National Environmental
Research Center
Research Triangle Park, N. C.
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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ANNUAL REPORT-1972
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Research and Monitoring
National Environmental Research Center
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
June 1973
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"EPA IS A NEW DEPARTURE, A FRESH START TO RESTORE THE DELICATE
BALANCE WHICH SUPPORTS LIFE ON THIS PLANET. IT IS A NEW, INTEGRATED
APPROACH TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS ... WE ARE GOING TO INSIST,
WITH THE AUTHORITY THAT CONGRESS HAS PROVIDED, AND WITH ALL THE
POWERS OF PERSUASION AT OUR COMMAND, THAT ALL EXISTING MEANS FOR
CONTROLLING POLLUTION BE APPLIED, ACROSS THE BOARD, IN EVERY CITY
AND TOWN AND TO EVERY INDUSTRY INTHIS COUNTRY. WE INTEND TO PURSUE
A VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WHOLE
EFFORT IN POLLUTION CONTROL."
Figure 1. William D. Ruckelshaus, former EPA Administrator.
11
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PREFACE
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Our President set a national goal when he stated, "The 1970's absolutely must be the years
when America pays its debt to the past by reclaiming the purity of its air, its waters, and our
living environment." We cannot fulfill this goal unless our pollution control efforts are based
upon sound scientific information. The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research
and Monitoring has entrusted our Center and three others with the responsibility of providing
needed scientific information. To do this, we must work closely with other research groups in
government, industry, and universities. As you read this Report, you will learn more of the
problems we face and what is being done about them. When you have finished, we would
welcome your comments and questions.
John F. Finklea, M.D.
Director
June 1973
ill
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Figure 2. National Environmental Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
-JJIH J3SAH3
M.3.H
H3I3JAS.
Figure 3. Plan view of NERC/RTP.
IV
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Pa8e
PREFACE iii
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
2. INTRODUCTION 9
Purpose 9
Mission 9
History 10
Organization 12
Funding Summary 15
3. SPECIAL FEATURES 19
A. Paul Altshulier 19
Community Health and Environmental
Surveillance System (CHESS) 20
Control of Sulfur
Oxides in Flue Gas 21
Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) 22
4. LABORATORY REPORTS 27
Office of the Director 27
Human Studies Laboratory 31
Experimental Biology Laboratory 37
Primate and Pesticides Effects Laboratory 43
Chemistry and Physics Laboratory 49
Control Systems Laboratory 55
Meteorology Laboratory 61
Quality Assurance and Environmental
Monitoring Laboratory 67
Eastern Environmental Radiation Laboratory 75
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Section 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Figure 4. Exposure of participant in carbon monoxide study.
Figure 5. Mobile Lidar System designed for remote measurement of stack plume opacity.
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NERC/RTP ANNUAL REPORT-1972
Section 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Programs of the Environmental Protection
Agency's National Environmental Research
Center/Research Triangle Park (NERC/RTP)
are directed toward the acquisition of know-
ledge in several areas - knowledge that can be
utilized to effectively improve the environ-
ment of the United States. These areas
include instrumentation and methodology
development, health effects studies, pollution
abatement technology, and predictive
modeling studies. This summary briefly
reviews NERC/RTF's major accomplishments
in these areas for the period of this Report
and points up the future direction of its
programs.
The Community Health and Environmental
Surveillance System (CHESS), a program
being conducted by the Human Studies
Laboratory, evaluates existing environmental
standards, )btains health intelligence for new
controls, and documents the health benefits
of current controls. CHESS also integrates a
series of epidemiologic investigations with a
comprehensive assessment of environmental
exposure. Significant findings already
reported include the observation that
aggravation of asthma and chronic cardio-
respiratory diseases often follows exposure to
elevated levels of suspended atmospheric
sulfates. This adverse effect is much stronger
than the effect associated with exposure to
sulfur dioxide or total suspended particulate
matter. Another finding is that the frequency
of chronic respiratory disease symptoms
significantly increased in residents exposed to
urban air pollution for several years. This
effect is about one-third of the adverse effect
attributable to cigarette smoking. (See the
Special Features article on CHESS in Section
3.) Additionally, clinical investigation by the
Laboratory shows that low-level carbon
monoxide exposure enhances the preclinical
and clinical signs of arteriosclerotic heart
disease in exercise-stressed subjects. Other
projects include the assembly of a national
tissue bank and projected future studies of
human exposures to gaseous pollutants, noise,
and non-ionizing radiation.
The Experimental Biology Laboratory, in
its investigations of microwave irradiation
effects, completed several instrumental
developments, one of which was the cali-
bration of its 2450-MHz microwave generator.
Although several biological studies have
revealed microwave-induced effects at the
cellular level, much of the work thus far has
been in preparation for subsequent investi-
gations such as one to examine the repair
capacity of mammalian cells subjected to
environmental stresses.
At the Primate and Pesticides Effects
Laboratory, new methodology and instrumen-
tation were developed for assessing the impact
of pesticides on human health. Included were
equipment modifications for monitoring
pesticides both in humans and in environ-
mental media, procedures for determining
pesticides in blood, methods to determine
man's exposure to a spectrum of biode-
gradable pesticides, and development of
methodology for detecting trace metals in
human tissue and excreta. The characteristic
hexachlorophene-induced brain lesion was
produced in Squirrel monkeys and was cor-
related with a deficit in visual-evoked
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response. Follow-up studies have indicated no
increase in the trend of the storage of DDT in
fatty tissue of America's general population
since the earliest survey in 1950. The tera-
tology program of the National Center for
Toxicological Research was also established.
Future activities will include determining
pesticide effects on certain internal body
organs and processes as well as developing
improved analytical methodology.
The Chemistry and Physics Laboratory has
developed instrumentation for the measure-
ment of gaseous pollutants, including chemi-
luminescent devices for measuring ozone,
nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Additional
improved instrumental and laboratory
measurement techniques were developed for
stationary and mobile source emission testing.
Ambient air measurement instruments for
aerosols are also being developed. Detailed
hydrocarbon analyses in four American cities
established vehicular and non-vehicular
emission levels for use in developing EPA
emission control strategies. Modeling efforts
were undertaken to mathematically describe
and predict the smog potential in urban areas.
The Control Systems Laboratory's major
concern has been with the control of sulfur
oxides from fuel combustion; about 80 per-
cent of its expenditures to date have been in
that area and have been concentrated on flue
gas cleaning. The success of this program will
permit the economic utilization of essentially
all of the coals of the Eastern and Midwestern
United States under New-Source Performance
Standards, compared with the present utiliz-
ation rate of only 7 percent of these coals in
their natural condition. Commercialization of
these techniques is in progress; four prototype
demonstrations are under way, and three
more are scheduled. The control of nitrogen
oxides in coal combustion is another area of
major effort. The Laboratory's field testing
program, under way since early 1971, is sub-
stantially ahead of schedule, and engineering
research and development now under way is
expected to permit the attainment of
National New-Source Performance Standards
by early 1975. The Laboratory has also
achieved success in the area of technology
associated with coke making. A current proto-
type demonstration is expected to achieve
reduction of pollutants from this process by
90 percent, permitting effective control of the
worst polluting process of the iron and steel
industry, itself a major air polluter. Other
Laboratory programs in progress include
efforts to control both particulates and
hazardous (and potentially hazardous)
pollutants.
Another NERC program of nationwide
interest is the Regional Air Pollution Study
(RAPS) being conducted in St. Louis under
the direction of the Meteorology Laboratory.
Initiated in July 1972, the 5-year research
program will be a means of validating and
improving models describing atmospheric
processes, including temporal and spatial
distributions in an ah* quality region. A series
of field investigations on a regional scale will
be conducted in the St. Louis area. (See the
Special Features article on RAPS in Section
3.)
In addition to its direction and input to
RAPS, the Meteorology Laboratory has
developed or unproved several mathematical
models for air pollutants covered by the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The
models attempt to describe the dispersion of
air pollutants in populated areas and the rela-
tionship of air quality measurements to Air
Quality Standards. Additional modeling
studies are planned, along with implemen-
tation of the Physical Modeling Facility and
its wind tunnel. A User's Network for
Environmental Quality Modeling is also under
development. The Laboratory provides
emergency support, in the form of special
weather forecasts and meteorological obser-
vations, during local stagnation episodes and
during accidental spills of hazardous
materials. Two examples of activities in this
area were the Birmingham, Alabama, stag-
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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nation episode, which resulted in a strict cur-
tailment of industrial emissions, and the
Louisville, Kentucky, threat of a massive
accidental chlorine gas release, which caused
evacuation of part of that city.
To make air monitoring data more access-
ible, the Quality Assurance and Environ-
mental Monitoring Laboratory established a
nationwide air quality data management
system that receives a major portion of air
quality data acquired by Federal, State, and
local agencies. The evaluation and collabor-
ative tests of the Federal Register reference
methods for S(>2 and CO were completed. A
major effort was initiated to prepare for insti-
tuting quality control in Regional, NERC,
State, and local environmental monitoring
programs. New investigations will involve
development of better monitoring techniques
for the more-difficult-to-analyze pollutants.
for new generation pollutants, for ambient-
air/source relationships, and for particle size
distribution. Emphasized, too, will be the
evaluation of recently introduced sampling
and analytical methods for the measurement
of nitrogen oxides in ambient air.
At the Eastern Environmental Radiation
Laboratory, a study based on the exposure of
mature hamsters to 200 MW/cm- at a
frequency of 2432 ± 4 MHz demonstrated
that microwave radiation can induce chromo-
some abnormalities. Biological studies
exposing guinea pigs to krypton-85 are being
conducted to develop credible standards for
krypton-85 concentrations in ambient air and
for release to the environs by nuclear
facilities. Radiochemical procedures were
developed for the analysis of environmental
samples for plutonium, neptunium, and
curium. Investigations will continue in these
areas by studying various parameters of
microwave exposure, completing some of the
krypton-85 bioeffects studies and initiating
others, and expanding the radiochemical and
instrumental methodology studies to include
other nuclides in environmental samples.
The Division of Ecological Research com-
pleted state-of-the-art surveys on stress cor-
rosion of metals and developed techniques for
evaluating air pollution damage to paints.
Other studies include a report on the bio-
logical effects of 15 heavy and/or trace
elements on the environment and a study of
the ecological effects of fluorides.
Figure 6. Control panel for microwave generator
utilized in low-level exposure studies with
Chinese hamsters.
TECHNICAL
INATION
INFORMATION DISSEM-
NERC/RTP endeavors to disseminate, as
rapidly as possible, newly developed informa-
tion through the holding of technical meet-
ings and the presentation and publication of
technical reports. NERC Laboratories have
sponsored at least six major technical events
since August 1971; listed chronologically,
they are:
• The Second International Lime/Lime-
stone Wet-Scrubbing Symposium, held
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
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November 8-12, 1971, in New Orleans
under the sponsorship of the Control
Systems Laboratory. The more than 50
papers presented dealt with five aspects of
wet-scrubbing: fundamental research, pilot-
scale research and development, prototype
and full-scale tests, and scaling, sampling,
and analytical methodology.
• Flame Day, U.S.A., held September 6-7,
1972, in Chicago under the cosponsorship
of the Control Systems Laboratory. Scien-
tific papers presented at the meeting dealt
with the practical applications of know-
ledge and new data as well as with the
immediate problems of design and oper-
ation" of stationary combustions sources to
meet present and impending controls.
• The American Medical Association's Air
Pollution Medical Research Conference,
held October 2-3, 1972, in Chicago under
the cosponsorship of the Human Studies
Laboratory. Participants at this Conference
reviewed the latest knowledge concerning
human illness related to air pollution.
Related topics included familial and
inherited response to air pollution, the
effects of air pollution on children, and
epidemiological studies.
• The Third International Conference on
Fluidized-Bed Combustion, held October
29-November 1, 1972, in Hueston Woods,
Ohio, under the sponsorship of the Control
Systems Laboratory. The more than 30
papers presented, as well as the closing
panel discussion, dealt with such aspects of
fluidized-bed combustion as coal com-
bustion and additive research, non-coal
fluidized-bed combustion processes, gasifi-
cation/desulfurization, conceptual designs
and economics, and pilot plant design,
construction, and operation.
• Photochemical Modeling Workshop, held
October 30-31, 1972, at NERC/RTP under
the sponsorship of the Chemistry and
Physics Laboratory. In addition to develop-
ing future directions of the Laboratory, the
Workshop established better lines of
communication between experimentalists
and modelers. Topics discussed were
elementary rate constants, reaction
mechanisms, smog chamber research, and
atmospheric measurements that are
required for model verification.
• Aerosol Chemisorption Conference, held
December 7-8, 1972, at NERC/RTP under
the sponsorship of the Chemistry and
Physics Laboratory. EPA scientific person-
nel and recipients of EPA/CLP-sponsored
research grants in related areas discussed
progress made in each grant area. Emphasis
was on the direction of objectives that
must be pursued in the future
A quantitative indicator of NERC/RTP's
scientific output is the large number of tech-
nical presentations and publications eman-
ating from its investigations. The Center's
scientists gave 232 presentations and pub-
lished 260 scientific reports during the period
of this Report, a list of which is planned for
issuance as a supplement to this Report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Section 2. INTRODUCTION
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Figure 7. Copper smelter located in one of several areas involved in CHESS program.
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Section 2
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
Our intent in publishing this, our first
Annual Report, is twofold:
FIRST, to introduce NERC/RTP (National
Environmental Research Center/Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina) to the national
and international spectrum of people and
professions interested in a cleaner environ-
ment; and
SECOND, to tell you something of our
history, organization, accomplishments,
current endeavors, and general goals.
Annual reports normally highlight the
accomplishment of organization over the past
year. Although that characteristic applies to
this Report, there is another function: the
Report is also a working document, a refer-
ence, on the individual NERC/RTP Labora-
tories and their current programs.
Thus, Sections 1, 2, and 3 discuss NERC/
RTF generally - a program summary for the
past year, its mission, history, organization,
and highlighted projects. Section 4 presents
more detailed information on the Director's
Office and on each NERC/RTP Laboratory -
its composition, facilities, progress made in its
current programs, and emphasis being placed
on future programs.
This Report covers the activities of the
Center from the time of its formation in
August 1971 through December 1972. A
supplement is being prepared listing the publi-
cations and presentations of each Laboratory
for this period.
MISSION
The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) was created on December 2, 1970, to
protect and enhance the living environment of
our Nation. This mission, to provide a better
environment, is the basis for the charge of the
Office of Research and Monitoring (OR&M)
- to furnish EPA with the knowledge to (1)
establish environmental controls based upon
existing or potentially adverse effects, and (2)
define and develop techniques to achieve a
wholesome environment.
OR&M accomplishes its plans through the
operation of four National Environmental
Research Centers located in Cincinnati
(Ohio), Corvallis (Oregon). Las Vegas
(Nevada), and Research Triangle Park (North
Carolina). The Center in North Carolina
conducts research and development programs
to provide EPA with scientific and techno-
logical bases for the establishment of criteria
and standards, and with pollution control
technologies to alleviate or deter adverse
effects, primarily upon human health. These
programs place emphasis on four major
research activities:
• The development and standardization of
techniques for the measurement of pol-
lutants, both at their source and in the
ambient environment.
• The quantification of the effect of
human exposure to environmental pol-
lutants on both health and welfare.
• The development of cost-effective con-
trol technologies.
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• The development of predictive models
for environmental levels of pollutants
through an understanding of pollutant
emissions, transport, transformation, and
removal.
NERC/RTP CAPABILITIES
NERC/RTP constitutes one of the largest
multidisciplinary research groups in existence
concentrating its efforts on solving environ-
mental problems. The knowledge obtained by
the Center will be the basis for standards of
quality to ensure a healthful, aesthetically
enhanced environment.
Research Programs
NERC/RTP has already established itself as
a center of excellence in certain areas of pol-
lution research and is developing expertise in
several others.
• Air Pollution — The Center conducts a
comprehensive air pollution research and
monitoring program. Research focuses on
both long- and short-term effects of air pol-
lutants, sampling and measurement
methodology, the formation and decay of
pollutants, ah- pollution meteorology, and
control technology research, development,
and demonstration relating to stationary
sources. In addition, the Center maintains
and operates a national ah- monitoring pro-
gram and a national environmental data
information service, develops environ-
mental quality criteria and state-of-the-art
documents, and operates EPA's fuel and
fuel additives registration program.
• Pesticides — Research is focused on the
development of more adequate analytical
methods and on the pharmacology and
toxicity of these chemicals.
• Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation —
Because the Center has a major interest in
the ionizing radiation from nuclear power
and reprocessing plants, it maintains pro-
grams to develop measurement techniques
for low levels of radiation in air and water
as well as in food and soil. Effects research
places emphasis on carefully selected
toxicology and epidemiology studies
needed for setting standards. Research is
also conducted to ensure that adverse
effects will not arise from current and pro-
jected exposures involving non-ionizing
radiation.
• Noise and Toxic Substances The
Center will be involved in conducting the
research necessary to implement the recent
Noise Control Act as well as pending
legislation on toxic substances.
Human Resources
The professional, technical, and clerical
staff at the Center numbers 626. Table 1
describes the variety of expertise present.
Figure 8. Investigator researching biological
effects of pesticides.
