Draft Final Report
Inventory of Environmental Exposure-Related
Data Systems In the Federal Government
Volume One
X-/EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Health Research
Washington, DC 20460
JU
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SJL
National Center for Health Statistics
Centers for Disease Control
Office of Analysis and Epidemiology
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Health Studies
Atlanta, GA 30333
Prepared by:
Eastern Research Group, Inc.
6 Whittemore Street
Arlington, MA 02174
December 13,1991
Printed on Recycled Paper
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE v
OVERVIEW 1
Introduction 1
Purpose 1
Scope 2
Method 3
Limitations 5
Organization of Inventory 5
List of Cross-References 6
Synopsis of Data Systems Included 9
Table of Selected Characteristics of Data Collection Systems 17
Additional Information Resources 21
PART I: DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS (for a listing of specific data systems, see next page)
PART II: DATA HANDLING SYSTEMS (for a listing of specific data systems, see next page)
APPENDIX A Listing of Data Systems by Name and Acronym A-l
APPENDIX B Listing of Data Systems by Department B-l
or Agency
APPENDIX C Questionnaire C-l
APPENDIX D Listing of Chemicals by Data Collection
System and Media D-l
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)
DATA SYSTEMS INCLUDED IN INVENTORY
Acid Deposition Data Network (ADDNET) 2-1
Acid Deposition System (ADS) 1-1
Acidification Chemistry Information Data Base (ACID) 2-3
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) 2-4
Agricultural Chemical Usage 1-5
Air Facility Subsystem (AFS) of the Aerometric Information Retrieval
System (AIRS) 1-8
Air Quality Subsystem (AQS) of the Aerornetric Information Retrieval
System (AIRS) 1-11
Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project 1-14
Alkalinity, Lake Area, and Deposition for New England States 1-15
Ambient Ozone Concentrations 1-16
Anticipated Residues in Food (OPPE Pesticide Food Residue) 1-17
Aquatic Toxicity Information Retrieval (AQUIRE) 1-21
Biennial Reporting System 1-25
Chemical Screening Branch (CSB) Existing Chemicals Assessment
Tracking System (CECATS) 1-29
Coal Technology Data System 2-8
Community Health Air Monitoring Program (CHAMP) 1-33
Compliance Data System (CDS) 1-37
Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) 2-11
Crosswalk/Air Toxics Emissions Factor Database
Management System (XATEF) 1-38
Distribution Register of Organic Pollutants in Water 1-42
Eastern Lake Survey (ELS) 1-43
Emissions Certification Database 1-47
Environmental Display Manager (EDM) 2-13
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) 1-50
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) 1-54
Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS) 1-59
Fish Information Network (FIN) 1-63
Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) 1-64
Graphical Exposure Modeling System (GEMS) 2-16
Great Lakes Fish Monitoring Program 1-70
Hazardous Substance Release/Health Effects Database
(HAZDAT) 1-71
Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) 1-75
Industrial Facilities Discharge File (IFD) 2-19
Integrated Data Base (1DB) 1-80
Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments
(IMPROVE) 1-84
Internal Radiation Dosimetry System (OHSP) 1-88
Lake Analysis Management System (LAMS) 1-92
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)
DATA SYSTEMS INCLUDED IN INVENTORY (cont.)
Lockheed-EPA. EMSL-LV 1-95
Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTM) 1-99
Marine Pollution Retrieval System (MPRS) 1-103
Microbiology and Residue Computer Information System
(MARCIS) 1-107
Month and State Current Emissions Trends (MSCET) 1-112
Monthly Emissions Inventory for Sulfur Dioxide 1-117
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) 1-118
National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) 1-123
National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse (NATICH) 1-124
National Biomonitoring Specimens Bank 2-20
National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Inventory (NCPDI) 1-128
National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP) 1-133
National Emissions Data System (NEDS) 1-137
National Environmental Specimen Bank 1-138
National Estuarine Inventory (NEI) 2-23
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NI-lANES) 1-142
National Herbicide Use Database 1-147
National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NI-IATS) 1-150
National Human Milk Monitoring Program 1-154
National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank 1-158
National Park Service Environmental Database Management
System (NPSEDMS) 1-159
National Pesticide Survey (NPS) 1-163
National Residential Radon Survey (NRRS) 1-167
National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine
Waters 1-171
National Status and Trends (NS&T)for Marine
Environmental Quality 1-175
National Stream Survey (NSS) 1-180
National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) 1-184
National VOC Data Base 1-185
National Water Information System II 1-190
National Water Quality Networks Program 1-191
Northeast Regional Oxidant Study (NEROS) 1-197
Ocean Data Evaluation System (ODES) 1-201
Permit Compliance System (PCS) 1-205
Pesticide Information Network (PIN) 1-208
Radioactive Materials Released
from Nuclear Power Plants 1-212
Reach Pollutant Assessment (RPA) 2-26
Recall Database 1-216
Records of Decisions System (RODS) 1-220
Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) 1-221
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)
DATA SYSTEMS INCLUDED IN INVENTORY (cont.)
Resource Conservation Recovery Information
System (RCRIS) 1-225
Sample Tracking and Data Management System (STDMS) 1-229
Social, Economic, Environmental, Demographic Information
System (SEEDIS) 2-29
State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) 1-230
State/EPA Residential Radon Survey 1-231
Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality Data (STORET) 1-235
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOC), U.S. Production
and Sales 1-240
Total Diet Study (TDS) 1-244
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 1-248
Toxic Substances Control Act Test
Submissions (TSCATS) 1-252
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) 1-256
Western Lake Survey (WLS) 1-260
Wisconsin Fisheries (FISH.WIS) 1-263
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PREFACE
This report, an Inventory of Environmental Exposure-Related Data Systems in the Federal
Government, is a compilation of information on federally managed data systems that contain
exposure information. These systems access collections of analytical results that assess
environmental media such as air, soil, or water, as well as analytical results from food, human
samples, or bulk chemicals. The Inventory focuses on data systems that:
• Contain information on a large geographic area (i.e., national, regional, state, or
region of a state—excluding individual research studies of limited scope);
• Have data or summary documents that are generally available for research or other
purposes; and
• Are supported, at least in part, by public funds.
The Inventory emerges from the premise that the availability and quality of expostire data
is a central issue in environmental studies. Objective and quantifiable exposure data are needed
to perform risk assessments, to evaluate risk management programs, to evaluate the status of and
trends in exposure, and to perform epidemiologic studies and surveillance activities. The first step
in encouraging the development of high-quality exposure data is to determine and characterize the
data systems that already exist.
This report consists of a brief overview of the purpose, scope, method, limitations,
organization, and findings of the inventory, followed by detailed summaries of each data system.
The Inventory is organized into two parts: Part I contains descriptions of data collection systems
that collect source data; Part II contains descriptions of data handling systems that provide easy and
flexible access to data available in other data systems. (This distinction is not meant to imply that
data collection systems do not provide easy and flexible access to data.) If a data system collects
any source data, it is listed in the data collection system section regardless of the data handling
capabilities of the system. Summaries within each section are in alphabetical order by name of the
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data system. In Part I, the detailed description of each data collection system includes the
objectives and coverage of the system, summary of environmental data, sample design and analysis,
database characteristics, and contact persons for additional information. In Part II, the detailed
write-up of each data handling system describes the coverage of the system, the data sources
included, data presentation, and data availability. (For some data systems detailed information was
not available; in these instances a brief description is provided.)
