr.
North Chelmsford, MA 01863
(617) 918-8300
www.epa.gov/ne/lab
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-800-EPA-7341
PROGRESS:
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a biochemical genetic
technique that mimics the natural cellular process of nucleic acid
duplication in living cells (either DNA: deoxyhbonudeic add, or
RNA: ribonudeic aad). DNA and RNA are made up of genes
comprised of unique sequences of nudeotide bases which can
be detected by PCR analysis, thus identifying a specific strain of
bacteria or a spedfic animal, like birds, cows, or humans.
The regional laboratory's quantitative Real-Time Poly-
merase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technology capability is an
innovative and developing scientific tool that has significant
potential for assisting EPA scientists in determining regula-
tory responsibility for fecal coliform pollution in the region's
water resources. EPA New England is collaborating with
EPA's Office of Research and Development and Office of
Water to evaluate the best protocols and test methods
for utilizing qPCR in support of EPA's mission. To date,
EPA New England has established three different real-time
qPCR assays capable of analyzing fecal indicators in marine
and fresh water samples and is focusing on microbial source
tracking of fecal contaminants in marine waters off urban
beaches in metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts.
Almost one quarter of the 2.840 water-bodies in New
England listed as "impaired" are so dassified because they do
not meet water quality criteria for bacteria. Traditional mi-
crobial test methods limit state, federal and tribal regulators'
ability to implement appropriate control measures and/or to
assess human health risks. Traditional microbial methods have
significant holding-time constraints as well as delayed results due
to a 24 hour minimum time for analysis completion. These
methods also cannot distinguish specific differences between
the sources of microbial pollution. The advantage of qPCR is
that in most cases, analysis can be completed in four hours or
less, and scientists do not have the same 6 hour holding-time
limitation required by culturebased test methods. In addition,
qPCR can identify host-specific pollution indicators, or those
bacteria that are only associated with specific species.
The laboratory is also developing PCR techniques to de-
tect and quantify naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that
digest chemical pollutants and change them into harmless
gases. These methods will support screening assessments
of groundwater microbial communities capable of bioreme-
diation, or the natural degradation of industrial solvents to
non-hazardous break-down products. This will be a valuable
tool to support the cleanup of hazardous waste sites.
BENEFITS:
Scientists at the EPA's New England Regional Labora-
tory are continuing in the development and validation of
routine and repeatable analytical qPCR methods. These
methods will allow EPA scientists to rapidly determine
whether or not samples contain DNA from known tar-
gets, whether those targets are fecal pollution indicators,
like E. coli, or bacteria capable of metabolizing hazardous
waste, like the anaerobe Dehalococcoides ethenogenes.
By helping identify sources of microbial contamination,
qPCR will allow regulators to identify more effective mea-
sures to mitigate pollution.
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-901-F-09-020
April 2009
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