HISTORY
EPA was created by executive order of
President Nixon in December 1970. It was
designed by the President's Advisory Council
on Executive Organization, chaired by Roy
Ash of Litton Industries, as a regulatory
agency, with primary responsibilities for
establishing and enforcing environmental
10
INTRODUCTION
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Table 1. NERC/RTP PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Discipline
Biological and agri-
cultural sciences
Chemistry
Engineering
Health fields
Mathematical sciences
Physical sciences
Other
Totals
BS
20
48
36
11
8
6
129
I
BA
5
8
1
6
1
8
29
MS
16
25
38
7
14
29
3
132
MA
3
1
2
6
DVM
9
9
ScD
1
1
1
3
MD
20
20
PhD
12
33
15
10
4
10
3
87
Totals
56
115
90
47
36
49
22
415
standards within the limits of its various statu-
tory authorities.
The Council believed that the key standard-
setting functions should be performed outside
of agencies whose other interests might either
affect or be affected by those standards.
Accordingly, EPA was established as an
independent agency, bringing together, in one
central unit, the various anti-pollution pro-
grams already established in more than a
dozen different agencies. These programs
dealt with the most urgent environmental
problems in the United States - those which
pose immediate threats to human health:
impure water, polluted air, solid waste
disposal, pesticides and other toxic sub-
stances, and ionizing radiation. Since the
inception of the Agency, a noise pollution
program has been added to the five principal
programs that make up EPA.
The Council determined that the standard-
setting function should not stand alone; for
the standards to be soundly based requires a
research capability; to determine if the stand-
ards are being complied with requires a
monitoring capability. The Council was care-
ful, however, to identify for transfer to EPA
only those research functions that the new
Agency would need to fulfill its mission —
indeed, only those programs demonstrably
essential to EPA's functioning as a regulatory
agency. The result is a lean organization —
lean not only in terms of regulatory author-
ity, but also in terms of in-house and extra-
mural allocatable resources. While nearly $1
billion will be spent by Federal agencies in
1973 on environment-oriented research, the
total budget currently applied to EPA's
research and technological advancement
function is only a little over SI65 million a
year. Within this budget, EPA must provide
the competence to convert research into
standards and also to suggest needed research
so that, while EPA does not conduct all of the
research, it must ensure that "everything" is
being done.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
11
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Established by EPA in August 1971,
NERC/RTP has been in operation just more
than a year. Construction of the Center began
in 1969; Julie Nixon Eisenhower and EPA
Administrator William B. Ruckelshaus partici-
pated in the official dedication of the Center
on December 10, 1971. The third of four
National Environmental Research Centers to
be dedicated, it was assigned the general
theme of environmental health effects
research.
The Center is located in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina, an area between
Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. The major
universities of these cities provide specialized
resources which complement those of the
Center. The National Institute of Environ-
mental Health Sciences of the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW) was
also located in the Research Triangle Park so
that Federal environmental research programs
might be better coordinated.
The present 300,000-square-foot,
$10.5-million building (containing 200 labora-
tories) is being leased for 20 years. Certain
non-laboratory functions and administrative
support are located in Durham. Plans call for
the eventual construction of a permanent,
government-owned facility at Research
Triangle Park.
When Dr. Stanley M. Greenfield, EPA's
Assistant Administrator for Research and
Monitoring, established NERC/RTP, the
Bureau of Air Pollution Sciences (BAPS),
headed by Dr. Delbert S. Barth and already
located in North Carolina, became the core
organization. In August 1971, Dr. Barth
became NERC/RTP's first Director.
Subsequent to the formation of NERC/
RTP, three major associated laboratories were
assigned to the Center. The Twinbrook
Radiation Laboratory (Rockville, Maryland)
and the Eastern Environmental Radiation
Laboratory (Montgomery, Alabama) were
formerly under DHEW's Bureau of Radio-
logical Health. The Perrine Primate
Laboratory (Florida) — with its Chamblee
Toxicology Laboratory (Georgia) and
Wenatchee Field Research Station (Wash-
ington) — was under the U. S. Food and Drug
Administration. Twinbrook was relocated to
North Carolina in August 1972.
In 1972 NERC/RTP had a total of 626
employees and an operating budget of S62.7
million. Following Dr. Barth's transfer to
NERC/Las Vegas, Dr. John Finklea was
appointed Director in September 1972.
ORGANIZATION
Recently reorganized to reflect more
unified operation and to more clearly desig-
nate component activities and functions,
NERC/RTP consists of staff offices and
Laboratories depicted in the organization
chart. Directors of the component organiz-
ations can be contacted as indicated by the
locator chart. The new organizational titles
are used in this Report, although individual
program descriptions of their 1972 ac-
complishments reflect the former organiz-
ational format.
Functions of the various NERC/RTP com-
ponents are outlined in the following sub-
sections.
Human Studies Laboratory
Known formerly as the Division of Health
Effects Research, the Human Studies Labora-
tory (HSL) conducts studies to define the
dose-response relationships between environ-
mental pollutants and specific undesirable
effects. These studies include both clinical
and epidemiological investigations. Major
emphasis is placed on collecting sufficient
information to (1) formulate, evaluate, and
revise environmental quality criteria, and (2)
assess the health impact of control tech-
nology. The Laboratory provides vital health
12
INTRODUCTION
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WENATCHEE FIELD SITE
WENATCHEE. WASH.i
CKA.11BLEE TOXICOLOGY LABORATORY
EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL
RADIATION LABORATORY
(MONTGOMERY. ALA.I
PERRINE PRIMATE
LABORATORY
(PERRINE, FLA.)
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
RESEARCH CENTER
•^ iRTP NCl
S/\ 57
Figure 9. Location of NERC/RTP associate laboratories.
ADMINISTRATOR
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
RESEARCH AND MONITORING
OFFICE
OF
DIRECTOR
NERC/RTP
OFFICE
OF
ADMINISTRATION
HUVAN
STUDIES
LABORATORY
EXPERIMENTAL
BIOLOGY
LABORATORY
PRIMATES AND
PESTICIDES
EFFECTS
LABORATORY
CHEMISTRY
AND PHYSICS
LABORATORY
CONTROL
SYSTEMS
LABORATORY
METEOROLOGY
LABORATORY
QUALITY
ASSURANCE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING
LABORATORY
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
13
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intelligence for the control of environmental
pollutants which may adversely affect human
health. Health intelligence is based upon care-
fully designed sets of human and toxicologic
experiments that deal with specific problems.
Experimental Biology Laboratory
Formerly called Twinbrook Radiation
Laboratory, the Experimental Biology
Laboratory (EBL) conducts and manages bio-
logical research designed to detect, define,
and quantify the effects of environmental pol-
lutants. This research involves laboratory
studies of intact animals or cellular and sub-
cellular systems living in a controlled and
simulated environment. Major emphasis is
placed on developing information for formu-
la ting and revising environmental quality
criteria in support of human health studies.
Primate and Pesticides Effects Laboratory
Known previously as the Perrine Primate
Laboratory, the Primate and Pesticides
Effects Laboratory (PPEL) conducts research
to provide data for the intelligent assessment
of the hazard to human health caused by
exposure to single pesticides, to combinations
of pesticides, and pesticides in combination
with other environmental factors. The studies
are concerned with identifying pesticides,
their metabolites, and any adverse effects on
normal biological functions. The Laboratory
evaluates and improves the techniques and
chemical mehtods for direct and indirect
measurement of exposure to pesticides.
The Bioeffects Branch, using non-primates,
conducts acute toxicology studies on the
human health hazards of pesticides. The
Branch also studies the methods of diagnosing
poisoning cases and provides analytical
services to Federal, State, and local health
officials in suspected cases of pesticide
poisoning.
The Wenatchee Research Station investi-
gates occupationally and environmentally
exposed individuals under conditions of
actual field usage of pesticides.
Chemistry and Physics Laboratory
The Chemistry and Physics Laboratory
(CPL) conducts a research and development
program in the chemistry and physics of
environmental control. The Laboratory
develops instruments and techniques for the
measurement of environmental contaminants,
including air pollutants covered by National
Ambient Air Quality Standards, New-Source
Performance Standards, Emission Standards
for Hazardous Pollutants, and Mobile Source
Emission Standards. Other environmental
contaminants measured include radioactive
materials, aeroallergens, and aerocarcinogens.
The Laboratory also determines the chemical
and physical transformations that pollutants
undergo from source to receptor in the atmos-
phere, and develops and applies methodology
for characterizing and determining the phys-
ical effects of the emissions associated with
the use of fuels and fuel additives. Lastly,
CPL conducts research on the effects of
pollutants on materials.
Control Systems Laboratory
The Control Systems Laboratory (CSL)
conducts, directs, and manages engineering
research, development, and demonstration
programs leading to the abatement of air pol-
lution from all stationary sources. Laboratory
activities encompass development and im-
provement of control devices such as scrub-
bers, filters, and electrostatic precipitators;
complete effluent gas treatment processes;
combustion methods and equipment; fuel
preparation technology; and associated
sampling and analysis instrumentation
systems. CSL also provides additional support
in the areas of emissions forecasting, control
strategies, and national energy policies.
14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
-------
Meteorology Laboratory
The Meteorology Laboratory (MTL)
develops and conducts research concerned
with the meteorological aspects of air pol-
lution, including theoretical and experimental
studies of the physical processes affecting the
transport, diffusion, transformation, and
disposition of air pollutants in and from the
atmosphere. The Laboratory develops and
improves techniques and methods to forecast
potential air pollution episodes; develops ana-
lytical diffusion models to predict the
temporal and spatial distribution of air pol-
lutants; conducts studies on the effects of air
pollutants on the geophysical processes of
weather and climate, as well as the energy
balance of the earth-atmosphere system;
develops remote sensing techniques for
measuring meteorological parameters in urban
areas; and provides meteorological services to
other EPA activities.
Quality Assurance and Environmental
Monitoring Laboratory
Formerly known as the Division of Atmos-
pheric Surveillance, the Quality Assurance
and Environmental Monitoring Laboratory
(QAEML) provides laboratory and technical
service capability for the analysis of environ-
mental samples for a variety of trace elements
and other substances. It provides specialized
monitoring field support teams and technical
assistance support to EPA Regional Offices
and to local air pollution control agencies.
Furthermore, the Laboratory operates the
nationwide fuel surveillance network, stand-
ardizes air pollution measurement methods,
and ensures the quality of the air monitoring
activities mandated by the Clean Air Act.
Division of Ecological Research/Eastern
Environmental Radiation Laboratory
The Division of Ecological Research (DER)
was transferred to NERC/Corvallis in January
1973; its program description and activity
summary will be reported by NERC/Corvallis.
Projects conducted under NERC/RTP func-
tions located at the Eastern Environmental
Radiation Laboratory are reported in Section
4 of this Report.
FUNDING SUMMARY
Table 2 summarizes the funding and posi-
tions allotted to NERC/RTP Laboratories
during Fiscal Years 1972 and 1973. The fund-
ing, reflecting the increasing emphasis being
placed on solving environmental pollution
problems, includes that from all sources —
direct operations, contracts, grants, and inter-
agency agreements. For Fiscal Year 1971,
NERC/RTP Laboratories operated on a
budget of $52,413,000 with 752 employees.
That same year, the Center had an additional
82 "temporary" employees, a number that
was reduced to 64 by Fiscal Year 1972.
Table 2. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR ALL
NERC/RTP LABORATORIES FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1972 and 1973
Component
Director's Office
Human Studies Lab
Experimental Biology Lai)
Pnmjte and Pesticides
Effects Lub
Chemistry and Physics Lab
Control Systems Lab
Meteorology Ljb
FY 1972
(SOOOI/Positions
1,678/32
5,030/109
2,223/63
2,616/85
9,871/89
24,026/95
3,777/13
Qu.ility Assurance and Environ- 3,229/103
mi-ntcil Monitoring Ldb
Eastern Environmental
Radiation Laba
Division of Ecological
Rese.irch'5
Totals
773/34
2,022/30
55,245/653
FY 1973
(SOOOI/Positions
1.460/31
8.223/106
2.254/50
2.658/85
8.829/83
27,011/95
6.196/15
3,496/92
806/43
1,815/26
62.748/626
''includes only those projects conducted under NERC/RTP
functions located at EERL.
^The Division of Ecological Research was .transferred to
NERC/Corvallis in January 1973.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
15
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NERC/RTP LOCATOR CHART
Organization
National Environmental Research Center, RTP
Human Studies Lab
Experimental Biology Lab
Primate and Pesticides Effects Lab
Chamblee Toxicology Lab
Wenatchee Research Station
Chemistry and Physics Lab
Control Systems Lab
Meteorology Lab
Cti Quality Assurance and Environmental
^ Monitoring Lab
m
Abbreviation
NERC/RTP
HSL
EBL
PPEL
CTL
WRS
CPL
CSL
MTL
QAEML
Director
John F. Finklea
Carl M. Shy
R. John Garner
William F. Durham
Renate Kimbrough
Homer R.Wolfe
A. Paul Altshuller
John K. Burchard
L. E. Niemeyer
S. David Shearer
FTS Phone No.
(919) 549-2281
(919) 549-2242
(919) 549-2771
(305) 350-2251
(404) 633-5216
(509) 663-8331
(919)549-2191
(919)688-8335
(919) 549-4541
(919) 549-2106
Address
Research Triangle Park, N. C, 2771 1
Research Triangle Park, N. C. 27711
Research Triangle Park, N. C. 2771 1
Box 490, Perrine, Fla. 33157
4770 Buford Hwy., Chamblee, Ga.
30341
P.O. Box 73, Wenatchee, Wash. 98801
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
Research Triangle Park, N. C. 27711
Research Triangle Park, N. C. 2771 1
Research Triangle Park, N. C. 277II
O
g
h— 1
<
Cfl
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Section 3. SPECIAL FEATURES
-------
Section 3
SPECIAL FEATURES
Several of the Center's people and pro-
grams are of special interest because of their
actual and potential impact on the solution of
environmental problems. From several pos-
sibilities, this Section focuses on one of
NERC/RTP's outstanding scientists. Dr. A.
Paul Altshuller, and three of the Center's
ongoing programs of significance: the
Community Health and Environmental Sur-
veillance System (CHESS), the Regional Air
Pollution Study (RAPS), and demonstrations
of emission controls for sulfur oxides.
A. PAUL ALTSHULLER
During the past 10 years, one of the more
important areas of research in air pollution
control has been that of the chemistry of
atmospheric pollutants. Dr. A. P. Altshuller
has personally conducted and supervised a
wide range of work on the nature of chemical
reactions in the atmosphere. He has developed
a comprehensive research and development
program, giving special regard to the chemical
and physical properties of air pollutants, their
reactions, and their measurement. Under his
leadership, the research program has grown
from a modest section to the Center's Chem-
istry and Physics Laboratory with approxi-
mately 100 people and a research budget of
about 59 million per year. He has built a
strong, competent research group that has
made significant contributions in many areas,
including analytical techniques, instrumen-
tation, reaction kinetics, and analysis of
potential cancer-producing compounds in
urban ah".
Figure 10. Dr. A. Paul Altshuller, Director,
Chemistry and Physics Laboratory.
Dr. Altshuller has published about 125
papers related to spectrophotometric analysis,
gas chromatography, coulometric analysis,
infrared spectrophotometry, photochemistry
and kinetics, solution thermodynamics, sta-
tistical thermodynamics, thermochemistry,
and various aspects of atmospheric chemistry.
He has authored or co-authored several
reviews of photochemical aspects of air pol-
lution, photochemical reactivity, and atmos-
pheric analysis. He was chairman of the ACS
Committee on Air Pollution and the ACS
19
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Division of Water, Air, and Waste Chemistry.
Dr. Altshuller received the Eighteenth Annual
(1967) Cincinnati Chemist Award of the
Cincinnati Section, American Chemical
Society, and the Frank A, Chambers Award
of the Air Pollution Control Association in
1970 for outstanding achievement. In 1971
he was awarded the Environmental Protection
Agency Silver Medal for superior service. Dr.
Alshuller is also on the editorial boards of
Atmospheric Environment and Chemosphere.
Dr. Altshuller received his B.S. at the
University of Chicago in 1948 and his M.S.
and Ph.D. degrees in 1950 and 1951 from the
University of Cincinnati. From 1951 to 1955
he was aeronautical research scientist engaged
in fuels research with what is now the Lewis
Research Center of NASA. Since 1955 he has
held various research assignments in the air
pollution program of the Public Health
Service in Cincinnati. He assumed his present
position, Director of the Chemistry and
Physics Laboratory, in January 1969.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ENVIRON-
MENTAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
The Community Health and Environmental
Surveillance System (CHESS) is a national
program of standardized epidemiologic
studies organized within the past 3 years,
designed to simultaneously measure environ-
mental quality and sensitive acute and chronic
health indicators in sets of communities
representing exposure gradients to common
air pollutants including particulates, sulfur
oxides, nitrogen '.xides, and photochemical
oxidants.
The CHESS program now includes 33
neighborhoods in six areas of the country:
New York-New Jersey, Chattanooga, Birming-
ham-Charlotte, St. Louis, Utah, and the Los
Angeles Basin. The seven health indicators
under surveillance in these neighborhoods
include chronic respiratory disease in adults,
acute lower respiratory disease in children,
Figure 11. Pulmonary function test using spiro-
meter to measure lung capacity.
acute upper respiratory disease in families,
daily asthma frequency, acute irritation
symptoms during air pollution episodes, pul-
monary function of school children, and
tissue residues of cumulative pollutants in
humans. In addition, daily aggravation of
symptoms in subjects with pre-existing heart
and lung disease is being followed in New
York and Utah CHESS neighborhoods.