In addition, there are four appendices. Appendix A contains the names and acronyms (if
any) of the data systems. Appendix B lists the data systems by agency. Appendix C contains the
questionnaire that was sent to eachof the database managers. (Responses to the questionnaire and
a great deal of additional information provided by these individuals formed the basis of the
summaries in this Inventory.) Appendix D, which constitutes Volume II, contains a listing of
chemicals found in the data collection systems; the chemicals are listed by data collection system
name and media.
This Inventory w Il serve as the background document for the workshop entitled “Making
Use of Environmental Exposure Databases.” This workshop, which will be held in January 1992,
is being jointly sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, and the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for
Disease Control. The workshop will focus on four questions: How are these databases being used?
Are data available to document exposures for both the general population and high risk groups?
What critical data are not available? Should old databases be modified, or should new databases
be created to address data gaps?
This project was initiated by the Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung
Disease and completed under the joint direction of the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control, and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
The Inventory represents the efforts of many individuals in the federal government who
completed the questionnaires, the staff of Eastern Research Group, Inc. (especially Linda Stein,
Leslie Beyer, and Janice Pacenka), Haluk Ozkaynak, Ph.D., and the following members of a
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steering committee whose tenacity resulted in the completion of this Inventory: Ken Sexton, Sc.D.,
Environmental Protection Agency; Sherry Selevan, Ph.D., Environmental Protection Agency; Jeffrey
Lybarger, M.D., Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; and Thomas Miller,
Environmental Protection Agency. The efforts of all of these individuals are greatly appreciated.
Diane K. Wagener, Ph.D.
National Center for Health Statistics
Centers for Disease Control
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OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Federal, state, and local officials face increasing public demand for information on exposure
to toxicants in the environment and their possible adverse health effects. The potential for
exposure exists in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, and the soil and
dust we contact. With industrialization and new technological developments, both the quantity and
types of substances in the environment are increasing.
To conduct environmental studies or to evaluate program effectiveness, officials and
researchers need quality data on potential toxic exposures. The premise of this project is that data
systems exist that could be used to meet these needs. Federal and state agencies, for example,
maintain environmental exposure data systems, which are typically generated for specific purposes
(e.g., regulatory). However, the quality of the data in some instances, and the use of these data in
most instances, are not optimal. This Inventory was generated as a first step in learning more about
the data systems that exist and the potential for new and innovative uses of the data in them.
PURPOSE
This Inventory is intended for policy makers, program managers, and researchers to identify
potential sources of exposure information. Exposure information is needed by epidemiologists, risk
assessors, risk managers, and policy makers to evaluate the status and trends in exposure and
disease surveillance. The Inventory should broaden the scope of available information for these
individuals and help them identify potential data sources. The Inventory, however, cannot answer
all the questions that might be asked about a data system. Instead, limited characteristics of the
data sources are described in the Inventory. It is intended that users of the Inventory will seek
additional information from the contact persons listed in the description of each data system.
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SCOPE
In August 1981, the Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease
published the Directory of &posure-Related Data Bases. This report included information on 13
databases, which were largely federally managed. The criteria for inclusion were that the database
contain numerical or qualitative data that assist in exposure assessment, contain observational data,
involve ongoing or periodic data collection, and be publicly accessible. Since the publication of the
Directory in 1981, the effort to collect environmental data has expanded enormously. The purpose
of this current Inventory is to expand and update the Directory.
This Inventory includes a listing of data systems that contain exposure information and are
managed and funded by the federal government. (The scope of this Inventory was limited to
fcdcral data systems due to lack of resources to comprehensively survey data systems funded by
states.) These data systems are collections of analytical results that assess food, human samples,
or bulk chemicals; or assess an environmental media such as air, soil, or water. The Inventory
focuses on data systems that:
• Contain information on a large geographic area (i.e., national, regional, state, or
region of a state—excluding individual research studies of limited scope);
• Have data or summary documents that are generally available for research or other
purposes; and
• Are supported, at least in part, by public funds.
With some exceptions, the data systems included in this Inventory contain measured, as contrasted
to estimated, data. The exceptions have been included because they are widely used to characterize
potential human exposures.
In contrast to the previous Directory, this Inventory does not include databases that
primarily contain lists of citations to other information resources such as articles, reports, or
databases. Also, this Inventory does not include databases that consist solely of occupational,
microenvironmental, or personal monitoring measurements. Further, this Inventory does not focus
on databases that contain only production volume data.
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METHOD
A wide range of data sources can be used in exposure assessment. These include production
volumes, emissions inventories, ambient concentration models and measurements,
microenvironment concentration models and measurements, human activity pattern data, personal
exposure measurements, and biological measurements. Clearly, the scope of the data systems
included in this Inventory had to be a subset of these data sources.
To determine the scope and contents of this Inventory, a variety of previous documents were
consulted, and meetings were held with officials from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Health and Injury
Control (Centers for Disease Control), National Center for Health Statistics (Centers for Disease
Control), National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (National Institutes of Health), and
the National Library of Medicine.
The previous inventory, “Directory of Exposure-Related Databases,” provided guidance on
the content for this Inventory. In addition, recent documents were reviewed for applicability of
content, identification of needs, and scope. These documents included:
Environmental Health: A Plan for Collecting and Coordinating Statistical and Epidemiologic
Data. 1980. National Center for Health Statistics. U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 80-1248. U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington,
DC.
Environmental Health: A Study of the Issues in Locating, Assessing, and Treating Individuals
Exposed to Hazardous Substances. 1981. National Center for Health Statistics. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 81-1275. U.S.
Government Printing Office: Washington, DC.
The Potential for Linking Environmental and Health Data. 1989. National Governors’
Association. Washington, DC.
After reviewing and discussing these and other documents, the steering committee felt that
sampling strategies for occupational exposures were substantially different from those used for most
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other environmental data. Consequently, the steering committee decided that the Inventory would
focus on nonoccupational exposures so as to limit the size and complexity of the project.
The steering committee also decided to focus on data systems that contained information
on a large geographic area. This decision necessarily eliminated pilot studies and targeted research
projects.
Several data inventories were reviewed for format and content as guidance for this project.
These inventories included:
Abramowitz, J.N., D.S. Baker, and D.B. Tunstall. 1990. Guide of Ke’y Environmental
Statistics n the U.S. Government. World Resources Institute.
HHS Data Inventories (for various fiscal years). U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC.
Information Resources Directory 1989. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of
Information and Resources Management.
Frisch, J.D., G.M. Shaw, and J.A. Harris. 1990. Epidemiologic Research Using Existing
Databases of Environmental Measures. Archives of Environmental Health. 45:303-307.
Nutrition Monitoring in the United States: The Directory of Federal Nutrition Monitoring
Activities. 1989. U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. DHHS
Pub. No. (PHS) 89-1255-1. U.s. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC.
Several meetings were held with representatives from the agencies noted above to identify
database characteristics of most interest and to develop a questionnaire. The questionnaire was
then sent as a pilot project to six databases, chosen because they represented a wide variety of data
system characteristics. The questionnaire was subsequently revised and sent to the managers of
approximately 80 databases. The questionnaire and instructions are included as Appendix C.
The questionnaire sought information on the purpose of the data system, geographic
coverage, site selection, source and dispersion information, sample collection and quality control,
data preparation and availability, and toxicant and media assessed. In addition, data managers were
requested to provide background information and descriptive reports. Given the scope of the data
systems included and the type of information requested, there was no satisfactory short
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questionnaire that could obtain all the information needed to develop the summaries provided in
this Inventory. Therefore, the collection of this information and followup clarification required
multiple contacts with the data managers. Once written, each description was reviewed by Ms.
Beyer or Ms. Stein (Eastern Research Group, Inc.), Dr. Ozkaynak (Harvard University), and Dr.