CHESS studies completed in the 1970-71
school year were analyzed and reported in 20
papers assembled into an EPA monograph
entitled Health Consequences of Sulfur
Oxides: A Report from CHESS, 1970-1971.
The studies revealed a wide range of subtle
and overt adverse effects on the cardio-
respiratory system to be attributable to pol-
lutant exposure. Elementary school children
were found to have measurable decreases in
lung function; healthy respondents reported
bothersome irritation during episodic ele-
vations in pollutant levels; families living in
more polluted communities reported more
acute respiratory illness; panelists with
chronic disorders such as asthma, chronic
bronchitis, and heart disease reported aggra-
vation of their symptoms when short-term air
pollution exposures increased; and adults
living in more polluted communities for
20
SPECIAL FEATURES
-------
several years developed chronic bronchitis
significantly more frequently than adults
living in less polluted communities. In
addition, the studies revealed the entirely new
finding that adverse health effects are
consistently associated with exposure to
suspended sulfates, more so than to sulfur
dioxide or total suspended particulate matter.
The studies were also able to demonstrate
both the benefit of improved air quality with
respect to the chronic respiratory disease
experience of subjects who moved out of New
York City to lower-exposure communities,
and the apparent beneficial effect of
improvements in air quality in that city on
ventilatory performance of younger children.
The above report focused on health effects
of sulfur oxides. Analyses and reports of
health effects produced by other pollutants
being measured in CHESS are planned for the
future.
The CHESS program is essential to evaluate
existing environmental standards, to obtain
health intelligence for new controls, and to
document the health benefits of air pollution
control.
CONTROL OF SULFUR OXIDES IN FLUE GAS
Figure 12a. Wet limestone scrubbing system at
TVA Shawnee coal-fired power plant (Paducah,
Kentucky).
Figure 12b. Magnesium scrubbing system for
S02 removal.
Figure 12c. Key West, Florida, oil-fired power
plant using wet limestone scrubbing system.
Figure 12d.
system.
Catalytic oxidation scrubbing
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
21
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The four power plants shown here are Con-
trol Systems Laboratory (CSL) funded
demonstrations representing the most
advanced programs to control SOX by flue gas
treatment. Representing EPA funding totaling
nearly $22 million to date (exclusive of local
operations), these programs include:
• TVA's testing of three different lime/
limestone prototype scrubbers utilizing
by-product disposal in settling ponds.
• A regenerative scrubber process utilizing
magnesium oxide with either a sulfur or a
sulfuric acid by-product.
• The City of Key West's use of a fourth
type of scrubber; this one uses a coral marl
sorbent.
• Illinois Power's use of catalytic oxi-
dation to produce sulfuric acid.
An already completed demonstration, not
shown here, indicated the possibility of
limited application of dry limestone injection.
Other demonstrations of flue gas treatment
processes, either under development or being
actively considered by CSL, are:
• The Wellman Lord/Allied Chemical pro-
cess, using sodium ion scrubbing with
thermal regeneration to produce a sulfur
by-product.
• The Stone & Webster/Ionics process,
using sodium ion scrubbing with elec-
trolytic regeneration.
• Ammonium bisulfate scrubbing.
• Activated char sorption.
• Double-alkali scrubbing.
REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION STUDY
The Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS),
a 5-year research program initiated in July
1972, will bring together a number of areas of
research: air pollution effects, atmospheric
processes, monitoring and analytical methods,
ambient air quality surveillance, source
characterization, and control strategies. A
series of field investigations on a regional scale
(over distances of the order of 100 kilo-
meters) will be carried out in the St. Louis
area. EPA will coordinate the RAPS with the
experiments of other private groups and
Federal agencies in the St. Louis area.
The RAPS is recognized as a means for
EPA to demonstrate and evaluate how well
the effectiveness of air pollution control
strategies may be assessed and predicted
within an air quality region, and to provide a
basis for developing improved control
strategies. Four principal objectives of the
RAPS are:
• To evaluate the capability of mathe-
matical air quality simulation models to
describe and predict the transport, dif-
fusion, and concentration of both inert and
reactive pollutants over a regional area.
• To develop an unproved understanding
of the chemical, physical, and biological
processes that are entailed in determining
the concentration (the dispersal) of pol-
lutants and the modification of air quality.
• To develop a better understanding of
factors of significance to the design of
improved control strategies in the urban/
rural complex.
• To develop improved technology that
can be applied in local and regional control
agency operations.
The major data sources in the St. Louis
area will be a very detailed emissions inven-
tory and a network of instruments measuring
air quality and meteorological parameters.
Stationary sources will be studied to
determine the chemical content, release
schedule, and physical characteristics (such as
release heights) of each significant emission.
Air quality monitors will be installed and
operated at some 30 fixed sites, and their data
will be telemetered automatically to a central
computer for immediate initial evaluation and
storage. The fixed stations will be arranged in
concentric circles of increasing radius from
the Gateway Arch.
22
SPECIAL FEATURES
-------
Other sources of information will include
soundings by helicopter to determine the
vertical distribution of pollution, balloon
soundings of meteorological parameters, and
aircraft sampling over wider ranges. Tracers
will be added at selected sources to help
identify pollutants for studies of mixing and
of the chemical transformations resulting
therefrom. These samples will then be
promptly analyzed in nearby stationary or
mobile laboratories.
Most of the RAPS functions will be con-
tracted to private industry, with initial yearly
funding of $5 million. Pending a successful
RAPS in St. Louis, EPA will consider other
Regional Studies in more complicated areas,
e.g., coastal or mountainous regions.
Figure 13. St. Louis, Missouri - site of Regional Air Pollution Study.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
23
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Section 4. LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
Figure 14a. Mobile sampling vehicle.
Figure 14b. Strip chart recorder indicating car-
bon monoxide concentrations outside of vehicle.
Figure 14c. Temperature sensor and transmitter
used in tire-particulate-emission studies.
26
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Section 4
LABORATORY REPORTS
This Section gives details of the individual
NERC/RTP Laboratories (including the
Office of the Director) and their programs. In
addition to detailing the overall mission and
organization of each, this Section provides a
summary, highlights major accomplishments,
and points up future research emphasis for
each Laboratory.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
The Office of the Director provides overall
guidance to, and assumes overall responsi-
bility for, the functions ascribed to the
various NERC/RTP Laboratories. In addition
to the program coordination activities of its
normal staffing, this Office provides a
valuable service through its Special Studies
Staff.
Special Studies Staff
In addition to performing intermittent
short-term studies, the Special Studies Staff is
involved in four major research areas:
characterization of pollutants, registration of
fuels and fuel additives, studies in environ-
mental economics, and coordination of
NERC/RTP components in international
activities.
Characterization of pollutants consists of
collecting, summarizing, and evaluating
information concerning the effects of specific
air pollutants on human health, animals, and
vegetation, and the non-biologic effects such
as modification of visibility and weathering of
materials. Characterization also includes
obtaining qualitative and quantitative
information on the sources of pollutants,
form(s) of pollutants, reactivity of materials,
methods for collecting and quantitating pol-
lutants, and strategies for controlling
pollutants.
The fuel and fuel additives registration pro-
gram, established under authority of the 1967
Clean Air Act, consists of registering informa-
tion on the chemical composition, purpose in
use, and recommended concentration of
additives used in motor gasoline introduced
into interstate commerce. Quarterly reports
are required from fuel manufacturers pro-
viding usage data for registered additives. In
addition, fuel and additive manufacturers are
required to provide information concerning
the mechanism of action, effects on exhaust
composition, and toxicity of the additive-
related exhaust products, if known. The fuel
and fuel additives research program is
administered under Program Element
1A1002. Current projects include:
• Methodology development to assess the
effects of the combustion products of fuels
and fuels containing additives on gaseous
and particulate emissions, emission control
device performance, and atmospheric
visibility.
• Characterization of emission products
resulting from the combustion of fuels and
fuels containing additives, including those
emissions resulting from the use of such
fuels and fuels containing additives with
emission control devices.
• Development of toxicological screening
systems to assess the potential adverse
effects of combustion products from fuels
27
-------
and fuels containing additives on public
health.
• Development of protocol to assess the
effects of fuels and fuels containing addi-
tives on public health and welfare.
In the program, "Economic Evaluation of
Pollution Effects on Human Health and Wel-
fare," the effects of environmental pollution
damage on human health and welfare are
analyzed within the framework of economic
theory. This is done by translating physical,
biological, and welfare damage functions into
the language of economics and by developing
and testing theoretical constructs and
methodologies in which the social costs of
environmental pollution can be explained.
The Special Studies Staff coordinates the
participation of NERC/RTP and its com-
ponents in international activities involving:
• The World Health Organization's Inter-
national Reference Center for Air Pollution
Control.
• The Organization for Economic Cooper-
ation and Development.
• Three groups in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization's Committee for the
Concern of Modern society — the Modeling
Panel, the Atmospheric Assessment Panel,
and the Air Quality Criteria Panel.
• The U.S. Special Foreign Currency
Program.
• The World Meteorological Organization's
global monitoring networks.
• The Economic Commission for Europe.
• Contractual and personal arrangements
with foreign firms and governments.
Resources
Resources of the Director's Office, exclu-
sive of those of the NERC/RTP Laboratories,
are listed in Table 3.
Table 3. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR OFFICE
OF DIRECTOR, NERC/RTP. FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1972 and 1973
Category
Program management —
R&M
Pollutant characterization
Fuel and fuel additives
registration
Economic criteria
Totals
FY 1972
(SOOO I/Positions
341 16
884 '11
43 1 '4
22/1
1,678 '32
FY 1973
(SO OOUPositlOns
331 '15
805/9
280 '5
44/2
1,460/31
28
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
Figure 15. Obtaining electroencephalogram in
carbon monoxide study.
Figure 16. Treadmill exercise to provide data for
cardiovascular studies.
30
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HUMAN STUDIES LABORATORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
The Human Studies Laboratory (HSL), the
former Health Effects Research Division,
researches the relationships between environ-
mental pollutants, singly or in combination,
and their specific undesirable health effects.
This research includes clinical studies on
human subjects and epidemiologic studies on
human populations. Major emphasis is placed
on the collection of sufficient information for
formulating environmental controls and thus
providing bases for establishing national
environmental or emission standards for
pollutants or source categories that endanger
human health or welfare.
Analysis of the economic value of the
health effects is an integral part of the pro-
gram. The Laboratory also provides staff
support to NERC/RTP and the Office of
Research and Monitoring. This support
includes preparing replies to congressional
correspondence, testifying at public hearings
or in court, serving on special task forces, and
reviewing various documents.
Organization
The HSL is divided into the Office of the
Director and five Branches. The Office of the*
Director coordinates all activities of the
Laboratory. From interactions with ORM and
NERC/RTP, it develops long- and short-term
goals for the Laboratory and serves as a focal
point for program planning. The Director
provides both for the periodic review of
Laboratory programs to assess their progress,
and for the rapid and competent response to
requests from higher echelons of the Agency.
The Epidemiology Branch conducts studies
on man in his natural environment to discern
the effects of pollution on physiologic
responses and existing disease. The Branch
also detects predisposing factors that con-
tribute to the development of various disease
states.
The Biometry Branch participates in the
design and analysis of research studies within
the Laboratory and provides a high degree of
competency in the specific areas of statistical
design and analysis, computer programming,
and data processing. It conducts research in
statistical and computer-oriented areas which
are related to the aims of the Laboratory.
The Bio-Environmental Measurement
Branch conducts a comprehensive program of
environmental measurements of synthetically
produced and naturally polluted environ-
ments. These measurements relate and define
the physiological and pathological responses
of (1) human subjects to environmental
pollutants in bio-medical laboratory research
studies and (2) selected population groups in
epidemiologic research studies.
HUMAN STUDIES LABORATORY
EPIDEMIOLOGY
BRANCH
BIOMETRY
BRANCH
BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL
MEASUREMENT
BRANCH
CLINICAL
STUDIES
BRANCH
BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL
LABORATORY
BRANCH
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
31
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The Clinical Studies Branch conducts
laboratory studies to detect and define effects
of environmental pollutants on human health,
verify correlative epidemiological findings,
and develop new or improved existing
methodology for the application to human
health effects studies in the laboratory and
community situations. This Branch is com-
posed of several associated smaller laboratory
units in which specialized research is
conducted.
The Bio-Environmental Laboratory Branch
provides the chemical support for the Labora-
tory. This support includes performing chem-
ical analyses of environmental and biological
samples, as well as planning research to
determine appropriate methodology for
environmental or biological analyses. The
Branch also conducts research and develop-
ment projects related to detection of
pollutant-induced changes in human
populations.
Table 4. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR HUMAN
STUDIES LABORATORY, NERC/RTP, FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1972 and 1973
Category
Community health effects
surveillance studies
Biomedical tesearch
Radiation epidemic
logical research
Totals '
FY 1972
(SOOO I/Positions
2,038 43
2. 992 '66
5,030 109
FY 1973
(SOOOi/Positions
6,505 80
1,398/17
3209
8,223 106
Physical Facilities
The Human Studies Laboratory has facil-
ities both in the Research Triangle Park and in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Much of the
research conducted by this Laboratory is
done in cooperation with the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laboratories in
both locations are equipped with the most
modem analytical instruments; these include
gas/liquid chromatographs, atomic absorption
spectrometer with a heated graphite atomizer,
ultra-centrifuges, disc gel and slab electro-
phoresis, radioactive strip-scanning devices,
and liquid scintillation spectrometers.
In October 1972 the administrative offices
and central laboratories of the Clinical
Research Branch were relocated in the
Clinical Environmental Research Laboratories
building on the periphery of the UNC Medical
Center complex in Chapel Hill. This is a
special-purpose building complete with a high-
bay area constructed specifically to assist in
fulfilling EPA medical research objectives and
to provide special-purpose laboratories and
support areas. These special-purpose labora-
tories include:
• Controlled environment laboratories.
• Cardiovascular research laboratory with
facilities for perfecting and validating non-
invasive cardiovascular physiology measure-
ment techniques and for processing cardio-
vascular data from animal studies.
• Experimental surgery and acute animal-
exposure rooms with independent ventil-
ation, impervious walls and ceiling, floor
drain, and four animal-exposure chambers.
• Psychophysiology laboratory for human
behavioral and psychophysiologic studies.
• Pulmonary physiology laboratory for
developing and validating new techniques
for pulmonary function measurement.
• Clinical metabolism laboratory for per-
forming routine and specialized human and
animal clinical chemistry analyses.
• Several peripheral laboratories including
the research pulmonary laboratory at the
Frank Porter Graham Child Development
Center in Chapel Hill, the exercise physi-
ology laboratory, and the pathology
laboratories.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
The HSL conducts activities in two major
program areas: field epidemiological studies in
ambient pollution exposure situations and
32
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
laboratory studies in animals and human sub-
jects under experimentally produced exposure
conditions. The field epidemiologic investi-
gations are identified by the acronym CHESS.
(See the Special Features article on CHESS
elsewhere in this Report.) Studies that are
currently in progress in 33 communities pro-
vide gradients of exposure to total suspended
particulates, respirable suspended particulates,
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and photo-
chemical oxidants.
Laboratory studies include investigation of
acute and chronic toxicity of specific
materials in cultured cell systems, in animal
models, and, when possible, in human sub-
jects. Other areas of study include inter-
actions of multiple pollutants, effect of
pollutants on defense mechanisms against
biologic pathogens, and the relationship of
pollution exposure to the development of
carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic
processes.
Human clinical studies include investigation
of the acute effects of short exposure to levels
of CO sufficient to produce 5 to 10 percent
COH in blood and of the effects of chronic
exposure for period of several weeks to
monitor low levels of specific heavy metals.
To date, the chronic-exposure studies have
been limited to lead and manganese.
Major Accomplishments
Major field study accomplishments during
FY 1972 involved mainly the CHESS pro-
gram. CHESS was greatly expanded during
FY 1972 to include 33 neighborhoods in six
areas of the country. Studies completed in the
1970-1971 school year were analyzed and
reported in the EPA monograph, Health
Consequences of Sulfur Oxides: A Report
from the CHESS Program, 1970-1971. These
studies revealed the entirely new finding that
adverse human health effects are consistently
associated with exposure to suspended
sulfates, more so than to sulfur dioxide or
total suspended particulate matter. The
results are highly significant in that suspended
sulfates are dispersed far more widely
throughout the northeast and at greater
distances from urban emission sources than is
gaseous sulfur dioxide.
CHESS studies demonstrated the benefits
of improved air quality on chronic respiratory
disease as experienced by subjects who moved
out of New York City to low- exposure
communities. Furthermore, recent improve-
ments in air quality in New York appeared to
benefit the lung function of younger children.
Similarly, children living in polluted com-
munities for 3 or more years were found to
have more acute respiratory disease episodes
than recent immigrants to that community,
suggesting that improved air quality would
prevent this adverse response.
In the area of laboratory studies, data
crucial to the support of existing short-term
carbon monoxide standards were obtained
through in-house studies. Controlled human
exposures to 50 ppm carbon monoxide for 4
hours caused significant electrocardiographic
disturbances in exercising adults 40 years of
age and older who had no previous evidence
of heart disease. Furthermore, these low-level
exposures shortened the time interval
required to produce chest pain in exercising
subjects who were known to experience chest
pain upon exertion. Thus, low-level carbon
monoxide exposure was shown to enhance
the pre-clinical and clinical signs of arterio-
sclerotic heart disease in moderately stressed
subjects.
Future Research Emphasis
The CHESS program will place strong
emphasis on consistent relationships in com-
munities over space and time. Resulting data
will provide sound quantitative information
to assess health costs of exposure and benefits
of control for the major urban air pollutants.