Wagener (National Center for Health Statistics).
LIMITATIONS
There is no assurance that all inscope data systems have been included. Time and resource
limitations prevented exhaustive canvassing to assure that all appropriate databases were identified.
The inclusion list was sent to government officials, some of whom provided us with the names of
additional data systems. Many database managers, however, ignored both the original request for
information (i.e., the questionnaire) and followup mailings. In such cases, the staff attempted to
obtain information via telephone conversations or from descriptions available in reports or
brochures.
As noted above, an important limitation of an Inventory including information on 89 data
systems is that detailed information cannot be provided. Hence it is important for the user to seek
additional information from the contact person listed as part of each data system description.
One problem that arose in this survey was that many data systems have changed names,
some multiple times. In those instances, we have listed both former and current names. Table 1
summarizes this information and provides cross-references for the user.
ORGANIZATION OF THE INVENTORY
In the synopsis that follows, two types of data systems are discussed: data collection systems
and data handling systems. Data collection systems are data systems that collect data (mostly
environmental sample results, but some estimated data are included, too). Data handling systems
are those systems that coordinate and/or compile data from multiple data collection systems and
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Name
TABLE 1
LIST OF CROSS-REFERENCES
In Inventory
Air Quality Data Handling System
Airborne Particulate and Precipitation Data
Biological Effects Surveys
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status
and Trends Program
Coastal Environmental Assessment Studies
(CEAS)
Commercial Power Reactor Dose
Comprehensive Data Handling System
(CDHS)
Daily Values File
Emission Inventory System/Point Source
and Area (EIS)
Groundwater Site Inventory File
Hazardous and Nonhazardous Waste Surveys
Hazardous Waste Data Management System
(HWDMS)
Hazardous Waste Site Data Base
International Air Data Base
Market Basket Study
Mussel Watch Project
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS)
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring
System (ERAMS)
National Status and Trends (NS&T)
National Contaminant
Biomonitoring Program (NCBP)
Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP)
Radioactive Materials Released from Nuclear
- Power Plants
Aerometric Information Retrieval
System (AIRS)
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Aerometric Information Retrieval
System (AIRS)
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Biennial Reporting System
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Information System (RCRIS)
Lockheed-U.S. EPA, EMSL-LV
Graphical Exposure Modeling System (GEMS)
Total Diet Study (TDS)
National Status and Trends (NS&T)
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TABLE 1 (cont.)
Name
National Acid Deposition Program-National
Trends Network (NADP-NTN)
National Air Pollution Control Program
National Human Monitoring Program (NHMP)
National Hydrologic Benchmark Network
National Park Service Visibility Monitoring
Program
National Pesticide Monitoring Program
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)
National Stream Quality Accounting Network
(NASQUAN)
National Surface Water Survey
National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water
Wells
National Water Information System II
Offsite Human Surveillance Program (OHSP)
Peak Flow File
Pesticide Use Surveys
Radiochemical Surveillance Network
Station Header File
In Inventory
Acid Deposition System (ADS)
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS)
National Human Adispose Tissue (NHATS)
National Water Quality Networks Programs
Interagency Monitoring of Protected
Visual Environments (IMPROVE)
National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program
(NCBP)
Permit Compliance System (PCS)
National Water Quality Networks Program
Eastern Lake Survey (ELS), National Stream
Survey (NSS), and Western Lake Survey (WLS)
National Pesticide Survey (NPS)
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Internal Radiation Dosimetiy System
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Agricultural Chemical Usage
National Water Quality Networks Program
Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
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TABLE 1 (conL)
Name In Inventory
Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data Aerometric Information Retrieval
(SAROAD) System (AIRS)
Tritium Network Water Quality Networks Program
Unit Values File Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Waste Management Database System Resource Conservation and Recovery System
(RCRIS)
Water Quality File Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
Water Use File Water Data Storage and Retrieval System
(WATSTORE)
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provide the user with easy, but sophisticated, statistical and graphical representations of data. This
distinction is blurred in some instances, because some data collection systems also provide flexible
analytical features.
The descriptions for the data collection systems, which are located in Part I of the Inventory,
contain information on the purpose of the data system, geographic coverage, site selection, sample
collection and quality control, data availability, and toxicant and media assessed. The data handling
system descriptions, located in Part II, are more cursory; they describe the coverage of the system,
the data sources included, data presentation, and data availability. Although Part II descriptions
do not provide detailed information on the component databases, they do refer the user to writeups
on specific component databases found in Part I. Any data system that has primary data collection
responsibilities was included in Part I as a data collection system.
Also provided in the Inventory are four appendices. Appendix A contains two tables: one
lists the data systems by name and acronym; the other lists them by acronym and name. Appendix
B cross-references all the data systems by the federal agencies that manage them. Appendix C
contains the questionnaire. Appendix D presents, for specific chemicals, the data collection systems
that contain information on them and in which media.
SYNOPSIS OF DATA SYSTEMS INCLUDED IN THE INVENTORY
The American public is most often interested in environmental pollution because of their
concern regarding possible health effects. However, evaluating the relationship between potential
exposures and potential health effects is a complex process. Figure 1 graphically outlines some of
the aspects of this evaluation. The focus of this Inventory is on the exposure assessment portion
of this evaluation.
The data systems included in this Inventory primarily collect and compile analytical
measurements. Data systems based on models, human activity patterns, and occupational
measurements were not included. Further, the Inventory was restricted to data systems that
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— Identification
— Characterization
— Apportionment
— Transport
— Transformation
— Interaction
— Fate
-Air
—Water
—Soil
— Food
— Route
— Magnitude
— Duration
— Frequency
— BioavaUability
— Absorption
— Distribution
— Metabolism
— Elimination
— Genetic
— Pulmonary
— Cardiovascular
— Reproductive
— etc...
Figure 1. Factors Affecting the Relationship Between Potential Exposures and Potential
Health Effects.
Source: K Sexton. 1991. Human Exposure Assessment and Public Health. In: New
Horizons in Biological Dosimetry. B.L Gledhill and F. Mauro, eds. New York:
Wiley-Uss, Inc.
Sources
Environmental
Pathways
Environmental
Concentrations
Human
Exposures
Dose
Effects
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evaluate large geographic areas. The primary reason for excluding a data resource was the lack of
geographic information.
Table 2 gives the type of data sources included in the Inventory. The majority of the data
systems contain ambient concentration measurements. This Inventory includes detailed descriptions
of 61 data collection systems managed by 11 lead government agencies and the World Health
Organization (WHO). Twelve data handling systems are also included.
The geographic coverage of most of the data collection systems was national (43 Out of 61).
Given that only databases encompassing a large geographic area were included, this bias towards
national systems is not surprising. Although the coverage was national, the sampling strate ’
differed from system to system. Hence, few systems measured the same toxicants in the same
media.
The primary objective of the data collection systems was most often monitoring (34 data
collection systems). Regulating was the primary objective of 18 systems, and research was the
primary objective of 24 systems. An additional six were legally required, but not for regulatory
urposes.
Of specific concern for this Inventory was the level of detail of location identifiers. Table
3 lists the various identifiers used by these data systems and the number of systems that use those
identifiers. As can be seen, the most frequent type of identifiers used were state and
latitude/longitude. This will be important when linkage with other data systems is contemplated.
The collection frequencies are given in Table 4. Most of the data systems collected data yearly.
In this survey of data systems, the media assessed are given in Table 5 and the parameters
measured are shown in Table 6. Of course, the class of toxicant measured is affected, in part, by
the media assessed. In addition, the toxicants assessed depend on the applicable legislation and
available laboratory techniques. Table 7 summarizes selected characteristics (i.e., period of data
collections, geographic coverage, media covered, and class of chemicals included for 61 of the data
collection systems).