Timely reporting of CHESS results will be
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
33
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emphasized, enabling the Agency to evaluate
the impact of existing standards, the need for
revising standards, and the desirability of
taking new control actions.
The Laboratory will assemble a national
tissue bank to derive new health data on trace
metals, synthetic organic compounds, and
other multimedia toxic substances. Personal
monitors of human exposure and physiologic
effects can be developed to quantitate human
dose-response relationships under changing
indoor and outdoor circumstances. Also, with
completion of the human-exposure facility in
Chapel Hill early in FY 1974, rapid-response
studies of human exposure to gaseous pol-
lutants, noise, and non-ionizing electro-
magnetic radiation can be conducted to
support Agency needs.
Other major efforts during FY 1973 will be
directed toward:
• Publication of a summary on the effects
of CO exposure on behavior and physi-
ology that can be used to support the
primary ambient air quality standards.
• Completion of a Clinical Laboratory
Evaluation and Assessment of Noxious
Substances (CLEANS) program to
determine behavioral and physiologic
effects of acute exposure to controlled
levels of pollution.
• Establishment of a dose-response curve
relating to the development of thyroid
tumors in children exposed to diagnostic
doses of radioactive iodine.
• Publication of the monographs Health
Consequences of SO2 Air Pollution and
Health Consequences of Respirable Parti cu-
late Air Pollution,
Figure 17. Doctors confer on data obtained in cardiovascular studies.
34
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
Figure 18. Inverted microscope utilized in bacteriology studies.
36
-------
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY LABORA-
TORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
The predecessor of the Experimental
Biology Laboratory (EBL), the former Twin-
brook Radiation Laboratory, came into being
with the formation of EPA through the
binary division of the Division of Biological
Effects, Bureau of Radiological Health,
DHEW. The mission of the Laboratory has
been to conduct an intra- and extramural
research program to study the extent and
effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
in the environment. Results of the epidemic-
logic studies and animal investigations sup-
ported by the Laboratory have been aimed at
defining environmental radiation health
hazards and providing data on which to base
criteria used in developing radiation exposure
standards. As EBL, the Laboratory conducts
and manages biological research designed to
detect, define, and quantify the effects of
environmental pollution.
Organization
EBL consists of the Office of the Director
and five Branches. The Director provides
direction to the Laboratory's studies and
research designed to evaluate the effects of
environmental pollutants in terms of specific
and undesirable effects. He also ensures that
the major emphasis of the Laboratory
research is placed on developing information
for formulating and revising environmental
quality criteria in support of human health
studies.
The Pathobiology Research Branch was
formed in FY 1973 from the personnel and
ACTION program of the Cellular Biology
Section, Biomedical Research Branch, Human
Studies Laboratory. It conducts intramural,
contract, and grant investigations of the
effects of environmental pollutants upon
cellular and organ system models of human
disease. These models include both risk
factors for chronic disorders and models of
specific acute or chronic diseases. Included
are in vivo and in vitro models for infectious,
neoplastic, and other non-infectious con-
ditions. The morphologic and functional
integrity of cellular and organ systems is used
to elucidate effects of environmental
pollutants.
The Toxicology Branch investigates the
acute and chronic effects of low-level
exposure of whole animals to environmental
pollutants; these studies quantify the absorp-
tion, distribution, storage, mobilization, bio-
transformation, and excretion of environ-
mental pollutants and the biological effects of
pollutants in selected species. The effects
EXPERIMENTAL
BIOLOGY LABORATORY
PATHOBIOLOGY
RESEARCH
BRANCH
TOXICOLOGY
BRANCH
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
BRANCH
TECHNICAL
STUDIES
BRANCH
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
AND BEHAVIORAL
RESEARCH BRANCH
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
37
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selected relate to risk factors for acute illness,
chronic disease, and reproduction.
The Molecular Biology Branch investigates
the biological, chemical, and physical effects
upon cellular, subcellular, and macro-
molecular systems, with particular reference
to biogenetic effects. Special emphasis is
placed on utilization and development of in
vitro screening systems that may be used to
evaluate mutagenic, carcinogenic, and overall
potential toxicity of various environmental
agents.
The Technical Studies Branch provides
technical support to other branches within
the Experimental Biology Laboratory and
conducts special studies involving dosimetry,
instrument development, and analytical
methods. Areas of support include biometry,
data processing, computer programming, bio-
environmental engineering, and monitoring.
The Neurophysiology and Behavioral
Research Branch investigates the acute and
chronic effects of low-level pollutants,
particularly microwave radiation and
exposure of animals to noise. Techniques of
neurophysiology offer an excellent tool to
examine subtle effects from low-level
exposure.
Table 5.SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR EXPERI-
MENTAL BIOLOGY LABORATORY, NERC/RTP,
FOR FISCAL YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
Radiation epidemiological
research
Radiation health effects
research
Radiation methods and
measurements
Biomedical research
Totals
FY 1972
(SOOOl/Positions
479 12
1,522 41
222 10
-
2.223/63
FY 1973
(SOOOl/Positions
...
1,033 32
154 7
1.067/11
2,254/50
Physical Facilities
The Experimental Biology Laboratory's
microwave exposure facility, located at
NERC/RTP, is unique. The microwave source
is a fixed-frequency, commercial-band (2450
MHz) magnetron, operating continuous-wave
with a variable power output ranging from
zero to 3000 watts. The transmitting horn
antenna is in a shielded anechoic chamber
that is absorber-lined to provide a simulated
free-space environment, essentially free of
complex electromagnetic wave reflections.
The microwave generator produces precisely
known and reproducible exposure conditions
for the various bioeffects studies. The range
of exposure power densities used is from 10
MW/cm2to400mW/cm2.
The immediate environment of the ir-
radiated animal is regulated with respect to
temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity,
and atmospheric gas concentrations. The
microwave generator and the environmental
control system are both designed for com-
puter operation. The control facility uses a
Xerox CF-16 minicomputer for both experi-
ment control and data acquisition. The
central processing unit has 16,000 words of
central core, with a fixed-head disc memory
providing the base for the operating system. A
single, 9-track, 800-BPI, magnetic tape trans-
port, also interfaced to the system, is used for
source program development and for data
storage from the various experiments. The
system also has analog and digital interfaces
for controlling the various items of ancillary
instrumentation.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
The laboratory is currently investigating
the biological effects of tritium and krypton,
the major environmental radioactive contam-
inants from nuclear reactor and fuel-
reprocessing plant operations. Present efforts
are designed to determine the dose-effect
relationship between intra-uterine exposure to
tritiated water (HTO) and subsequent tumor
production and non-specific life-span shorten-
38
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
ing. In addition, the effects on the F2 gener-
ation of lifetime parental exposure to HTO in
terms of pre- and post-implantation mortality,
abnormalities, and gross physical character-
istics of the offspring are being studied.
Because the present MFC for 85Kr exposure is
based on solely theoretical dose calculations,
studies involving the inhalation or total body
exposure of guinea pigs are being conducted
to evaluate the standard.
The Laboratory is also currently investi-
gating the radioactive effects of tritium, of
which cancer is a major consequence. Present
experiments are designed to investigate the
tumorigenic effects in rats of continuous
exposure to tritium in the form of tritiated
water.
A study of environmental stress is being
conducted using metabolically active proteins
and naked DNA to assess environmental
mutagens of both a chemical and a physical
nature, including electromagnetic radiation.
Characteristics examined include absorption
spectrum changes, fluorescence profiles,
hydrodynamic measurements, DNA damage
convertible to backbone scissions, biological
lethality, and mutation frequency. Environ-
mental stresses are also being examined
through the study of several mammalian cell/
animal systems, including mouse and human
fibroblasts and mouse lymphoma cells. End-
points include lethality, mutagenicity, viral
resistance, repair of DNA injury, and other
biochemical parameters. These systems can
also be used to determine the possible health
effects of various aromatic fuel additives and
pesticides.
In-house and contracted tasks of the
Laboratory's new ACTION program include
the following: effects of air pollutants on
pulmonary defense mechanism, cellular physi-
ology and metabolism techniques for cyto-
toxicology, and physiologic and pathologic
studies of pulmonary response to hydro-
carbon air pollutants in Syrian golden
hamsters.
Major Accomplishments
In the area of effects from chronic expo-
sure to ionizing radiation, a contract was
initiated with the University of Colorado to
assess the risk of cytogenetic changes in cord
blood of children in Mesa County, Colorado,
whose parents were exposed to uranium mill
tailings used in construction. A model was
developed from the available indoor radon
and gamma measurements to estimate how
many houses with elevated indoor radon
would be cleaned up at various gamma levels.
Predictions from this model were used in
making recommendations to the Atomic
Energy Commission for action in Mesa
County under the joint Federal and state
cleanup program.
Major accomplishments in the area of elec-
tromagnetic effects include studies on the
effects of non-ionizing radiation on protein
systems and on mammalian cell function and
response to stress. Characterization of the
protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) by
ultraviolet solvent perturbation difference
spectroscopy was completed, with the
addition of data derived from studies of
charcoal-defatted BSA. This information will
be used to determine whether the state of
macromolecular flexibility is an important
factor in the interactions between non-
ionizing radiation and macromolecular
systems. The preliminary results to date of
the study of a mammalian cell culture system,
in which autoradiography was utilized to
examine the percentage of cells in S-phase at
various times after receiving a UV dose,
indicate a positive correlation between
radiation exposure and cell DNA synthesis.
Although thorough statistical analysis has not
yet been completed, at 3 days a significantly
higher percentage of S-phase cells is seen in
the irradiated cell cultures than in the control
group. This result has not yet been explained,
but may reflect the regrowth of cells to
replace cells lethally damaged by the UV
radiation.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
39
-------
Future Research Emphasis
Future development and growth are in-
tended to endow this Laboratory with the
capability to conduct research on the bio-
logical effects of a wide variety of noxious
agents - biological, chemical, and physical.
Expanding on developments produced in
current programs, emphasis has been placed
on the effects of tritium on mammalian
systems in order to determine the efficacy of
present radiation protection standards. At
best, environmental standards are based on
biological data on the effects of a particular
pollutant as a single stress. In reality, the
organism or system is under multiple stresses.
Standards should be re-evaluated in light of
experiments employing potentially synergistic
stressors. Tritiated water is ideal as a matrix
upon which other meaningful waterborne
pollutants may be superimposed; e.g., since
both HTO and lead are present in most com-
munity water supplies, and since both have
effects on the central nervous system, the co-
stress observation could then be evaluated for
their influence on the individual standards for
HTO and lead.
Similarly, work on mammalian cell culture
systems is in preparation for evaluating the
toxicity of various environmental agents.
These systems will provide information
regarding effects at the cellular, subcellular
(membranes; organelles), and molecular levels
of organizations. They will serve as a basis for
establishing a screening system based upon
utilization of physiological parameters. These
systems are fundamental to all known mam-
malian cells. Such an approach is of impor-
tance in evaluating molecular pathology and
indicators of potential toxicity in whole
animals, including man.
A variety of mammalian cell systems and
growth conditions will be employed to
randomize the experimental design, determine
dose-response (cellular pharmacodynamics),
evaluate mutagenic and carcinogenic defects.
and elucidate molecular mode of action of
various toxic agents. Mitotically synchonized
cell cultures will be used to evaluate cell-cycle
sensitivity of the system to low levels of
various environmental agents. These cell
systems will be used to determine genotypic
effects (structural integrity of DNA, activity
of repair systems, chromosome aberrations)
and alterations in phenotype (RNA metab-
olism, protein structure, altered enzyme
patterns synthesis, activity, degradation).
These systems will be of immediate use in
evaluating the potential toxicity of fuel
additives. They also serve as a preliminary
toxicology screening system for evaluating the
biological activity of other toxic chemical
substances and physical stress such as electro-
magnetic radiation.
EBL, along with the Human Studies
Laboratory and the Chemistry and Physics
Laboratory, has developed research plans tc
assist EPA in effecting requirements of the
Noise Act of 1972. Efforts have been made
by EBL to recurit suitable expertise in noise
effects and to continue its efforts in establish-
ing a responsive noise research program in co-
operation with OR & M and EPA's Office ol
Noise Abatement and Control.
Figure 19. Control console with associated
monitoring equipment for environmental exposure
chamber.
40
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
Figure 20. Squirrel monkey used in pesticide effects studies at Perrine, Florida.
42
-------
PRIMATE AND PESTICIDES EFFECTS
LABORATORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
The primary objective of the Primate and
Pesticides Effects Laboratory (PPEL), known
formerly as the Perrine Primate Laboratory, is
to assess the human health effects of pesticide
exposure. Research is conducted to determine
the effect of pesticides and their metabolites
on normal biological functions, with special
emphasis on the primate nervous system.
These studies are concerned not only with
single pesticide exposure, but also with
combinations of pesticides and pesticides in
conjunction with other environmental factors.
This research provides the data from which
environmental standards can be proposed for
pesticide control. The Laboratory is also
responsible for continuing development and
evaluation of techniques and chemical
methods for direct and indirect measurement
of exposure to pesticides.
Some of the immediate research objectives
of the Laboratory include:
• Development of new analytical methods
for pesticides.
• Evaluation of existing methodology by
quality control and collaborative studies.
• Investigation of the toxicity of economic
poisons.
• Determination of the extent of human
exposure to pesticides under industrial and
field applications.
Organization
The PPEL is divided into the Office of the
Director and three Branches: The Chemistry
Branch, the Pharmacology Branch (including
the Wenatchee Research Section in Wash-
ington State); and the Bioeffects Branch (in
Chamblee, Georgia).
The Chemistry Branch develops and eval-
uates analytical methods for the accurate
identification and measurement of micro-
quantities of pesticides. The Branch maintains
quality control of analytical work and
methods for laboratories working under con-
tract with EPA's Pesticides Program. The
quality control program also assists the
Laboratory chemists in evaluating the needs
of the field laboratories and in improving
techniques and methods of pesticide analysis.
PRIMATE AND PESTICIDES
EFFECTS LABORATORY
PHARMACOLOGY
BRANCH
The primary research mission of the
Pharmacology Branch is to examine non-
human primates for changes in physiological,
biochemical, and metabolic responses due to
long-term low-level exposure to pesticides.
The major considerations of the Branch
include the study of neurophysiological and
neuroendocrine effects, metabolic inter-
actions of pesticides with other pesticides,
and teratologic effects of pesticides and their
metabolites.
The Pharmacology Branch's Wenatchee
Research Section researches the exposure of
the general population as well as of persons
occupationally and environmentally exposed
to pesticides, and evaluates the possible health
effects of these exposures. It develops and
evaluates new or improved techniques and
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
43
-------
chemical methods for measuring pesticide
exposure. The Section also conducts tests
under field conditions to determine improved
methods for safe disposal of limited quantities
of waste pesticides, decontamination and
disposal of empty containers, and cleanup of
surfaces contaminated by pesticide spillage
during transportation and storage in order to
prevent contamination of persons or
foodstuffs.
The Bioeffects Branch, formerly called the
Chamblee Toxicology Laboratory, is a center
for the study of the effects of pesticides on
human health associated with the safety and
effectiveness in their use as economic poisons.
The research program develops new data on
the toxicity of new and old pesticides and
determines their modes of actions and their
effects on physiological body functions.
Emphasis is on short-term studies, including
LDso values, and on use of small laboratory
animals. Other activities of the Branch include
consultation with and analytical assistance
directly to State health departments,
hospitals, and physicians on pesticide
poisonings.
Physical Facilities
The research conducted by the Laboratory
takes place in three geographic locations: the
largest facility is in Perrine, Florida, and two
smaller units are in Chamblee, Georgia, and
Wenatchee, Washington. These three labora-
tories are equipped with the most modern
biomedical and analytical equipment avail-
able, including gas chromatographs, pH stats,
atomic absorption instruments, infrared spec-
trophotometers, pH meters, integrators,
recorders, and mass spectrophotometers. The
Laboratory maintains the capability to keep
these delicate instruments continuously
operable.
The Laboratory also is equipped with all
common laboratory experimental animals,
including the Squirrel and Rhesus monkey, all
cared for by trained laboratory personnel.
Table 6. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
PRIMATE AND PESTICIDES EFFECTS
LABORATORY.NERC/RTP, FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
Pi'sticidi1* 'vjliti I'ffivt*
1,'SiMIOh
P-.'stickt1* II^M I ific.u ion
mothodologv
\Kvntoi ing nu.ility jssuuiuv
Progum support
Touls
FY 1972
ISOOOI Positions
2.0S7 (53
2.5:? 1 1
217 11
SO 0
2,0 1C S5
FY 1973
(SO 00) Positions
1.947 03
204 1 1
257 11
250 0
2.65S 85
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
A major program of the Primate and Pest-
icides Effects Laboratory is the development
of various high-level instrumental techniques.
Specific major areas of current research and
analytical service emphasis within these goals
include programs in magnetic resonance, trace
metal analysis, and mass spectrometric instru-
mentation. Emphasis in magnetic resonance is
placed on the interaction of pesticides and
their metabolic products with a variety of bio-
logical substrates and other appropriate model
systems by using NMR methods
Project emphasis in the area of trace-metal
analysis includes the development of an ana-
lytical scheme using atomic absorption spec-
trophotometry and gas chromatography to
determine the normal heavy-metal concen-
tration levels in human and animal tissues.
Such specific detection systems as flame
photometry are used to measure increased
levels of concentration resulting from acute
and chronic exposure to pesticides.