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TABLE 2
INFORMATION TYPE
# of
Information Type Data Bases’
Production Volumes 5
Emission Inventories 11
Environmental Measurements 44
Microenvironmental Concentrations 3
Personal Monitoring 2
Human Samples 10
‘Total does not sum to 61 because some data bases have more
than one information type.
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TABLE 3
LOCATION IDENTIFIERS
# of
Location Identifiers Databases’
Latitude/Longitude 41
Universal Transmercator Coordinates 9
Street Address 19
Zip Code 16
Census Tract 3
City/MunicipalitylTownship 25
County/Parish 25
Metropolitan Statistical Area 6
State 46
Hydraulic Unit Codes 7
River Reach Number 2
Congressional District 3
Other 15
‘Total does not sum to 61 because many databases have multiple
location identifiers and others have none.
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TABLE 4
COLLECTION FREQUENCY
# of
Collection Frequency Database?
Yearly
3
Quarterly
.
2
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
9
Irregular
5
Mixed Frequency,
varies by
chemical
4
Mixed Frequency,
varies by
facility
16
Other
‘Total does not sum to 61 because some databases have multiple
collection frequencies.
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TABLE 5
MEDIA SAMPLED
# of
Media Sampled Database?
Bulk Chemicals
26
Air
Water
27
Food
11
Soil
15
Human
Samp’es
10
12
Other
‘Total does not sum to 61 because some databases have more
than one type of data.
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TABLE 6
MEASURED PARAMETERS
# of
Measured Parameters Database?
Acids/Acid Aerosols 9
Aeroallergens 0
Aesthetic Qualitiesb 16
Asbestos 7
Bases 1
Cigarette Smoke 0
Criteria Pollutants 14
Dioxins/Furans 18
fluoride 9
Inorganic Compounds 36
Microorganisms 7
Organic Metals 10
PCBs 26
Particulates 13
Pesticides 32
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds 27
Radionuclides 21
Trihalomethanes 9
Volatile Organic Compounds 29
Other 12
Total does not sum to 61 because a databases may have more
than one location identifier.
bincludes physical and chemical indicators of water quality
and ion concentrations.
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IN3LE 7
SCIECIED CUARACTEnISTICS OF l %1A COlLECTION SYS1EI
Media Covered Classes of Chemicals
Period of Geographic Hu.an Hu.an
Database Ne.e Data Collection Coverage Water Soil Air Food Sa.ple Bulk Acid Aero Aea Aeb Base Cig Cr! Dio Fluo Iorg Uic Org Par PCB Peat Red SVOC In VOC
Acid Deposition System 1978-present National X X X
Agricultural Che.ical 1990-present Other X X
Usage
Air Facility Subsystem 1985-present National X X X X X
(AFS) of the Aero.etric
Infor.ation Retrieval
Sy.te.
Air Ouality Subsystem 1957-present National X X X X X X
(ASS) of the Aero.etric
Information Retrieval
System
Anticipated Residues 1980-preSent National N N
in Food
A ustic Toxicity 1970-present National N N N X N N N N N N N
Inforustion Retrieval
Biennial Reporting 1981 -pr aint National x x x N N N N N
System
Chemical Screening 1911-present National N N N N N X N N N X N
Branch (CSB) Existing
-j Ch..ic.ls Aesemm.ent
Tracking System
Co..unity Health Air 1972-1977 RegIon N N N N N
Monitoring Program of State
Crosswalk/Air Toxica 1989-present National N N N X N N N N X N N N
Emiesione Factor Data-
base Management Syates
Eastern Lake Survey 1984-1984 Regional N N N N
Emissions Certification 1915-present National N N N
Databsas
Environmental 1990-present National N N N N N N N N N N N
Monitoring and
Assessment Program
Environmental 1973-present National N N N N X
Radiation Ambient
Monitoring System
Federal Reporting 1976-present National N N N N N N N N N X
Data System
Acid — Acids and Acid Aerosols; Aeru = Aeroallergens; Aee Aesthetic Water Ouslities; Asb • Asbestos; Base Bases- Ci 9 • Cigarette S.oke; Cri • Criteria Pollutants;
Dio • Dioxina and Furana; Fluo Fluoride; IOrg Inorganic Compounds; Mic • Microorgani..o; Org Organic Metals; I’sr Particulates; PCB — Polychlorinatsd Biphenyls;
Peat — Peaticidea; Red • Radionuclidea; SVOC = Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds; In Trihalomethansa; VOC • Volatile Organic Compounds
-------
INIIE 7 (cont
IIpd a Coveted Clssces a l Citamicals
Period of Geogr pb1c Human human
Database Na.e Data Collection Coverage Water Soil Air Food Sample Bulk Acid Aero Aes Asb Base Cig Cri Dlo Fluo Iorg Uic Org Par PCB Pest Bad SVOC Tn VOC
Olobal Environmental 1972.preoent Other X X X
Uonitoring System
Hazardous Substance 1980-present National X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Releaae/Health Effects
Hispanic Health and 1982-1984 Regional K K K K K
Nutrition Examination
Survey
Integrated Data Base 1980-present National K K K
Interagency Monitoring 1979-present National X X K K K
of Protected Visual
Environ.enta
Internal Radiation 197O-pre ent Regional K K
Do.i.etry Syste.
Lake Analysis 1914-present Other K K K K K
Uanage.ent System
l.ockheed - EPA, EUSL-LV 1978-1987 National K K K K K K K K K
Long-Term Monitoring 1983-present Regional K K X
Program
9° Maria. Pollution 1973-present National K K K K X K K K K K K K K
Retrieval System
Microbiology and 1976-present National K K K K K K K
Residue Co.puter
Information System
Month and Stats 1975-present National K K K
Current Emissions Trend.
National Acid 1985-1985 National K X K
Precipitation
Asss.s.ent Program
National Air Toxic. 1984-present National K X X K K K K K
Information
Clearinghouse
National Coastal 1982-present Regional K K K K K
Pollutant Discharge
Inventory
National Conta.inant 1967-present National K K K K K K
Biomonitoring Progra.
National €nviron.ental 1980-present Regional K K K X
Speci.en Bank
P cid — Acids and Acid Aeromols; Aero Aeroallergens; Aes Aesthetic Water Oualitiea; Asb Asbestos; Base Bases; Cig — Cigarette Smoke; Cri — Criteria Pollutantn;
010 — Dioxin. and Fur.no; Fluo = Fluoride; lOrg Inorganic Compounds; Mic Microorganisms; Org Organic Metals; Par • Particulatea; PcB Polychiorinated Biphenyla;
Peat — Pesticides; Rad — Radionuclidee; SVOC Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds; Tn lrihalo.ethanea; VOC • Volatile Organic Compounds
-------
1AHIE 7 (conS.)
Itedja Covercd Cinonea of Chemicals
Period of G o rnphic human Human
Database Naie Oata Collection Coveunge Water Soil Air Food Sa.ple Dull Acid Aero Aes Acb Base Cig Cri 010 Fluo Iorg hlic Org Par PCB Pest Had SVOC In VOC
National Health and 1971 to 1994 National X X X X X
Nutrition Examination
Survey
National Herbicide Uee I997-prøeent National X X
Database
National Husan Adipose 1970-present National X X X X X X X
Tissue Survey
National Human Milk 1974-1978 National X X X
Monitoring Progra.