The mass spectrometric instrumentation
project develops mass spectrometry and gas
44
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
chromatography techniques to identify
isolated pesticide residues and metabolites. A
major activity of this project is the evaluation
of combined GC-MS techniques.
Analytical evaluation of testing methods is
still another major concern of the Laboratory.
In the analysis of human and environmental
samples, testing methods must be reliable to
ensure accurate quality control. To achieve
this goal, the Laboratory maintains contacts
with 19 laboratories throughout the country
which currently comprise the Community
Pesticide Studies and National Monitoring
network. This program of intra- and inter-
laboratory analytical quality control is of vital
importance in the assurance of reliable
analytical data. The Primate and Pesticides
Effects Laboratory assists these laboratories
by testing the sampling and analytical pro-
cedures used by the contract laboratories,
numerous regional laboratories, the recently
organized National Center for Toxicological
Research (NCTR) laboratory, and additional
State pesticide projects.
The Pharmacology Branch's major program
area provides necessary toxicological
information on the health effects of repeated
acute and long-term, low-level exposure to
pesticides and related environmental contam-
inants. Current tasks encompass subacute
toxicity testing, teratology, development and
reproduction, pathology, biochemistry and
metabolism, and n euro physiology and
behavior in rodents and primates. Emphasis is
on primate studies. Effects data from these
animal studies will be related to human
situations to ensure the recognition of
sensitive indicators of subtle but hazardous
effects.
The major program area of the Bioeffects
Branch is testing toxic substances, specifically
pesticides and related compounds, for adverse
effects in experimental animals and humans.
This research can be used by EPA to estimate
and predict the effects of individual exposure
to a specific compound and to establish
adequate environmental standards for that
compound.
Major Accomplishments
The Chemistry Branch has several major
accomplishments to its credit. These include:
development of gas chromatography columns
most useful for monitoring pesticides in
human and environmental media; develop-
ment of specifications for selecting batches of
Florisil, an adsorbent used widely in pesticide
residue analysis; development of a series of
methods for determining man's exposure to a
broad spectrum of biodegradable pesticides;
development of new methods for determining
trace metals in human tissue and excreta,
using both gas chromatography and selective
volatilization techniques in atomic absorption
spectrophotometry; and identification of
many pesticides in human adipose tissue,
utilizing gas chromatography-mass spec-
trometry techniques.
Major accomplishments of the Pharma-
cology Branch were achieved in three separate
program areas:
Teratology - The Branch helped estab-
lish the teratology program of the National
Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR);
established the teratogenic action of penta-
chloronitrobenzene (PCNB) in the C57
Bl/6 mouse; and initiated a program con-
cerned with the distribution of heavy
metals in fetal and maternal tissues
associated with teratogenicity.
Biochemistry and Metabolism - The
Branch isolated and identified urinary
metabolites (five of them previously un-
reported) from lindane-treated rats.
Neurophysiology - The Branch pro-
duced the characteristic hexachlor-
ophene-induced brain lesion in Squirrel
monkeys, correlated it with a deficit in
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
45
-------
visual-evoked response (VER), and showed
that exposure levels below those producing
lesions also resulted in VER deficit.
Another Branch finding was supportive of a
central nervous system action of carbaryl
affecting endocrine balance. Using a
Squirrel monkey, the Branch developed a
primate model for organophosphate-
induced demyelination.
The Bioeffects Branch played an important
role in defining the level of DDT and DDE in
fatty tissue of the general population and of
various environmental and occupational
groups. Followup studies at this and other
laboratories indicated that there has not
appeared to be an increase in the trend of
storage in fatty tissue of the general popu-
lation of this country since the earliest survey
in 1950. Also, Branch studies were the first to
show that organophosphorus compounds such
as parathion and azinphosmethyl may persist
in the soil at relatively high levels for several
years, especailly where highly concentrated
formulations are involved. Such spillages have
resulted in poisoning of small children who
came in contact with the contaminated soil.
This discovery emphasized the importance of
recommending that soil contaminated by
spillage of a highly toxic pesticide be
collected and buried.
Future Research Emphasis
The Laboratory will continue work on
physiological and biochemical effects on
experimental animals, further development of
more accurate testing methods and devices,
and the expansion of the quality control
program.
In the physiology area, personnel will be
working specifically with the quantitative
analyses of EEC patterns taken from
monkeys and squirrels to differentiate
between classes of pesticide agents. Work will
also be performed with electrical activity
recordings of the isolated, perfused, whole
brain to determine time-course of electrical
changes. Such studies will also include other
nerve centers.
In the area of biochemistry and metab-
olism, work will be directed toward determin-
ing the effect of pesticides on certain internal
organs and chemical processes of the body.
Much of this work will be in the rat and then
expanded to the monkey. Effects of enzymes
on the toxicity of pesticides, the effect of
pesticides on the stimulation of enzyme
activity, the effect of pesticides on the
thyroid and secretion of thyroxine, and the
effects of DDT and lindane on metabolism are
integral parts of the future work of the
Laboratory.
One of the high-priority objectives in the
analytical evaluation area is the construction
and testing of a device to collect large-volume
air samples for pesticide monitoring. Studies
involving the establishment of sensitivity
limits and evaluation of methods to improve
sensitivity of both gas chromatographic and
atomic absorption techniques will be
undertaken.
Multiresidue methods for determining the
extent of human and animal exposure to
persistent and biodegradable pesticides will
continue to be developed. Pesticides and their
metabolites to be investigated include chlori-
nated hydrocarbons, organophosphorus
compounds, carbamates, fungicides, and
herbicides.
Much of the research performed at Perrine
is used to provide a data base from which
pesticides standards can be implemented.
Thus, a continuing effort of the Laboratory is
the management of a program for intra- and
interlaboratory quality control. Six more
Community Studies Laboratories are
scheduled to be added in the near future. This
will increase the participation in the formal
Quality Control Program to 36 laboratories. It
is anticipated that newly organized State and
46
LABORATORY REPORTS
-------
EPA laboratories will be provided all
assistance possible on an informal basis. Com-
pletion of a portable EEC will permit acqui-
sition on tape of EEC recordings from
occupationally exposed pesticide workers.
Installation of a closed-circuit television
system will permit initiation of primate
behavior studies.
f
Figure 21. Electron microscope used in pesticide analysis studies in Chamblee, Georgia.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
47
-------
Figure 22. Field prototype infrared spectrophotometer for long-path and remote detection of pollutants.
48
-------
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS LABORA-
TORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
The Chemistry and Physics Laboratory
carries out research in two main areas:
developing techniques and instruments for the
measurement of pollutants, and developing
information on atmospheric chemistry and
physics. The measurement techniques and
instrumentation program includes the
development of manual and instrumental
techniques for measuring pollutants in
ambient air and in source emissions. The
program is highly oriented toward appropriate
measurement methods for determining
compliance with those air pollution standards
and regulations already promulgated and
those planned for the future. The atmospheric
chemistry and physics program involves
laboratory and field studies. Hypotheses
developed in the laboratory studies are tested
in the field by analysis of the atmosphere at
critical sites. These data are used to choose
appropriate air pollution control strategies
and to develop mathematical models of
atmospheric photochemical reactions.
Organization
CPL consists of four Branches reporting
directly to the Office of the Director. This
Office manages the Laboratory's research
programs which are directed toward the
development of instruments and measurement
techniques, toward the development of exper-
imental and theoretical studies of both the
ambient atmosphere and of plumes, toward
the determination of the physical effects of
emissions associated with the use of fuels and
fuel additives, toward effects research of air
pollutants on materials, and toward the
development of techniques for analyzing
samples containing radioactive materials.
The Air Quality Measurement Methods
Branch develops and evaluates new and
improved instruments and measurement
techniques for use in the ambient air. The
Branch refers new instruments and techniques
to the Office of Measurement Standardization
and publishes the results of its work to inform
private industry of the developments.
The Source Emissions Measurement
Methods Branch develops and evaluates
instruments and measurement techniques for
pollutants in both mobile and stationary
AIR QUALITY
MEASUREMENT
METHODS BRANCH
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
LABORATORY
1
l
SOURCE EMISSIONS
MEASUREMENT
METHODS BRANCH
i i
ATMOSPHERIC PHYSirAl sriFNPF
CHEMISTRY AND RESEARCH BRANCH
PHYSICS BRANCH ^SEARCH BRANCH
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
49
-------
source emissions. Both this Branch and the
previously mentioned one refer new instru-
ments and techniques to the Office of
Measurement Standardization. This Branch
also publishes its results to assist in the com-
mercialization of the needed instrumentation
and equipment.
The Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Branch conducts a comprehensive research
program related to the formation and decay
of air pollutants in the atmosphere and the
impact of mobile and stationary source
emissions on atmospheric chemistry. The
Branch also participates in the development
of atmospheric models for chemically reactive
atmospheric systems.
The Physical Sciences Research Branch
conducts research and development projects
requiring radio-analytical and stable-element
determinations, develops radiochemistry
measurement techniques, and conducts
research to determine and evaluate the effects
of environmental pollutants on materials.
Table?. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS LABORATORY,
NERC/RTP, FOR FISCAL YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
Instrumentation and analy-
tical methods development
Formation and decay of
pol Imams
Fuel and fuel additives
registration
Regional Air Pollution
Study IRAPS)
Standardization of instru-
mentation and analytical
methods
Totals
FY 1972
(SOOO I/Positions
5.14059
3.049 20
324 1
1.35S 9
9.871 89
FY 1973
(SOOOl/Positions
4.338 59
2.500 17
601 2
1 .390 5
"
8.829 83
Physical Facilities
The physical facilities of CPL consist of
conventional laboratory equipment, as well as
items of an unusual or unique nature, locatec
both in NERC/RTP laboratories and ir
mobile laboratories that permit their use ir
field situations. Among the Laboratory's
unusual items of equipment are:
• A prototype research lidar system, de-
signed specifically for measuring partic-
ulates from stationary sources (housed in a
van).
• Two prototype research infrared spectro-
photometers for remote emission sensing
from stationary sources.
• An experimental stationary source
simulator (to be installed in a leased facility
at Beaunit Corporation's RTF plant).
• A mobile source emissions laboratory
equipped with an Hitachi RMU-6L mass
spectrometer coupled to a Perkin-Ebner
990 gas chromatograph, NMR, Varian T60,
infrared spectrophotometer (P-E 180), and
ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometers
(Cary Model 14 and Beckman Model B).
• A mobile source testing facility that in-
cludes a water brake certification dyna-
mometer, complete with the original
constant-volume sampler and a particulate
sampling tunnel.
• Several mobile laboratories equipped
with gas chromatographs, ozone, SO2, and
NOX analyzers, aerosol sampling and sizing
equipment, and meteorological weather
monitoring equipment.
Major Program Areas
This Laboratory's efforts fit primarily into
three areas: development of techniques and
instrumentation for measurement of ak
quality and pollutants in emissions from both
stationary and mobile sources; and studies of
the formation and decay of pollutants in th<;
atmosphere.
Summary of Present Programs
Research in the area of measurement tech-
niques and instrumentation development
50
LABORATORY REPORT >
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provides methods for the extraction and
analysis of contaminants from both the
environment and from source emissions. It
includes the development of measurement
methods and instruments for gaseous pol-
lutants, p articulate matter, and designated
hazardous pollutants. Pollutants of interest
are sulfur compounds, nitrogen oxides (NOX),
photochemical oxidants, CO, hydrocarbons,
particulate matter, mercury, beryllium,
asbestos, and odiferous materials.
Improved instruments for measurement in
air of SO2, NOX, and photochemical oxidants
have been developed. Improved instruments
for measuring CO, hydrocarbons, and other
pollutants will soon be available.
The program area concerned with measure-
ment methods for mobile sources consists of
studies to identify pollutants emitted from
mobile sources, to develop measurement
methods and instruments for compliance
testing and certification of vehicles, and to
establish procedures for determining effects
resulting from the use of fuels and fuel
additives. The overall program is aimed at all
mobile sources, including automobiles,
diesels, turbines, and, ultimately, ships, trains,
and household machinery such as lawn-
mowers.
Current efforts are aimed at developing
real-time analytical techniques for CO emis-
sions from vehicles that meet the 1975 and
later emission standards, real-time measure-
ments of specific hydrocarbons with partic-
ular emphasis on those related to reactivity
problems such as methane, ethane, and
ethylene, measurement techniques for
oxygenated hydrocarbons, and the analysis of
unusual emissions from prototype vehicles
using novel control systems.
Another major program area of CPL is the
study of the formation and decay of pol-
lutants. This area includes several specialized
studies, one of which focuses on the removal
of toxic and noxious substances in the atmos-
phere. Here, the transformation within classes
of pollutants such as the nitrogen compounds
and organic compounds are studied, and the
interactions among the various compounds
are defined. Other studies within this area
include researching the atmospheric chemistry
of gaseous pollutants and the dynamics and
chemisorption of particulates in ambient air.
Research here is oriented toward obtaining
information on reaction mechanisms and
kinetics to be used in the development of
atmospheric models.
Major Accomplishments
During the period of this report, the Chem-
istry and Physics Laboratory has compiled a
significant list of major accomplishments in
the three major program areas. Among others,
outstanding accomplishments include:
• Worldwide acceptance and commercial-
ization of an ozone-measuring instrument
operating on the principle of chem-
iluminescence arising from the ozone-
ethylene reaction.
• The development and early commercial-
ization of an instrument that measures
nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
• Assembly and demonstration of a first-
generation prototype instrument, adaptable
to a number of chemiluminescent ana-
lytical techniques, that offers important
cost-reduction potential for monitoring
instrumentation.
• Determination of the precise optical
requirements and capability of the in-
stack transmissometer for monitoring the
opacity of emissions from coal-fired power
plants and other stationary sources, and the
delineation of performance and installation
specifications for such monitors.
• Invention, development, and field-testing
of a highly successful source sample dilu-
tion system that facilitates the coupling of
gas analyzers to source effluents for precise
measurement of emissions.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
51
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• Design and fabrication of the first
successful ozone-chemiluminescence
detector for measurement of NOX in auto
exhausts, its application as the official
Federal technique for compliance testing of
new vehicles, and its rapid availability as a
commercial instrument.
• Completion of an initial field study of
the atmosphere in St. Louis as part of the
RAPS program. (See the Special Features
article on RAPS elsewhere in this Report.)
• An investigation of the hydrocarbon
composition in Los Angeles, New York-
New Jersey, and Denver in terms of
vehicular or non-vehicular emissions.
Results indicated that, in some areas, con-
trol of auto hydrocarbon emissions alone
will not result in the 1975 standard of 250
ppb C being met.
Future Research Emphasis
The Laboratory has several projects
planned for FY 73 in the continuing research
and development of the chemistry and
physics in environmental control, including
the development of new and improved instru-
mental measurement techniques and the
development of improved and simplified
laboratory measurement methods.
Future research plans will continue to
emphasize studies aimed at elucidating the
transformation and transport processes of
both primary and secondary pollutants in the
gaseous, liquid droplet, or particle state. The
role of field measurements in delineating
atmospheric pollutant interactions will
increase. The objective of laboratory experi-
mentation is the development of a photo-
chemical smog model capable of estimating
concentrations of ground-level pollutants
when incorporated into meteorologica
models.
The Laboratory will also play a major role
in the implementation and direction of the
Regional Air Pollution Study.
In addition, the Laboratory plans to install
and test a large in-house irradiation chamber.
The chamber will be used to study the role of
water in photochemical smog, sulfur dioxide
removal and oxidation in polluted atmos-
pheres, oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons,
and formation of oxygenates in photo-
chemical reactions.
Figure 23. Scanning electron microscope with
X-ray analytical capability.
52
LABORATORY REPORTS
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Figure 24. Scale-model simulation of wet limestone scrubbing system at Shawnee power plant.
54
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CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY
Introduction
The Control Systems Laboratory (CSL) is
involved in a variety of technical and manage-
ment functions directly related to the re-
search, development, and demonstration of
equipment and systems designed to abate the
emissions of atmospheric pollutants from
stationary sources to a level that protects
health and welfare, and to do so without
creating serious secondary pollution prob-
lems.
(a) (1). The Laboratory is pursuing three basic
avenues of pollutant control: off-gas cleaning,
raw material cleanup, and process and com-
bustion modification.
Although there is a complex interrelation-
ship between pollutants, sources, and tech-
nologies, CSL's overall program is categorized
into four Program Elements: sulfur oxides,
nitrogen oxides, particulates, and hazardous
and other pollutants. In each Element, CSL's
projects are oriented to serve the needs of
particular pollutant sources.
Mission and General Research Direction
CSL's primary objective has been to ensure
the emergence of adequate control tech-
nology for pollutants deemed most detri-
mental to air quality and for which national
ambient air quality standards have been (or
will be) established. CSL is also assisting in
the development of the technology required
to permit the achievement of emissions levels
selected for performance standards considered
necessary to protect public health and wel-
fare. Another important objective of the
Laboratory is to develop cost-effective tech-
nology in a timely manner.
To attack the air pollution problem from
stationary sources, CSL has initiated projects
along the several avenues of technology
specified by the Clean Air Act, Section 104
Organization
As indicated by the organization chart, the
Control Systems Laboratory consists of four
Branches reporting directly to the Office of
the Director.
The Engineering Analysis Branch co-
ordinates the preparation of the Laboratory's
program-planning documents; maintains a
system for controlling total program costs
within established budgets; provides broad-
based technical analyses and evaluations of
CSL's program and proposed projects;
develops procedures for assessing the poten-
tial impact of the implemented projects; and
provides editorial and technical information
storage and retrieval services for the
Laboratory.