National Park Service 1980-present Notional X X X X
Environmental Database
Uansge.ent System
National Pesticide 1988-1990 National X X X X
Survey
National Residential 1989-present National X X X
Radon Survey
National Shellfish 1971-present Notional X X X X K K
Register of Classified
._i Estuarins Waters
‘-0
National Statu. & 1985-present National K X K X K X X
Trend for Marine
Environmental Quality
National 8tream Survey 1986-1986 Regional K K K K
National VOC Data Bass 1970-1984 Notional X K
National Water Quality 1973-present National K K K
Networks Progra.
Northeast Regional 1979-1980 Regional K X K
Oxidant Study
Ocean Oat. Evaluation 1979-present Notional K K X K K K K K K K K K K K K
Survey
Per.it Co.pliance 1986-present National K K X K K K K K K K K
Syste.
Pesticide Infor.ntion 1970-present National X K K K K X K K X K K K K
Network
Radioactive Materials 1978-present National K K K K
Released from Nuclear
Power Plants
Acid • Acid. •nd Acid Aerosol.; Aero • Aeroallergeno; Aes Aesthetic Water Qualities; Aab m Asbestos; Bale Bases; Cig Cigarette Saoke; Cri — Criteria Pollutants;
Die • Diosins and Furans; Fluo • Fluoride; IOrg = Inorganic Coupounda; Mic = Microorganisms; Org Organic Metals; Par Particulate.; PCB — Polychlorinated Biphenylo;
Pest • Pisticidsa; Had — Radlonuclidee; SvOc = Seal-Volatile Organic Co.pounde; In • Trihalosethanee; VOC — Volatile Organic Coupounde
-------
IARI.E 1 (cent.)
IInd a Covered Classes of CIie.lcals
Period of Geographic human Human
Database Name Data Collection Coverage Water Soil Air Food Sample flulk Acid Aero Aes Aeb Base Cig Cri 010 Fluo Iorg Mic Org Par PCB Peat fled SVOC Tn VOC
Recall Database 1977.present Other X X X
Regional Air Pollution 1974.1917 Region X X X X
Study ol State
Resource Conservation 1980-present National X X X
Recovery Information
System
State/EPA Residential 1986-present State X X
Radon Survey
Storage and Retrieval 19505-present National X X X X X X X X X X X X X
of Water Quality Data
Synthstic Organic 1910-present National X X X X X X X X
Chemicals (SOC ), U.S.
Production and Sale.
Total Oi.t Study 1982-present National * X * X X X X X
Toxic Release Inventory 1997-present National X X X x X X X * * * * X X
Toxic Substances 1985-present National * X X * X X X X X X *
Control Act Test
Sub.issions
1J Water Diti Storage and 1880-present National X X X X X * I I I I I I
9 Retrieval System
Western lake Survey 1985-1985 Regionel I I I I
Wisconsin Fisheries 1979-1983 Region I I I
of State
Acid • Acid, and Acid Aerosols; Aero Aeroallergene; Aes Aesthetic Water Qualities; Mb • Asbestos; Base — Bases Cig Cigarette Smoke; Cni — Criteria Pollutant.
Oio • Otoxini and Furan.; Fluo Fluoride; lOrg Inorganic compounds; Wic — Microorgani...; Org Organic Netale; ‘sr — Particulate.; PCB — Polychlonin.ted Biphenyls;
Pest • Pesticide.; Rad • Radionuclidee; SVOC Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds; 1,-i Trihsio.ethanes; VOC • Volatile Orgsnic Co.poundo
-------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES
In the course of this project, several information resources came to our attention that
provide the user with a comprehensive listing of available data systems and other forms of
information. Some of these information resources that are sponsored by federal agencies are listed
below. This list is by no means exhaustive.
EARTh SCIENCE DATA DIRECTORS (ESDD
ESDD is a guide to databases in the fields of earth science and natural resources. Each
record describes a unique database including its geographic coverage, type of access, time span, and
contact person. ESDD includes information on over 2,000 databases created by government
agencies, academic institutions, and private sector entities. ESDD is available on compact discs that
are updated quarterly. A user-friendly interactive format allows the user easy access to the
information.
For information, or to contribute information, contact:
C.R. Baskin
ESDD Project Manager
U.S. Geological Survey
801 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
(703) 648-7112
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (ETIS’i
ETIS is a collection of systems designed to assist planners and decision-makers. ETIS was
developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory.
User support service is provided through the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. ETIS
includes an Economic Impact Forecast System (containing socioeconomic data for every county in
the nation), Computer-aided Environmental Legislative Data System (containing abstracted federal
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and state environmental regulations and standards), and the Soils System (containing data on soil
characteristics). ETIS contains the Environmental Information Connection (E!C . EIC allows the
user to search on specific topics to identi ’ specialized institutions, individuals with environmental
expertise, appropriate government agencies, and environmental databases. Also, EISC will prepare
bibliographies. Finally, ETJS also contains a Hazardous Materials Management System (HMMS .
The HMMS contains information on regulated substances, data from Material Safety Data Sheets,
access to HAZARDLINE (a commercially available chemical information system), and access to
several electronic bulletin boards that collect comments and solutions to problems commonly
encountered in engineering projects.
For more information on ETIS, contact:
ETIS
Department of Urban and Regional Planing
1003 West Nevada St.
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333- 369
(217) 244-5116 (Environmental Information Connection)
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA REFERRAL SERVICE (NEDRES
This database identifies the existence, location, characteristics, and availability of more than
10,000 individual environmental data sources. References are provided for a wide variety of
environmental data, including clirnatological and meteorological; oceanographic; geophysical and
geological; geographic; and hydrological and limnological. On-line access is available, as well as
computer printouts and agency reports.
Information on this system can be obtained from:
Gerald S. Barton
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
1825 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20235
(202) 606-5548
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NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA CENTER (NGDC )
The NGDC was established by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration of the Department of Commerce as a central library for geophysical data. The
Center collects and disseminates data on seismolo ’, geomagnetism, geothermics, satellite remote
sensing. well log data, hydro,graphic characteristics, and sediments.
For more information on data available and formats in which the data can be provided,
contact:
National Geophysical Data Center
NOAA, Code E/GC
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80303-3328
(303) 497-6419
NATIONAL WATER DATA EXCHANGE (NAWDEX )
NAWDEX is a confederation of federal and nonfederal water-oriented organizations
managed by a program office in the Water Resources Division of the Department of Interior.
Information on sites for which water data are available, the types of data available, and the
organizations that store the data is available from NAWDEX. In addition, a directory of assistance
ccnters located at the Water Resources Division District offices is available.
More dctailed information can be obtained from:
NAWDEX Program Office
Water Resources Division
U.S. Geological Survey
801 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
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SOME PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SOURCES OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION
ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTh AND TOXICOLOGY
This listing includes databases consisting of chemical profiles, bibliographies, full-text entries,
bulletin boards, and special subjects. Over 25 special subject areas are included such as acid rain,
air quality, agrochemicals, dermal toxicity, phytotoxicity, risk assessment, and teratogenicity.
The listing is available through:
Kathy Deck or Sandy Bonzo
Information Resources Management Group
National Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control
Chamblee 27 F-29
Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 488-4588
TOXICOLOGY INFORMATION ONLINE (TOXLThIE )
This interactive online system is specifically designed to offer comprehensive bibliographic
coverage of toxicology information. The system includes 16 subfiles: Toxicity Bibliography
(TOXBIB) from MEDLINE; Chemical-Biological Activities (CBAC) from Chemical Abstracts;
Toxicological Aspects of Environmental Health (BIOSIS) from Biological Abstracts; Pesticides
Abstracts (PESTAB); International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA); NIOSHTIC; Toxicology
Research Projects from the NIH Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP)
database; Toxicology Document and Data Deposit from the National Technical Information Service
(NTIS); Environmental Mutagen and Teratology Information Centers (EMIC and ETIC);
International Labor Office ClSAbstracts (CIS); Aneuploidy (ANEUPL); Epidemiology Information
System (EPIDEM) of the Food and Drug Administration; Toxic Substances Control Act Test
Submission (TSCATS); Poisonous Plants Bibliography (PPBIB); and Federal Research in Progress
(FEDRIT).
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For additional information, contact:
TOXUNET OXNET
MEDLARS Management Section
National Ubrary of Medicine
Building 38A, Room 4N421
Bethesda, MD 20209
(800) 638-8480
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PART I: DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
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ACID DEPOSITION SYSTEM
Acronym: ADS
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL)
Contact Person: James A. Reagan, U.S. EPA, AREAL, MD-56, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711, (919) 541-4486
Objectives and Coverage:
Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, precipitation samples from geographically
representative sites in non-urban areas that are at least 50 km inland from large water bodies must
be tested for constituents that contribute to and comprise acid precipitation. The measurement of
acid precipitation became a major research objective under the National Acid Precipitation
Assessment Program (NAPAP) in the early 1980s (see NAPAP database). The objective of ADS
is to report annually on the status and trends of acid precipitation and, if possible, to determine the
effects of controls placed on sulfur dioxide emissions. The database focuses on rural areas and
certain sensitive ecosystems (e.g., crops, forests). In addition to being legally required under the
Clean Air Act, ADS data is often used for research purposes.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (precipitation)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, ions and physical and chemical indicators of water
quality
Types of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The sampling program was organized in 1978 by the National Acid Deposition Program-
National Trends Network (NADP-NTN). NTN is comprised of five contributing networks made
up of government and utility representatives from the United States and Canada, including the U.S.
Department of Ener ’; the Canadian Acid Precipitation Monitoring Service (Atmospheric
Environment Service); the Ontario Ministry of the Environment; the Electric Power Research
Institute’s Operational Environment Network (United States); and the NADP-NTN sample
collection/laboratory subnetwork, which contributes data to the overall project.
Rainwater is collected from 200 monitoring sites located in rural areas and near sensitive
ecosystems across the contiguous United States and the sourthern portion of Canada. All of the
contributing networks analyze samples for the compounds of interest: NH 3 4 , N0 3 , S0 4 , K4, H4,
Ca , Mg , Na4, and Cl. Some of the networks also analyze for certain metals, but this is not
required under the program.
Individual networks are responsible for their own sample collection and analysis based on
a common set of sampling protocols. A task force within NADP-NTN, the Universal Deposition
Decision Committee, issued guidelines on how sampling locations should be determined (e.g.,
georgraphic representativeness; primarily rural areas; and particularly sensitive ecosystems) and Irow
samples should be taken.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTCS
Geographic Characteristics
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; street address (if known); name of city,
municipality, or township; county/parish; state; zip code
Time Coverage: 1978-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Generally weekly; on a daily basis in southern Canada;
extra samples are required after a weather event (e.g., storm)
Regularity of sample collection: Tuesday mornings
Source and dispersion information: Acidic deposition typically originates from non-
pointsource pollution emissions and reflects impacts of various pollutants; thus,
specific sources are not identified in this database
1-2
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: NADP-NTN Universal Deposition Decision Committee
sampling guidelines
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 3-6 weeks
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Annual updates;
18 months lag after end of prior year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analyses, data entry audits, laboratory audits via unknown (to the lab)
spiked samples
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Rainwater Inorganic compounds; ions and physical and chemical indicators of
water quality; rainwater is analyzed for NH , SO 4 , H 4 , Cl, Mg , C 44 , K 4 ,
Na
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Annual updates; individual data entries and summary statistics are
available on specific agents; for a single monitoring site, quarterly and annual averages are
available
Availability Any requester can obtain data; on-line to U.S. EPA AREAL and state computers with
this database by direct VAX access
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Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine-readable -- Diskette, tape (not preferred); on-line to EPA and states
Reports: Routinely available annually through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS),
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 or from U.S. EPA AREAL
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650, or from U.S. EPA AREAL, James Reagan,
(919) 541-4486
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AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL USAGE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS)
Contact Person: Sam Rives, USDA, NASS, 14th and Independence Streets, Washington, DC,
20250, (202) 447-2324
Objectives and Coverage:
The objective of the Agricultural Chemical Usage database is to quantify the amounts of
agricultural chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers used annually in major crop-producing
states. These data collection survey was developed and funded as part of a multi-agency program,
the Pesticide Data Program, stablished to meet the 1989 President’s Water Quality Initiative to
protect groundwater and surface water from contamination by fertilizers and pesticides. This
program is designed to upgrade the reliability of pesticide use data and the quality of information
on pesticide residues in food. UDSA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is
responsible for collecting data on on-farm pesticide use. These data will be used to support water
quality programs and assist in identif ’ing pesticides of interest to EPA for inclusion in its
monitoring program. These data will also be used by USDA’s Economic Research Service to
estimate the economic implications of agricultural pesticide use.
Two surveys have thus far been conducted by the NASS to provide comprehensive statistics
on agricultural chemical use. Both were conducted in 1990 and will be performed annually or
biannually depending on the type of crop. The first survey was conducted for field crops — corn,
cotton, potatoes, rice, soybeans, and wheat. The second survey was conducted for vegetables,
melon, and strawberries. These surveys include use information for all agricultural chemicals,
including fertilizers, pesticides (which include insecticides, fungicides, miticides, nematicides, soil
fumigants, herbicides, growth regulators, defoliants, and dessiccants), and plant nutrients.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Pesticides, fertilizers
Type of data available: Summary statistics on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data Estimated data of total amount of chemicals used annually
by farmers in selected states
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Personal interviews were conducted with farmers regarding annual pesticide and fertilizer
use. Responses were based on farmers’ records if available (records are required for restricted use
pesticides; some states may require that records for other chemicals be kept; extension service
offices encourage farmers to document usage). Sites are selected based on crop and state. Farms
producing major crops (field crops and 40 vegetable crops) were selected in certain states from a
comprehensive sampling base developed by USDA that reflects a statistically reliable random
sample of the population of farmers in each state selected. Thus, the estimates were statistically
representative of chemical use on targeted crops in the surveyed states. Data on the individual farm
level are confidential; therefore, state-based averages are reported. Sampling variability and
associated confidence limit estimates, and non-sampling errors are discussed in each survey report.
Surveys for fruit and nut crops are planned.
For the 1990 field crop survey, 15,025 sample fields were included based on a random
sample of fields in which the probability of selecting a partciular field was directly proportional to
the total acres planted to that crop in a given state. The number of states in which fields were
selected varied by crop. For corn, farm fields in 47 states were surveyed; for cotton, 6 states were
represented; for potatoes, 11 states; for rice, 2 states; for soybeans, 29 states; for winter wheat, 12
states; for spring wheat, 4 states, and for dururn wheat, 1 state.
For the 1990 vegetable, melon, and strawberry crop survey, 4 states were represented. The
sample population consisted of an NASS list of vegetable farms from each state in the survey. The
sample was a stratified systematic sample; vegetable farms were partitioned into mutually exclusive
strata, and each state had a unique set of strata priorities. Obtaining a state-level estimate was the
criterion used to project final sample sizes. The vegetable survey collected data on chemical
application, and the NASS converted the product information to an active ingredient level.