CONTROL SYSTEMS
LABORATORY
1 1 1 I
ENGINEERING
ANALYSIS
BRANCH
RESEARCH
BRANCH
DEVELOPMENT
ENGINEERING
BRANCH
DEMONSTRATION
ENGINEERING
BRANCH
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
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The Research Branch plans and conducts
in-house laboratory investigations, field tests,
and contract activities directed toward dis-
covering and evaluating new air pollution
control processes and equipment, or im-
proving existing ones. As part of its activities,
the Branch recommends promising techniques
to CSL's Development Engineering Branch for
scale-up to pilot plant process studies,
researches all conventional fossil fuel com-
-bustion processes and modifications to
determine the effects of their operating
variables on pollutant emissions, provides
process measurement services to all Labora-
tory branches, and provides laboratory
support for contract projects managed by
CSL.
The Development Engineering Branch is
responsible for developing air pollution con-
trol processes and equipment which have
shown promise during exploratory and
applied-research studies and for carrying such
development through the pilot plant stage.
(Such a system facilitates the solution of
problems using facilities designed purposely
for problem solving rather than for com-
mercial operation.) The Branch's principal
product is quantitative engineering data to
permit the most successful processes or equip-
ment to be scaled up to demonstration (or
full-size) units.
The Demonstration Engineering Branch is
responsible for the full-scale construction and
test operation of air pollution control pro-
cesses and equipment for which technical and
economic feasibility has been established
through an orderly research and engineering
development program. Among the purposes
of such projects are problem solving on
commercial-scale operations, production of
firm engineering data and cost information,
and optimizing process performance and
economics. The Branch's most important
product is certification that processes and
equipment are ready for general commercial
operation.
The Laboratory's 95-person complement
and nearly $30 million funding level for FY
1972 represented a manpower decrease of 17
percent, but a program funding increase of 10
percent over available FY 1971 resources. The
difference between the two is the result of
allocating a greater portion of the funds to
the Laboratory's contract programs.
Within the just-cited budget and with a
12-percent increased FY 1973 budget, CSL
has reallocated its resources in keeping with
current priorities. The principal difference, a
gradual shift of emphasis away from SOX con-
trol as technology develops in that area, is
indicated by the dramatic increase in funds
allocated to the other three Program Ele-
ments: a nearly 350 percent increase for
hazardous and other pollutants, over 250 per-
cent more for particulates, and nearly 150
percent more for NOX.
Table 8. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY, NERC/RTP,
FOR FISCAL YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
SOX control
NOX control
Paniculate control
Control of hazardous and
other pollutants
Totals
FY 1972
($000)/Positions
21,126,77
1,714/11
750/4
436 '3
24,026/95
FY 1973
(SO 00 I/Positions
18.404/51
3.954/20
2.723/13
1,930/11
27,011/95
Physical Facilities
Control Systems Laboratory personnel
occupy space in three locations: Research
Branch personnel at NERC/RTP; the Equip-
ment Development Section of the Develop-
ment Engineering Branch in the Mutual Build-
ing in Durham; and the remainder of the
Laboratory, including the Director's Office, in
the Mutual Building Annex, also in Durham.
Research Branch facilities at NERC/RTP
include a flue-gas generator, bench-scale
56
LABORATORY REPORTS
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scrubbing equipment, laboratories for odor-
problem studies and for the physical charac-
terization of particulates, an electronics shop,
and equipment for wet and instrumental
analyses. The Branch also maintains and
operates a mobile van and trailer equipped
with instrumentation for process measure-
ments.
Pilot-size equipment in the NERC/RTP
High Bay Area includes a model wet scrubber,
a baghouse for fabric filtration studies, and a
variety of experimental and commercial com-
bustion systems including furnaces, boilers,
and a gas turbine instrumented for most
gaseous pollutant emission measurements.
(Fuels being investigated are coals, oils, gases.
and other liquid and gaseous materials.) An
aerodynamic test facility, to be used to test
abatement and measurement equipment, is
currently being installed.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
A major part of CSL's efforts during the
past several years has been directed toward
solving SOX abatement problems from power
plants. Progress made in that direction is now
permitting CSL to devote increasing attention
and effort to other important problem areas.
Consequently, CSL's work during the past
year, while continuing to reflect heavy
involvement in the development of SOX con-
trol technology, has advanced on a relatively
broad front, with significant progress also
evident in non-SOx areas - progress
discernible from the following overview of all
Laboratory programs.
SQX Control. The SOX control program is
directed toward the development and demon-
stration of control techniques for SOX
emissions from utility and industrial sources.
Although the program emphasizes stack gas
cleaning systems, with five or six such pro-
cesses to be demonstrated before 1975, it also
includes work in such areas as fuel modifi-
cation and desulfurization. industrial process
modification, and advanced combustion
processes.
Milestones were attained in four different
SOX stack gas cleaning programs during 1972:
the dry limestone injection test program,
started in mid-1970 at TVA's Shawnee Power
Plant, was completed: testing on two other
programs — limestone wet scrubbing and
magnesium oxide scrubbing — was started:
and construction of the catalytic oxidation
process demonstration was completed. Other
projects have also been started — processes
that can produce either sulfur or sulfuric acid
as a by-product. Analysis of the problem of
by-product disposal for regeneration processes
indicates that emphasis should be on
processes that produce elemental sulfur.
Most of CSL's early coal desulfurization
studies were in the area of improving and
evaluating physical coal cleaning methods for
coal. With the overall potential of physical de-
sulfurization and de-ashing of coal reasonably
well established, this approach should have
moderate applicability in reducing sulfur by
30 to 70 percent in specific coals. Ongoing
work in this area includes washability testing,
fine coal desulfurization and cleaning, and
pollutant control evaluation and opti-
mization. The most recent research is oriented
toward chemical desulfurization of coal and
removal of the hazardous pollutants from
fossil fuel. New research in chemical desulfur-
ization shows promising results: apparently
achieving a 95-plus percent reduction of
pyritic sulfur in most coals.
CSL is also engaged in a project aimed at
solving both air and solid waste pollution
problems: it is co-funding a project for which
one goal is characterizing emissions from a
municipal waste incineration plant.
Two factors - the major contribution of
small coal- and oil-burning sources (area
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
57
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sources) to the degradation of ambient air
quality, and the limited supplies of low-sulfur
fuels — indicate a need for clean fuel or coal
conversion processes. Accordingly, CSL has
provided funds to both the U.S. Bureau of
Mines and the Office of Coal Research to
assist in both the development of conversion
and gasification processes that can provide
clean fuels, and the determination of environ-
mental controls that will be required for these
-techniques.
Of industrial modifications under way, the
most advanced is smokeless coke charging, an
iron and steel industry demonstration that is
currently being placed in operation. Several
other projects have been started up relating to
Kraft wood pulping, iron foundries, and gas-
oline bulk loading terminals. Control of coke-
pushing emissions, another iron and steel
industry demonstration, is also under way.
Other projects being considered involve
secondary aluminum furnaces, sinter plants,
and basic oxygen furnaces in the iron and
steel industry.
CSL's research on advanced processes
includes a pilot-plant study of molten-iron
submerged-coal combustion, and the develop-
ment of fluidized-bed combustion. Fluidized-
bed combustion process options being investi-
gated include pressurized coal combustion;
coal gasification for the production of low-
sulfur, low-Btu fuel gas; and oil gasification.
CSL has also conducted systems studies
directed toward the development of advanced
power cycles.
NOX Control. This program involves
development of control systems to reduce
NOX emissions, principally from utility and
industrial combustion boilers. Bench-scale
work and field testing indicate that necessary
control for the immediate future can be
achieved by modifying combustion processes
to reduce NOX formation. Small-scale eval-
uation and investigation of promising stack
gas cleaning processes are continuing; how-
ever, results to date are not too encouraging.
Recently under way is a demonstration for
reduced-cost, reduced-NOx emissions from
nitric acid plants, using molecular sieve
technology.
Particulate Control. The objective of this
program is to improve control characteristics
and economics of the three principal control
methods: electrostatic precipitation, fabric
filtration, and wet scrubbing. State-of-the-art
studies, completed for each method, also
define potential areas of both improvement
and new applications. Current research is
directed toward enhancing collection
efficiency for fine particulates. Also, prelim-
inary evaluation and small-scale research are
being conducted on several new and
promising concepts for fine-particulates
control.
Hazardous and Other Pollutants. This pro-
gram involves the development of control
systems for hazardous and other pollutants,
i.e., pollutants other than SOX, NOX, and
particulates. The program, considering many
of the trace elements, includes preliminary
evaluation and small-scale development of
systems to control odors, incineration
products, and hazardous and potentially
hazardous pollutants from industry.
A shortage of data currently available is
requiring many problem-definition studies in
order to deal with these pollutants on a
rational basis. Current efforts are pointed
primarily toward information gathering;
general conclusions include:
• Most hazardous materials are in the form
of particulates.
• The quantity of reliable emissions data
for hazardous material sources is inade-
quate.
• Odors can be controlled by incineration
processes; however, because of the large
volumes of air which must be handled,
economics is a limiting factor.
58
LABORATORY REPORTS
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• No satisfactory method exists to
describe odoriferous emissions quanti-
tatively.
• Fuel combustion and other high-
temperature processes (such as smelting,
refining, and waste incineration) are major
sources of hazardous pollutants as well as
of SOX, NOX, and particulates.
Future Research Emphasis
SOX Control. Several currently active
demonstrations of flue gas cleaning processes
for controlling SOX and other pollutant
emissions will continue to be supported by
CSL. Work directed toward the development
of processes for the production of clean fuels
will be supported at a somewhat higher level
than in the past. Pilot-scale studies of such
advanced processes as fluidized-bed com-
bustion will be conducted in FY 73. Although
the SOX control program in the past has
primarily emphasized the control of emissions
from electric utilities, much of the future
efforts will be directed toward the control of
emissions from other industrial sources.
NOX Control. Because combustion is the
source of 98 percent of the NOX from station-
ary sources, this program will be continued in
the direction of developing control tech-
nology for combustion applications. Areas
that will be investigated, to provide the basis
for short-term solutions, include flue gas
cleaning processes, catalytic reduction pro-
cesses, identification and characterization of
combustor designs with inherently low NOX
emission levels, and such methods for mini-
mizing NOX as flue gas recirculation, off-
stoichiometric combustion, and excess air.
Longer-range programs include funda-
mental investigation into the fluid mechanics
and chemistry of ^pollutant formation, as well
as advanced combustion design programs.
Particulate Control. Short-term research in
particulate control is currently oriented
toward improving the performance of, and
reducing the operating and capital costs for,
three types of collectors: electrostatic pre-
cipitators, fabric filters, and scrubbers. Efforts
will be expanded to increase the efficiency of
these collectors in the particle size range of 2
microns or less. Long-range projects include:
• Development of generalized models for
existing collectors.
• Identification and laboratory-scale test-
ing of totally new concepts of particle
control technology.
• Pioneering work in small-particle detec-
tion and small-particle generation equip-
ment.
Hazardous and Other Pollutants. The
hazardous and other pollutants now under
specific study are asbestos, beryllium,
mercury, fluorides, cadmium, sulfuric acid,
aerosols, hydrocarbons, and lead; odorous
materials to be considered include those from
rendering plants, pulp mills, sewage treatment
plants, animal feedlot operations, and
chemical process industries. On a wider scale
is CSL's process-related interest in identifying
the levels and fate of all pollutants.
Planned programs range from determining
research and development requirements,
through control cost reduction programs, to
developing completely new processes for con-
trolling such emissions as those causing odors
in the wood pulping industry.
Figure 25. Model furnace that simulates typical
commercial boilers.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
59
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Figure 26. Weather balloon using radiosonde tracking instruments.
60
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METEOROLOGY LABORATORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
Much of EPA's research and development
work in the atmospheric sciences focuses on
air pollution meteorology, under the purview
of the Meteorology Laboratory (MTL), which
is EPA's center of excellence in air pollution
meteorology for both research programs and
operational support activities. The MTL con-
sists of personnel from both EPA and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration (NOAA), on assignment to EPA
through a continuing (since 1955) interagency
agreement.
The MTL program involves two general
areas of activity: research activities aimed at
defining and describing meteorological factors
of prime importance to air pollution control,
and operational support activities which apply
meteorological principles to air pollution
control programs. Through a combination of
in-house, contract, and grant research pro-
grams, MTL carries out theoretical and experi-
mental studies to improve the understanding
of the. physical-chemical processes affecting
the transport, diffusion, transformations, and
ultimate disposition of air pollutants in and
from the atmosphere, on scales ranging from
local to global. MTL provides technical
information, observational and forecasting
support, and consultation on all meteor-
ological aspects of air pollution control to
EPA components external to the Laboratory.
Organization
The Meteorology Laboratory, within the
organizational framework below, develops
and conducts research concerned with the
meteorological aspects of air pollution. Tech-
niques and methodologies are developed and
improved to determine and forecast air pol-
lution potential and climatology. MTL also
develops analytical diffusion models to
predict the temporal and spatial distribution
of air pollutants. Studies are conducted on
the effects of air pollutants on the geo-
physical processes of weather and climate as
well as the energy balance of the earth-
atmosphere system. Also developed are
remote sensing techniques for measuring
meteorological parameters in urban areas.
Additionally, the Laboratory provides
meteorological services to other EPA activities
as required.
The Model Development Branch develops
and applies analytical formulations to
estimate the relationship between any arbi-
trary distribution of sources and the resultant
air quality. It conducts theoretical and ex peri-
r
MODEL
DEVELOPMENT
BRANCH
METEOROLOGY
LABORATORY
I
GEOPHYSICS
BRANCH
1
i i
ATMOSPHERIC SPECIAL
STRUCTURES PROJECTS
BRANCH BRANCH
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
61
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mental studies of the physical processes
affecting the transformation and ultimate
disposition of air pollutants in and from the
atmosphere.
The Geophysics Branch develops and
applies methods, procedures, and techniques
of meteorological processing, analysis, and
presentation to provide information on local,
regional, and national air pollution potential
climatology. It derives nationwide clima-
tology of air pollutant concentrations using
historical air quality and meteorological data
together with transport and diffusion models.
Techniques are developed for the forecasting
of air pollutant concentrations and air pol-
lution potential. Short- and long-term effects
of air pollutants on geophysical processes of
weather and climate are studied, as well as the
energy balance of the earth-atmosphere
system.
The Atmospheric Structures Branch con-
ducts research on physical processes and
dynamic structure of the lower atmosphere
over urban and non-urban areas using field
experiments and observations together with
theoretical calculations. It conducts research
on the atmospheric impact of pollutants and
heat emissions from large sources. It develops
remote sensing techniques for measuring the
vertical and horizontal distribution of meteor-
ological parameters.
The Special Projects Branch develops and
provides meteorological assistance and sup-
port to the Office of Air and Water Programs,
Table 9. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
METEOROLOGY LABORATORY. NERC/RTP, FOR
FISCAL YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
Regional Air Pollution
Study (RAPS)
Meteorological
research
Totals
FY 1972
($000)
3,777
3.777
Positions
EPA/NOAA
13/49
13/49
FY 1973
(SOOO)
3,290
2,906
6,196
Positions
EPA/NOAA
3/11
12/39
15/50
EPA Regional Offices, and State and local
agencies. It also provides liaison between the
NERC and outside organizations with
additional meteorological interests and needs.
Physical Facilities
The MTL is located in the National Center
for Health Statistics (NCHS) Building in the
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. On
site is a 30-foot-high observation platform
used to measure radiation. A Fluid Modeling
Facility (FMF), consisting of water and air
channels, is being designed under contract;
efforts are under way to locate a suitable site
for the FMF in the NERC/RTP complex.
Construction of the FMF is expected to begin
in 1973, with wind tunnel operations
scheduled for late 1973 or early 1974; the
water channel is scheduled for completion in
1975. The FMF will permit MTL scientists to
model complex flow patterns such as trans-
port and diffusion of pollutants around build-
ings, mountains, and valleys.
Unique equipment, developed with MTL
support and now used by MTL, includes three
remote-sensing instruments:
• A truck-mounted mobile lidar (laser/
radar) system can be used to measure the
atmospheric backscattering of light, which
can be related to atmospheric turbidity. A
measure of the vertical profile of atmos-
pheric backscattering by the lidar will
provide useful information on the three-
dimensional atmospheric aerosol structure,
on mixing depth, and on atmospheric
stability.
• A thermasonde radiometric temperature-
sensing system, providing information on
the vertical profile of the atmosphere to
1500 meters above site location, is a passive
system that measures the naturally occur-
ring microwave energy caused by the
permanent magnet movement of oxygen
molecules in the atmosphere. Measurement
of the microwave energy is equated to air
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LABORATORY REPORTS
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temperature through appropriate scanning
of the radiometer and by mathematical
data inversion schemes. The Mark I system
was delivered to EPA in February 1969 and
has been used by MTL in several field
programs. A more sensitive and completely
automatic Mark II system is currently being
tested. The thermasonde provides informa-
tion on mixing depth and atmospheric
stability, meteorological parameters used in
diffusion models, and air pollution
potential forecasting.