DATABASE CHARACIERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Selected states (for field crops, varies by crop; for vegetable crops, 4 states);
surveys captured approximately 80 percent of crop production in 47 states;
California excluded from 1990 vegetable survey
Identifiers: State
Coverage: 1990-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Annual for field crops; biannual for vegetables and fruits
Regularity: Regular
Source and dispersion information: Not available (farm-level data confidential)
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Yes (individual farm data included in statewide summaries)
Standard procedures: Not applicable -- data, not samples, collected
Approximate time between sample collection and data entiy to database: 6 months
Quality AssurancelQuality Control Procedures: Pretesting of interview questions; training for and
supervision of interviewers; data edit checks
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
LR Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Pesticides, fertilizers
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Name of active ingredient
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summaiy statistics on specific agents by state and crop
Availability Any requester can obtain data (only state-level data available; farm-level data is
confidential)
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
Machine readable -- Diskette (Word Perfect)
Reports: Agricultural Chemical Usage 1990: Field Crops Survey; Agricultural Chemical Usage 1990:
Vegetable Crops Suri’ey
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: USDA Economic Research Service/National Agricultural Statistics
Service, P.O. Box 1608, Rockville, MD, 20849, or call (800) 999-6779
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AIR FACILITY SUBSYSTEM OF THE
AEROMETRIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (AIRS)
Acronym: AFS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS)
Contact Person: Chuck Isbell, U.S. EPA, National Air Data Branch, MD-14, Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-5448
Objectives and Coverage:
The AFS contains aerometric emissions and regulatory compliance data on air pollution
point sources (individual facilities) monitored by EPA and state and local agencies. Information
is available on operating status, and descriptive and parametric data are provided for stacks and
other emissions points and processes within a facility. Continuous emissions monitoring data,
asbestos activities, and information on landfills for some sites may be found in AFS. Some of the
data are confidential. AFS replaced the National Emissions Data System (NEDS), which provided
information on point and area sources, and the Compliance Data System (CDS), which included
information such as compliance status and action status (see separate entries on NEDS and CDS).
AFS point source data are used by states to prepare State Implementation Plans (SIPs), by EPA’s
National Air Data Branch to calculate estimates of national annual air emissions, and by other
regulatory agencies and academic and environmental organizations. Also see the separate entry for
AIRS in Part II of this inventory for further information.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (point sources)
Classes of compounds: Primarily criteria pollutants and particulates; also information on inorganic
compounds, VOCs, and semi-VOCs
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: Both observational and estimated data
1-8
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The AIRS Facility Subsystem includes data on more than 100,000 point source facilities
nationwide. Point sources emitting more than 100 tons per year of criteria pollutants other than
lead and CO must report actual or estimated annual emissions data; reporting requirements for
lead begin at 5 tons per year, and for CO at 1,000 tons per year. AFS contains more compliance
than emissions data. Emissions estimates from 1985 to the present are available at process-specific
levels and are accumulated for plant totals.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude and universal transmercator coordinates of the point
source; Street address; zip codes; name of city, municipality, or township;
county/parish; state; Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) codes; SIC and
SCC codes; CDS, NEDS, EPA, or Dun & Bradstreet IDs are used to access facility
information in AFS
Time Coverage: 1985-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency — varies by facility and state; states must
report point source (e.g., plants, boilers) data annually, though some report more
frequently
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: All data collected at the source
Dispersion information: Generally not available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Data is available as individual samples (e.g., stack or boiler level) and as
aggregated emissions for an entire facility
Standard procedures used: Sampling procedures are specified in 40 CFR Pa# 60, App. A
for criteria pollutants and some others; 40 CFR Part 61, App. B for hazardous
pollutants; and 40 CFR Part 60, App. B for performance specifications (e.g.,
calibration criteria); alternative methods are acceptable if they have been approved
by EPA (must be as stringent as EPA methods)
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Real-time for data obtained by
continuous emissions monitors; otherwise within 30 days for individual samples
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entiy to database: States submit point
source data at least annually as required by law; states and other users may submit
required and other data to AFS on-line more often (e.g., daily or quarterly) as they
obtain new data
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: EPA recommends that states use blind lab
audit samples; edit checks
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Stack Emissions: Particulates, gaseous criteria pollutants, inorganic compounds,
VOCs, semi-VOCs
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes, based
on chemical classification and physical state of the parameter
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
AFS data are available through the Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS). See
AIRS in Part H of this inventory for a description of the level of data aggregation, availability, form,
reports, reference documents, and sources for data and reports.
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AIR QUALITY SUBSYSTEM OF THE
AEROMETRIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (AIRS)
Acronym: AQS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS)
Contact Person: Jacob Summers, U.S. EPA, National Air Data Branch, MD-14, Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-5695
Objectives and Coverage:
The Air Quality Subsystem of AIRS (see an overall description of the AIRS database in
Part II) contains measurements of ambient concentrations of air pollutants and associated
meteorological data, primarily from the State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) and
National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) networks (see separate entnes for SLAMS and NAMS).
Other sources for AQS data include: Special Purposes monitoring sites established by state and
local agencies (e.g., to determine concentrations of a pollutant in specific areas), the National Park
Service monitoring sites, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and private industry (through state
reporting). AQS replaces and upgrades the previous Storage and Retrieval of Aerometnc Data
(SAROAD) database; for example, through AQS, states now have direct access to the system for
both submittal and retrieval of data. The Air Quality Subsystem contains four types of data:
monitoring site data (e.g., site location and operation); raw data (individual values of pollutant
concentrations or meteorological conditions); summary data; and precision and accuracy data (for
air quality monitors).
Although AQS contains virtually all the data that was previously in SAROAD (either on-line
or on tape), site IDs were changed when SAROAD data was converted to AQS.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (ambient)
Classes of compounds: Primarily gaseous criteria pollutants and particulates; also some information
on inorganic compounds, VOCs, and semi-VOCs
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The Air Quality Subsystem includes approximately 20,000 sites in 50 states. Monitoring
depends on federal regulations regarding population, pollutant sources, geographical area, etc.
Pollutants monitored vary according to site and year. 40 CFR Part 58 specifies minimum
monitoring requirements for criteria pollutants. For CO, NO 2 , SO 2 , and ozone, sampling is
performed using continuous monitors, and data is reported as hourly averages. For lead and
particulates, 24-hour samples are collected and reported as a 24-hour average concentration.
(Also see entries for NAMS and SLAMS.)
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude and universal transmercator coordinates of the monitor site;
street address; name of city, municipality, or township; county/parish; metropolitan
statistical areas (MSA); state; EPA Air Quality Control Regions (urbanized areas);
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes
Time Coverage: 1975-present (most complete data available for 1970-present)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency -- different intervals for different
pollutants (e.g., hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly, and/or yearly), states must report
ambient air quality data quarterly; for particulates and lead, the frequency of
monitoring is typically every 6th day, whereas other gaseous species are monitored
continuously
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: Not available
Dispersion information: Not available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not pooled for gases and particulates; for lead, if concentration is low,
samples may be composited, and one analysis performed for all samples taken in a
week, month, or quarter
Standard procedures used: Sampling procedures are specified in 40 CFR Parr 53; for
instrumentation, refer to, List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods (EPA
Atmospheric and Exposure Assessment Laboratory)
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Continuous analysis for gases;
approximately weekly or monthly for particulates and lead; datalogger
instrumentation is used to store and transmit information daily, primarily for gases
and to a limited degree for particulates
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: States submit
ambient monitoring data quarterly or monthly; AQS is updated weekly
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
data validation checks; quality assurance requirements are specified in 40 CFR Part 58, App
A and several volumes of procedures
- ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban and rural: Particulates (TSP, PM 10 , Pb), gaseous criteria pollutants,
some data on inorganic compounds, VOCs, serni-VOCs
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentitS’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes, based
on chemical classification and physical state of the parameter
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
AQS data are available through the Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS). See
AIRS in Part II of this inventory for a description of the level of data aggregation, availability, form,
reports, reference documents, and sources for data and reports.