• A simple, compact sunphotometer can
be used to measure the atmospheric tur-
bidity coefficient (loss of light due to both
scattering and absorption of both aerosols
and gases in a column between the instru-
ment and the sun) at both 380- and
500-nm wavelengths. In a program
administered by MTL since 1960, the
sunphotometer has been used in a global
network of stations to determine the
worldwide background and trends of tur-
bidity as a basis for the study of long-term
trends in global pollution.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
Major program areas of the MTL include
the development of air quality simulation
models, a program of single-source simulation
studies, geophysical studies, meteorological
support, and the Regional Air Pollution
Study.
Consistent with the development of air
quality simulation modeling is the develop-
ment of a hierarchy of general urban-regional
diffusion models. This effort involves an
assessment of new empirical and numerical
simulation modeling techniques and valid-
ations of newly developed urban simulation
models. Also related is the development of
remote sensing instruments for measuring
mixing depth, temperature profiles, and rel-
ative aerosol concentration distributions in
the planetary boundary.
The single-source studies conducted by
MTL describe the dispersion and physico-
chemical changes of effluents (pollutants,
water vapor, and heat) from large single
sources. The studies involve developing tall-
stack-plume dispersion models and developing
and evaluating natural precipitation-
scavenging models that describe the pollutant
washout (from large power-generating plants)
that contributes to ground-level con-
tamination.
The effects of air pollutants on weather
and climate are major concerns of the geo-
physical studies. To measure these effects,
MTL administers a global atmospheric tur-
bidity network that assesses trends in global
pollution. Other supporting studies include
identifying regions likely to have "acid rain"
problems, determining the degree of
dependence of urban-rural radiation (solar,
terrestrial, and global) differences on atmos-
pheric pollution and urban morphology, and
describing and continually updating air pol-
lution potential climatology for the United
States, applicable to land-use activities and
strategies.
The meteorological support studies provide
technical information and consultation on all
meteorological aspects of pollution control to
EPA components external to MTL. This
assistance includes technical backup to
meteorologists assigned to Regional Offices,
meteorological forecasts and weather data to
Regional activities during emergency
situations, and support to States and local
control officials in the form of necessary data
and evaluation for abatement and compliance
actions. To provide accurate assistance, MTL
maintains liaison with the National Weather
Service.
The Regional Ah" Pollution Study, a 5-year
research program initiated in July 1972, will
bring together a number of research areas: air
pollution effects, atmospheric processes,
monitoring and analytical methods, ambient
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
63
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air quality surveillance, and source character-
ization and control strategies. To relate the
application of various control strategies to
their effectiveness in improving air quality,
improved scientific and technical inputs are
needed. These inputs are to be obtained
through a series of field investigations (over
distances of about 100 kilometers). These
field studies will comprise the RAPS which
. will be conducted in the St. Louis area; EPA
will coordinate RAPS with the experiments of
private groups and other Federal agencies in
the area.
Major Accomplishments
The Laboratory's accomplishments over
the past 1-1/2 years are summarized in four
major areas.
• Air Quality Simulation Modeling
Validating an urban diffusion model that
describes the distribution of automotive-
generated CO.
Evaluating a long-term prediction model
applicable to Ankara, Turkey.
Developing and initially evaluating three
air quality simulation models for chem-
ically active pollutants.
Completing a sensitivity analysis of avail-
able Gaussian dispersion models.
Completing a comparative study showing
that the Climatological Dispersion Model
performs better than the Air Quality Dis-
play Model for certain problems.
Developing a short-term dispersion
model to evaluate the necessity of con-
trolling emissions from aircraft.
Developing a mathematical model for
relating air quality measurements to air
quality standards.
Developing and testing the performance
of the Mark II thermasonde radiometer,
capable of remotely depicting mixing
depths and vertical temperature profiles
within the planetary boundary layer
(lowest 5000 feet).
Testing the performance in Denver of an
acoustic sounding system, capable of pro-
viding useful information on the turbulence
and temperature structure within the plane-
tary boundary layer.
• Single-Source Studies
Completing field tests under the auspices
of the Large Power Plant Effluent Study
(LAPPES) in Western Pennsylvania, yield-
ing a large body of data currently being
analyzed to describe the ultimate dis-
position of pollutants emitted from stacks
700 to 1000 feet high.
Completing studies indicating that
absorption/desorption processes are
important in the natural precipitation-
scavenging of SO2 in the atmosphere.
• Geophysical Study
Demonstrating the feasibility of using
satellites as platforms for measuring atmos-
pheric turbidity and albedo on a global
scale.
Documenting climatological information
on dispersion parameters for the con-
tiguous United States.
Using new dual-wavelength (380 and 500
nm) sunphotometers at 44 stations around
the world for measuring atmospheric
turbidity as geophysical indicators of global
pollution trends in the atmosphere.
Implementing an urban-rural radiation
study at NERC/RTP as a prelude to a more
extensive study of St. Louis under the
auspices of RAPS.
Implementing a precipitation chemistry
network involving 10 sampling stations at
National Weather Service sites, supported
jointly with NERC/RTP's Chemistry and
Physics Laboratory.
• Meteorological Support
Supporting EPA's Emergency Operations
Control Center (EOCC) during a local stag-
nation episode in Birmingham, Alabama,
64
LABORATORY REPORTS
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and during the chlorine barge incident in
Louisville, Kentucky. (Special weather
forecasts and meteorological observations
were taken during these periods.)
Providing air pollution climatological
data to the Southwest Energy Study
Report prepared by NOAA.
Providing meteorological support to the
Mt. Storm and Parkersburg, W.Va., abate-
ment conferences.
Hosting a meeting of the World Meteor-
ological Organization Executive Com-
mittee's Expert Panel on Meteorological
Aspects of Air Pollution in April 1972.
(The Panel completed details of a global air
pollution monitoring network proposal pre-
sented to the U.N. Conference on Human
Environment in June 1972.)
Future Research Emphasis
Future emphasis of the air quality simu-
lation modeling studies will include the
validation of simulation models for chem-
ically reactive pollutants and the evaluation of
new modeling techniques. The Physical
Modeling Facility is expected to be imple-
mented in 1973 with the completion of a
wind tunnel, followed by the construction of
a water channel in 1974. Simulation models
also will be evaluated under the auspices of
the Regional Air Pollution Study in St. Louis.
Programs will be devoted to solving problems
on plume downwash around buildings, topo-
graphical effects on plume rise and diffusion,
air-water interactions involving pollutant
transformations, small-scale dispersion from
traffic, and environmental impact of elevated
or depressed highways and airports.
A User's Network for Environmental
Quality Modeling will be developed and
implemented in 1973; this concept involves
using the latest technology in computer hard-
ware and software to establish a library of
simulation models and related data that are
readily available to all potential users.
Future emphasis of the single-source
studies will consider the heat and moisture
budgets of a power plant cooling pond, to
determine the contributions of sensible heat
and moisture to the atmosphere from such a
cooling facility. Natural precipitation washout
studies will be carried out in the St. Louis
area under the RAPS program.
Current RAPS program planning calls for
the prime contractor to be selected and to
begin operations in the St. Louis area by early
1973. The network of measuring stations
should be in operation by early 1974. Inven-
tory, meteorological, and air quality char-
acterization studies, begun during the summer
of 1972, will be assumed by the contractor
and continued during the period of the study.
Although field activity is expected to be com-
pleted by the end of 1977, analysis of RAPS
data may continue for several more years. The
impact of RAPS information on air pollution
simulation models should begin to be felt as
early as spring of 1974, shortly after the net-
work begins to produce adequate data for
model verification. Verified and updated air
quality models will be made available to State
and local air pollution agencies as quickly as
possible.
Figure 27. Mobile monitoring equipment for
measurement of atmospheric concentrations of
ozone, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur
dioxide.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
65
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Figure 28. Demonstration facility housing a variety of air monitoring and measurement equipment. Site
is used in training programs concerned with operation and use of such equipment.
Figure 29. Spark source mass spectrometer for environmental sample analysis.
66
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QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENVIRON-
MENTAL MONITORING LABORATORY
data generated by all agencies sharing this
basic mission.
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
The basic mission of the Quality Assurance
and Environmental Monitoring Laboratory
(QAEML), formerly the Division of Atmos-
pheric Surveillance, is to acquire the accurate
and valid aerometric (or other environmental)
data required to support decisions relating to
air pollution or to general environmental
quality, in the areas of air resource manage-
ment, standards setting, criteria development,
compliance and enforcement, episode control,
and preferred paths for source emissions
control.
This mission involves applying standard
methodology and using adequate quality
control procedures to ensure the production
of a high-quality product. The QAEML pro-
vides standard methods of sampling and
analysis, as well as quality control guidelines
and procedures and technical assistance, to
maximize the validity and comparability of
Emphasis has been, and will continue to be,
placed on gathering valid air quality and
related data and on developing (refining)
methodology for measuring pollutants.
Organization
The QAEML — operating in five Branches
— provides analytical methods standard-
ization, quality control, equivalency eval-
uation, and specialized field monitoring and
analytical support to EPA's Regional Offices,
the Office of Enforcement and General
Counsel (OEGC), the Office of Air and Water
Programs (OAWP), and other NERC/RTP
components. It is responsible for field-
evaluating commercial air pollution instru-
mentation and carries out mathematical and
statistical evaluation and report preparation
of internally generated data.
The Methods Standardization Branch pro-
gram involves methods evaluation, procedure
revision, and collaborative testing that results
in publication of standard analytical methods
METHODS
STANDARDIZATION
BRANCH
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
LABORATORY
QUALITY
CONTROL
BRANCH
SOURCE
SAMPLE
AND
FUELS
ANALYSIS
BRANCH
ANALYTICAL
LABORATORY
BRANCH
_L
FIELD MONITORING
AND INSTRUMENT
EVALUATION
BRANCH
MERC ANNUAL REPORT
67
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for ambient air as well as for stationary and
mobile sources. The Branch develops standard
reference materials for use in methods
development and standardization activities.
The Quality Control Branch provides an
analytical quality control program for NERC/
RTF laboratories and quality control guidance
to Regional Offices and State and local
laboratories. It develops standard reference
materials and delivery systems for use in
quality control activities and equivalency
evaluations.
The Source Sample and Fuels Analysis
Branch provides analytical laboratory support
to source sampling activities carried out by
OAWP. This includes technical assistance, as
well as liaison between source sampling and
analysis methodology, to provide valid data
for developing new-source performance
standards or hazardous pollutant emission
standards. It provides analytical capability for
determining the chemical and physical
composition of fuel and fuel additives. It also
performs analyses to determine trace elements
in a variety of environmental samples.
The Analytical Laboratory Branch provides
technical support and specialized training to
EPA Regional Offices and State and local
laboratories. It develops new methods, mod-
ifies existing methods, and provides analytical
services to support ongoing activities,
including research monitoring. It provides
analytical laboratory support for short-term
and special environmental studies to support
EPA enforcement activities.
The Field Monitoring and Instrument Eval-
uation Branch provides specialized support
and training to OAWP, OEGC, and EPA
Regional Offices. It field-evaluates new and
improved techniques for collecting environ-
mental samples and for the continuous
measurement of environmental pollutants. It
is responsible within NERC/RTP for field-
testing and evaluating new and improved
analytical instruments developed in other
NERC laboratories. It is also responsible for
the evaluation of equivalency of candidate
methods and instruments to reference and
standard methods.
Table 10. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING LABORATORY. NERC/RTP, FOR
FISCAL YEARS 1972 AND 1973
Category
Monitoring data audit
and review
Advanced monitoring
techniques
Monitoring quality assurance
Totals
FY 1972
(SOOOI/Positions
685/23
2,544/80
-
3,229/103
FY 1973
(SOOOI/Positions
233/8
1,682/68
1,581/16
3,496/92
Physical Facilities
QAEML personnel occupy office, shop,
and laboratory space in the NERC/RTP and
in the Durham Air Monitoring and Demon-
stration Facility. The Laboratory also
operates six Continuous Air Monitoring Pro-
gram (CAMP) stations in Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis,
and Denver. All monitoring and analytical
activities are either performed at, or directed
from, NERC/-RTP.
The Laboratory operates a number of
unusual or major items of analytical equip-
ment:
• The Automated Laboratory Data
Analysis System (ALDAS) - Scheduled for
completion in late 1972, this system will
facilitate rapid and accurate measurement
of trace-element levels in environmental
samples. It will receive, store, and process
data outputs from direct-reading analytical
instruments including an Ainsworth
balance, an atomic absorption spectro-
meter, and an optical emission spectro-
meter. (Several components were in use
prior to system completion.)
68
LABORATORY REPORTS
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• A computerized and automated X-ray
fluorescent spectrometer — Currently being
calibrated, this equipment can also be used
to process data from other sources.
• An anodic stripping voltameter — This
instrument has an extremely sensitive read-
ing capability (in nanograms) for up to 12
elements, predominantly the heavy metals.
• A spectrometer system using an auto-
mated direct-reading absorption spectro-
photometer and recording colorimeters —
This system is used to analyze over 60,000
samples a year for gaseous pollutants (SO2,
NO2) and nonmetallic ions (SO4, NOJ,
NH^) extracted from suspended partic-
ulates.
• A system capable of making some 4,000
determinations per year of pesticides and
polychloro-biphenyls in ambient air
samples — This system consists of two gas
chromatographs with electron capture,
flame ionization, flame photometric
thermionic emission, thermal conductivity,
electrolytic conductivity detectors, and a
computer integrator; a high-pressure liquid
chromatograph; and a luminescence spec-
trophotometer.
• A spark-source mass spectrometer
(believed to be the only one of its specific
type of less than six of all types in the
Nation) — Installed during the first quarter
of FY 73, this instrument is used for trace
analysis of up to 80 elements in fuels,
source samples, and other environmental
samples.
• Neutron activation counting equipment
— Used in conjunction with N.C. State
University's high-flux research reactor, this
equipment and its methodology comple-
ment the capabilities of the Laboratory's
spark-source mass spectrometer.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
Major programs of the Quality Assurance
and Environmental Monitoring Laboratory
include continued monitoring data audit and
review, development of advanced monitoring
techniques, and monitoring quality assurance.
The monitoring data audit and review pro-
gram consists of improving data acquisition
and utilization in support of in-house stand-
ardization; determining the equivalency of
methodology; quality control activities; and
technically assisting and supporting OAWP,
OEGC, EOCC, OR & M, and Regional Offices
as well as State and local quality control
agencies.
The field monitoring and analytical support
program includes the analysis of fuels, fuel
additives, and source samples. The Laboratory
assists State and local agencies by operating a
variety of networks (suspended particulate,
gas, and continuous monitoring) and by
participating in special environmental
projects, e.g., the Southwest Energy Study
(SWES) and the Regional Air Pollution Study.
Since these operations produce data to
support investigations of complex pollutant
problems, development of criteria documents,
and definition of problem areas, they require
application of a wide variety of highly
sophisticated analytical methods and, on
occasion, development of special-purpose
methods.
Results of continuous monitoring for CO,
SO2, NO, NO2, Os, CH4, and total hydro-
carbons, conducted in six large cities, are used
to define diurnal and seasonal variations as
well as long-term trends. Samples of sus-
pended particulates collected by the 275-
station National Air Surveillance Network are
analyzed for total mass concentration, as well
as for such individual pollutants as lead,
beryllium, chromium, nickel, and 15 or so
other trace elements. Integrated 24-hour
samples collected at the 190 Gas Sampling
Network stations are analyzed for SO2 and
NO2 to provide data also used to determine
long-range trends.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
69
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An intensive 90-day monitoring program,
utilizing newly developed and commercially
available (but inadequately field-tested)
instrumentation, was conducted in mid-1971.
Ozone was measured continuously at 40 sites,
and CO at 36 (not necessarily duplicated)
sites. The data collected were used to
determine the associated Air Quality Control
Regions' (ACQR's) category (Priority I or III)
with respect to the two pollutants. A similar
program, to measure NO2 in 42 AQCRs, was
conducted late in 1972; the data collected
will enable the AQCRs to be categorized (I or
III) on the basis of NO2 concentration.
Other significant nonroutine contributions
of QAEML include completion of a study on
indoor/outdoor pollutant relationships in high
rise and air rights structures, development of
methodology for determining mass con-
centration of asbestos in ambient air, develop-
ment of a sampling and analysis method for
airborne pesticides, development of two
sampling and analysis methods for mercury in
air, and provision of substantial data input
into NAS "Biological Effects" documents on
lead, chromium, vanadium, nickel, and
manganese.
The advanced monitoring technique pro-
gram also inaugurated a Nationwide Fuels
Surveillance Program (gasoline, jet fuel, and
heating fuels). Material analyzed is obtained
through a nationwide fuels-collection network
operated by the Regional Offices. A trace-ele-
ment measurement program was developed in-
house to handle all types of environmental
samples, using neutron activation analysis and
spark-source mass spectrometry. During this
reporting period, major emphasis was placed
on analyzing source emission samples
collected by the Office of Air Quality Plan-
ning and Standards. Results of these analyses
were used to set standards under Sections 111
and 112 of the Clean Air Act.
The Durham Air Monitoring and Demon-
stration Facility (DAMDF) is a focal point for
demonstrating the use of continuous air
monitoring instrumentation in monitoring the
Nation's air quality. Individual on-the-job
training is conducted to assist air pollution
agencies in operating the equipment success-
fully. The DAMDF, also a field station for
long-term evaluation of commercially avail-
able instrumentation, is used by NERC's
Meteorology and Human Studies
Laboratories.
The QAEML also technically supports the
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
by analyzing fossil fuels for hazardous and
other pollutants. Samples of the different
fuels are collected nationwide to provide a
cross-section of materials. Analyses for
hazardous and other pollutants provide the
basic data for establishing and enforcing
emission standards and for supporting various
industry studies.
The monitoring quality assurance program
has two major areas: evaluating and standard-
izing methods for measuring ambient air
pollutants, and developing and implementing
quality control programs.
Purposes of the former program are to
evaluate and standardize methods included in
the National Air Quality Standards (NAQS)
and to develop standard reference materials
for the methods. Each method is evaluated,
collaboratively tested, and standardized
according to a technically and statistically
designed plan. Current activities include
collaboratively testing the ozone method,
developing plans for collaborative tests at
stationary sources, continued testing of the
pararosaniline SO2 procedure, and developing
standard reference materials.
The quality control program is aimed at
developing guidelines, procedures, systems,
protocols, and test materials for use in imple-
menting intra- and inter-laboratory quality
control that will ensure the production of
high-quality environmental quality data. The
program provides technical assistance in
70
OPERATING LABORATORY REPORTS
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implementing, coordinating, and evaluating
quality control programs at EPA Regional
Offices, NERCs, and State and local environ-
mental laboratories. It also develops a referee
analytical quality control laboratory.
Current significant activities include eval-
uation of a prototype standard gas delivery
system; evaluation of a high-volume sampler
standard calibration device; continuation of
the development of quality assurance pro-
cedures for source emission sampling and
analysis methods; and continuing encourage-
ment of, and assistance in, the use of standard
or equivalent methodology and acquisition of
comparable environmental quality data by all
agencies involved in the area of environmental
quality evaluation.
Major Accomplishments
Major accomplishments of the Laboratory's
monitoring data audit and review program
are:
• Establishment of a nationwide air
quality data management system that pro-
vides standard formats for storage and
retrieval of data.
• Guides for use in the data management
system (SAROAD).
• Establishment of a national data bank
into which has been deposited the major
portion of air quality data acquired by
Federal, State, and local agencies. Standard
computer programs for storage and
retrieval of data have been made available,
as have provisions for access to the data
bank from remote terminals.
The major accomplishment of the monitor-
ing quality assurance program is the com-
pletion of evaluation and collaborative tests
of the Federal Register reference methods for
SO2 and CO. In other areas of the program,
contracts were negotiated for developing first-
generation guidelines and systems for insti-
tuting quality control in Regional, NERC,
State, and local environmental monitoring
programs. Also, methods have been devised
for evaluating laboratory performance, and a
performance survey was conducted of approx-
imately 130 laboratories.
An inter-Laboratory/inter-Branch task
group produced the document, National
Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality
Standards — Proposed Regulations for Equiv-
alent Methods. This to-be-published docu-
ment provides detailed procedures and
specifications for defining and determining
equivalency of methods with respect to
"reference methods" for the measurement of
pollutant concentrations published in the
Federal Register of November 25, 1971
(Volume 3b, page 22384).
/
Future Research Emphasis
Future emphasis of the monitoring data
audit and review program will be on acceler-
ating design and implementation programs for
improving the acquisition, processing, audit-
ing, and utilization of data in support of
standardization and equivalency determin-
ation activities and in the operation of a
quality control program. Support in these
areas to OAWP, OEGC, EOCC, OR&M,
Regional Offices, and State and local agencies
— in regard to operating surveillance networks
— will be provided on an increasing level.
In the future, greater emphasis relating to
field monitoring and analytical support will
be placed on investigations and special studies
of the development of new and improved
methods for the more-difficult-to-analyze
pollutants, for new-generation pollutants, for
ambient-air/source relationships, for particle
size distribution (particularly with respect to
trace metals), and for increased support of
SWES and RAPS. Evaluation of several
different methods for collecting and measur-
ing ambient NO2 will be given highest
priority. In the area of special field studies,
emphasis will be on the successful continu-
ation of the Western Smelter/SO2 study, field
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
71
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evaluation of instrumentation, and acceler-
ation of the decentralization plan for trans-
ferring routine total suspended particulate
and gas network operations to the respective
Regional Surveillance and Analysis Divisions.
Future plans will also emphasize continued
analytical support of the Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards for setting Federal
standards and increased support of the Office
of Enforcement for the enforcement of
standards. The trace-element measurement
program will be expanded in two areas:
analysis services will be provided to other
NERC/RTP Laboratories: and source emission
samples will be separated into several particle-
size ranges prior to analysis. Future plans also
include implementing the final phase of the
Nationwide Fuels Surveillance Program to
include the analysis of fuel additives.
Emphasis in the monitoring quality
assurance program will be on collaboratively
testing and standardizing methods for ozone,
NO^, hydrocarbons, SO^ (24-hour sampling),
and emissions from stationary sources (nitric
acid plants, sulfuric acid plants, incinerators,
cement plants, chlor-alkali plants, non-ferrous
smelters, and fossil-fuel-fired-power-
generating plants). A program will be initiated
to test methods for light-duty-vehicle
emissions.
In the immediate future, emphasis will be
placed on guidelines and procedures for intra-
laboratory quality control programs and
measurement systems for stationary and
mobile source emissions, fuels, and raw
materials. The development of a test-gas
generation and delivery system will be acceler-
ated. Specifications will be developed for
standard materials used in environmental
monitoring (e.g., filters and gases) as a major
step in implementing quality control
programs.
12
Figure 30. Neutron activation counting instrumentation.
LABORATORY REPORTS
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I
Figure 31. Exposure chamber for low-level microwave irradiation studies of Chinese hamsters.
74
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EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL RADIA-
TION LABORATORY
Introduction
Mission and General Research Direction
As an associate laboratory of NERC/RTP,
the Eastern Environmental Radiation Labora-
tory (EERL) is one of two EPA field radia-
tion laboratories with responsibility for
determining the impact of radiation on the
environment. NERC/Las Vegas (formerly the
Western Environmental Research Laboratory)
is concerned with the Western States. EERL is
responsible for EPA Regions I through V,
including all 27 States east of the Mississippi
River.
A major function of the Laboratory is its
research program in both radiation biological
effects and analytical methodology. Another
primary function is to provide technical
assistance to the radiological health programs
of State and local health departments within
the regions it serves, as well as other Federal
agencies. Included is on-the-job training of
health personnel, expertise in radiation sur-
veillance and analyses, and personnel and
associated equipment for coping with
radiation accidents.
This Report describes the overall activities
of the Eastern Environmental Radiation
Laboratory, while specifically discussing only
those projects related to NERC/RTP's pro-
grams, i.e., those conducted by the Radiation
Bioeffects Research Branch and the Physical
Sciences Research Branch.
Among the programs currently being con-
ducted by EERL are:
• Determination of biological hazards
associated with ionizing and non-ionizing
radiation so that risks can be assessed and
evaluated.
• Research and development of radio-
analytical and stable-element determin-
ations, and maintaining operable all of the
radiochemical procedures used at the
Laboratory.
• Identification of components of man's
ecosystem in which radionuclides collect,
and the quantitative assessment of the
significance of such pooling on man and his
environment.
• Maintenance of a record of radioactive
concentrations in various media in con-
nection with network sampling programs as
well as special environmental sampling pro-
grams, using sampling networks for air,
water, soil, milk, vegetation, and food.
Organization
As shown in the organization chart, EERL
consists of four offices and four branches in
addition to administrative offices.
The Radiation Bioeffects Research Branch
performs research in both ionizing and non-
ionizing radiation, specifically to obtain data
to be utilized in formulation of krypton-85
and microwave exposure standards. It con-
ducts research into the biological effects of
microwave radiation for the purpose of
determining the presence or absence of a
hazard. It is also investigating biological
effects resulting from krypton-85 exposure.
The Physical Sciences Research Branch per-
forms research and development on projects
requiring radioanalytical and stable-element
analysis. It evaluates and develops chemical
methods for use in programs conducted by
the Laboratory.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
75
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The Nuclear Facilities Research Branch
evaluates the impact of nuclear facilities on
man and his environment. Studies are con-
ducted to identify sources and quantities of
radioactive effluents from these facilities, and
to determine the transport parameters and
accumulation of these effluents in environ-
mental pathways. It uses data from this
activity to assess any potential radiation
exposure to man.
The Analytical Services Branch conducts
EERL's environmental monitoring and sur-
veillance activities and provides analytical and
electronic maintenance support to the other
Laboratory Branches. Its chief responsibility
is the operation of the National Environ-
mental Radiation Surveillance Networks,
which include separate milk, food, water, and
bone networks. It provides technical
assistance to other Federal and State agencies
in the form of cross-check services, on-the-job
training, and special-sample analyses.
The Office of Quality Control and States
Assistance confirms the validity of analytical
results through duplicate analysis to measure
precision, and through spiked analysis to
measure accuracy. It conducts an active
quality control program with various States
within EPA Regions I through V. Co-
ordinating with the Regional Offices, the
Office fosters a mutual exchange of scientific
ideas and technological advancement between
the States and the Laboratory.
Table 11. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES FOR
EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION
LABORATORY, NERC/RTP, FOR FISCAL YEARS
1972 AND 1973
Category
Radiation health effects
research
Monitoring quality assurance
Program support
Totals
FY 1972
($000 I/Positions
365/14
328/20
80/0
773/34
FY 1972
(SOOOJ/Positions
445/25
277/18
84/0
806/43
Physical Facilities
The variety of facilities at EERL allows
maximum flexibility in Laboratory oper-
ations. These facilities consist of 28 buildings
(approximately 50,000 square feet) and
include:
• Chemistry and radiological laboratories.
EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL
RADIATION LABORATORY
ANALYTICAL
SERVICES
BRANCH
NUCLEAR
FACILITIES
RESEARCH
BRANCH
PHYSICAL
SCIENCES
RESEARCH
BRANCH
RADIATION
BIOEFFECTS
RESEARCH
BRANCH
T_
OFFICES OF:
INFORMATION AND
TECHNICAL REPORTS
QUALITY CONTROL AND
STATES ASSISTANCE
TECHNICAL TRAINING
AND SPECIAL STUDIES
SAFETY
76
LABORATORY REPORTS
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• Facilities for extensive biological studies
and for maintaining animal colonies for
these studies.
• Elaborate counting equipment for
complete radionuclide analysis, and the
capability for both maintaining this equip-
ment and developing new instrumentation
for Laboratory programs.
• Modern training facilities — a classroom
accommodating 50 students for classroom
studies (or 150 persons for lectures or
films) and two adjoining student labora-
tories.
• A large greenhouse and climate control
chambers.
• An extensive library to serve the tech-
nical staff.
• Maintenance and repair shops capable of
remodeling buildings and constructing
laboratory and research facilities and equip-
ment.
Major Program Areas
Summary of Present Programs
The programs conducted at EERL are
designed to confront the problems of pol-
lution contamination caused by radiation.
Studies conducted by the Radiation Bio-
effects Research Branch and the Physical
Sciences Research Branch are of specific
interest to NERC/RTP and are described in
greater detail below.
The Radiation Bioeffects Research Branch
has concentrated its efforts on two projects.
Information obtained in the Microwave
Cytogenetics Study indicates that microwave
radiation can induce chromosome abnormal-
ities. Mature Chinese hamsters have been
exposed to 200 MW/cm2 for different time
intervals at a frequency of 2432 ± 4 MHz. The
results from chromosome analysis indicate
that, for the power density and exposure
times employed, there is a significantly higher
percentage aberration for irradiated animals
than for controls. This was true for all
exposure times and for all tissues. Investi-
gations at much lower power densities, how-
ever, are required to determine possible
effects at ambient levels.
Of two other microwave projects under-
way, one involves decreasing the power
density from 200 to 15 MW/cm2 and
determining the cytogenetic effects and their
change corresponding to variable power
density. Also ongoing is a program to
determine the effects of microwave radiation
on offspring of irradiated parents.
The Krypton-85 Study involves investi-
gating the physiological behavior and
radiation effects of krypton-85 in living
animals. Krypton-85 is a fission product noble
gas produced in nuclear power production
and is being released to the atmosphere in
large quantities. The data obtained from this
research will provide EPA with a realistic
assessment of the hazards associated with
krypton-85 exposure. These data will be used
to develop credible standards for krypton-85
concentrations in ambient air, and for nuclear
facilities that release "krypton-85 to the en-
vironment. Studies presently being pursued
include:
• Determination of in vivo whole-body-
partition coefficients for krypton-85 from
air to tissue for guinea pigs and the kinetic
parameters involved in saturation and
desaturation of the body with krypton-85,
and the determination of individual organ
air-to-tissue partition coefficients for
krypton-85 in guinea pigs for the most
important organs and tissues.
• In another study, most of the necessary
data have been collected to determine the
median lethal exposure to krypton-85 for
guinea pigs exposed via the respiratory
route with the outside of the body pro-
tected. Completion of a sealed exposure
chamber will provide for the determination
of the median lethal exposure to krypton-
85 for guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters
exposed "whole body" in beta-infinite-
cloud geometry.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT
77
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Efforts of the Physical Sciences Research
Branch in 1972 focused on chemical and
instrumental techniques for isolating and
measuring a variety of individual radio-
nuclides from environmental samples. Of
particular interest were separation and
measurement of tritium, carbon-14, krypton-
85, promethium-147, and neptunium-237.
multiplier photo tubes as a detector, was
developed to replace the bulky and compli-
cated gas systems which often give erroneous
readings. Advantages of this monitor are port-
ability, energy discrimination, and ability to
monitor both air and water at levels well
below the maximum permissible concen-
trations of tritium.
A series of radiochemical analytical pro-
cedures designed for aqueous samples and
compiled by the Radiochemistry and Nuclear
Engineering Laboratory, EPA, Cincinnati,
were evaluated at EERL prior to their publi-
cation as part of an EPA surveillance guide.
Procedures, developed for plutonium and
neptunium separation from environmental
samples, include the adaption of liquid ion-
exchange technology for the separation of
these actinides from filters, biota, and soil
using triisoctylamine. Preliminary successful
investigations were carried out on the
separation and radioassay of curium from
environmental samples. Curium is being
considered for a power source for future
space exploration. Using curium-244 as an
experimental tracer, 70 percent yields were
obtained by extraction with di-n-butyl-N,
N-diethyl carbamyl phosphonate (DDCP).
The xylene/Triton N-101 emulsion system,
used routinely at this Laboratory for liquid
scintillation counting, can be used only at or
near 20°C. Based on requests from users of
the refrigerated counters for an emulsion
system for use at lower temperatures (0° to
10°C), a mixture was found which had the
desirable properties below 10°C.
Instrumentation was developed to meet
requirements for low-level detection
capability. A Pm-147 whole-body counter,
utilizing a large but thin sodium iodide (Tl)
crystal, was designed to detect the low-energy
bremsstrahlung radiation produced by
Pm-147 absorbed by the body. A tritium
monitor, employing a scintillator cell and
Major Accomplishments
EERL's major accomplishments since
1971-1972 have been in direct support of
EPA's responsibilities for improving the
Nation's environment. Whether in research
and monitoring or in related areas, EERL's
programs are concerned with results that can
be directly applied to solving existing prob-
lems. These accomplishments include:
• The design, construction, and evaluation
of a microwave irradiation facility (maxi-
mum error of ± 18 percent at 200MW/cm2
power density).
• The conclusion that microwave radiation
can induce chromosome abnormalities,
based on the exposure of mature hamsters
at 200 MW/cm2 at a frequency of 2432 ± 4
MHz.
• The development of krypton-85 ana-
lytical procedures and establishment of a
krypton-85 sampling network.
• The evaluation of the biological effects
of krypton-85.
• The evaluation of luminous compounds
(tritium and promethium-147) in paint.
• The development and standardization of
radiochemical procedures for monitoring
nuclear reactor effluents.
• The development of a radiological
emergency response capability.
• Continued operation of the National
Environmental Radiation Surveillance Net-
works for monitoring the Nation's air,
water, milk, food, and vegetation.
78
LABORATORY REPORTS
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Future Research Emphasis
EERL's projected work plans include con-
tinuing existing major projects to achieve the
Laboratory goals just described.
Microwave Radiation. Continued investi-
gation of microwave radiation effects will
include studies of biological effects of pulsed
versus continuous-wave microwave radiation,
chronic exposure with low power density for
long periods of time, frequency sensitivity of
biological systems to the most commonly
used microwave frequencies, and biochemical
changes which might be induced by micro-
wave radiation.
Krypton-85. Plans for the immediate
future call for completing the Tissue Distri-
bution and Internal Lethality Studies, begin-
ning exposures for the Whole-Body Lethality
Study, and studying the hematology and path-
ology associated with a median lethal
exposure via respiration. Long-term plans
include hematologjcal and pathological
studies on guinea pigs exposed at LDso levels
of krypton-85, acute-exposure studies of
guinea pigs, and chronic-exposure studies of
rats and hamsters (including cytogenic effects
on hamsters) in a beta-infinite-cloud
geometry.
Radiochemical Methodology Develop-
ment. Future programs in this area will
include the continuation of methods develop-
ment and related studies for the radionuclide
analysis of environmental samples. These
studies will involve:
• Establishing tritium and carbon-14
methodology for food, vegetation, and
biota components for the surveillance pro-
grams.
• Expanding radiochemid&l and instru-
mental methodology to include other
nuclides, e.g., 55Fe, 89Sr, 90Sr, 1291, and
1311 in food, vegetation, and other biota
samples.
• Designing and establishing criteria for
operational surveillance networks for food
and vegetation samples.
Figure 32. Equipment for rapid determination of krypton-85 in air.
NERC ANNUAL REPORT « u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE- 1973—7^772/4192
79
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