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ALASKAN MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ARCHIVAL PROJECT
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); U.S.
Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; National Institute of
Standards and Technolo (NIST)
Contact Person: Stephen A. Wise, NIST, Building 222, Room B-158, Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
(301) 975-3112
Objectives and Coverage:
The Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project was initiated in 1987 to establish a
representative collection of tissues from Alaskan marine mammals for future contaminant analyses
and documentation of long-term trends in environmental quality. This project is one of the many
activities of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (see separate entry in Part II of this
Inventory). Since most marine mammals are at or near the top of the food chain, chemical analysis
of their tissues may be useful in determining whether bioaccumulation of contaminants associated
with human industrial activities is occurring in the marine food chains of the Arctic. In addition,
some of the native population of Alaska depend upon such animals for a substantial portion of their
diet. Therefore, the contaminant levels found in marine mammals may have health implications
for the human population occupying these regions. To date, 65 specimens of blobber, kidney, and
liver have been collected from northern fur seals, ringed seals, beluhka whales, bearded seals, and
stellar sea lions from six sites in Alaska (muscle tissue was also collected from northern fur seals
in 1987 only). Additional species and/or new sites are planned for the project each year.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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ALKALINITY, LAKE AREA, AND DEPOSITION FOR NEW ENGLAND STATES
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Contact Person: Richard J. Olson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831,
(615) 574-7819
This database consists of estimates of surface water characteristics by lake size class,
alkalinity class, and wet deposition levels for W, SO 4 , and NO 3 for each of the 3.75-nun
latitude/longitude cells in the northeastern United States. Alkalinity classes of surface waters in
New York and New England were estimated from a detailed northeast regional surface water
alkalinity map. The map was digitized, and alkalinity classes were assigned to 3.75-mm
latitude/longitude cells. Estimates of the extent of surface waters were derived by estimating the
percentage of lakes in four size classes for each of the latitude/longitude cells. Annual wet
deposition values for hydrogen, sulfate, and nitrate ions were estimated from monitonng data in
the Acid Deposition System (ADS). See separate entries for ADS and for the Acid Deposition
Data Network (ADDNET).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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AMBIENT OZONE CONCENTRATIONS
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Contact Person: Elizabeth A. Coveney, Biomedical and Environmental Assessment Division,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, (516) 282-2259
These data consist of ozone concentration levels by county and by a 0.5 by 0.5 degree
latitude/longitude grid across the continental United States. Both data sets contain estimates of 7-
hour average ozone concentrations for the time periods April-May, April-June, May-September,
June-September, and June-October for each year from 1978-1982 (except June-October 1982). The
gridded data values were estimated by extrapolating from monitoring stations selected to minimize
urban influences. The extrapolation used a kriging algorithm. The county values were estimated
from the gridded data. This same data appears in a more comprehensive form in the Aerometric
Information and Retneval System (AIRS). See separate entries for AIRS and for the Acid
Deposition Data Network (ADDNET).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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ANTICIPATED RESIDUES IN FOOD
Acronym: OPPE Pesticide Food Residue
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Policy, Planning and
Evaluation
Contact Person: Joseph C. Reinert, U.S. EPA, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Pesticide
Policy Branch (PM-220), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7557
Objectives and Coverage:
The OPPE Food Residue database contains pesticide residue data on raw and processed
food. Data are provided on a voluntary basis by other government agencies and food processing
companies. Monitoring data for 286 pesticides on an estimated 49,857 samples taken predominantly
during 1985 to 1988 are included in the database (data through 1991 will be included by the end
of fiscal year 1991). These data are used to estimate pesticide residues in the general food supply
for scientific and regulatory purposes by government agencies (EPA. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), and states). The food and pesticide industries, food industry trade groups, and public
interest groups also use this information for scientific and other purposes.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human food sources
Classes of compounds: Pesticides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Monitoring information is obtained on pesticide residues present in raw agricultural
commodities, animal products, and processed foodstuffs by the Pesticide Policy Branch from three
sources: state monitoring data compiled by the FDA, the National Food Processors Association,
and Agriculture Canada. The format in which information is received is often inconsistent (e.g.,
commodities reported by different names, pesticides listed by different chemical names); therefore,
the data are edited to remove obvious errors and inconsistencies before they are entered into tables,
using the ORACLE Relational Database Management System.
A draft report which includes methods to improve this program is presently being reviewed
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the FDA. The recommended methods to
improve the database include: standard residue sampling protocols used by state and federal
agencies; a minimum set of information to be provided with each sample; and a standard data
coding system and database format for the transmission of data.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Name of state and/or county (for some data only)
Time Coverage: 1980 to present (greater than 85% of the data is from 1985 to 1988; the database
will be updated to 1991 by the end of fiscal year 1991)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable; sampling and analysis data are obtained
from other agencies; presently sampling protocols for these data vary
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable (see above)
Source information: None
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not in the database, however, original food samples are sometimes pooled
depending upon how large an individual composite sample is
Standard procedures used: Approved Multi-Residue Analysis Methods for Pesticides,
published by the FDA
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Approximate time between
sample collection and analysis of the samples in submitted data vary
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Information not
available; approximate time between data received from the FDA, the National
Food Processors Association, and Agriculture Canada and data entry to database
is 1 1,2 years
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits (obvious errors and
inconsistencies only)
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Meat; poultry; plants; fruit; vegetables; fish/shellfish; processed food commodities:
Pesticides
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEl vf1CALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes or
identifiers, or other codes (analytical lab number, food company number)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available, data can
be aggregated in any form requested (e.g., commodity, pesticide, specific products, year)
Availability Any requester can obtain a hard copy of the computer printouts (identified as
volumes 2-4) and a hard copy of the summary report (volume 1); subsets of data are
available on diskette
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency report; microfiche
Machine readable — Diskette (ASCII, Word Perfect, ORACLE)
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Reports: Volume 1 describes the project, how it was created, where the data is obtained, how it
is edited, QA/QC procedures, and the electronic database; Volume 1 is distributed through
the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), USDA, and FDA; volumes 2-4 contain
the computerized data
Reference Documents: None
DatalReports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for hard copies of report and data on
microfiche); Search Service, Dynarnac Corporation, The Dynamac Building, 11140 Rockvdle
Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 417-6126 (for hard copies or diskette of data); Joseph C.
Reinert, U.S. EPA, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Pesticide Policy Branch, (PM-
220), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC1 20460, (202) 260-7557
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AQUATIC TOXICITY INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Acronym: AQUIRE
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Lab - Duluth
Contact Person: Anne Pilli, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Lab
6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, (218) 720-5516
Objectives and Coverage:
AQUIRE was established to provide scientists and managers with quick access to a
comprehensive, systematic, computerized compilation of aquatic toxicity data. The database consists
of aquatic toxicity data extracted from scientific papers from over 6,000 domestic and international
publications from 1970 to the present, and from independently compiled data files. The scope of
the scientific papers included has been defined by the criteria of single chemical exposure and has
been limited to those organisms that are exclusively aquatic. Interactions on the aquatic interface
(amphibians, bipeds, mammals, reptiles, rooted semi-aquatic plants), and the microscopic
community (bacteria and viruses) are omitted. Exposures must either be aqueous, diet, or injection;
in vitro toxicity test results are not included. The database does not include exposures from
petroleum-based mixtures, complex effluents, chemical mixtures, and water chemistry effects (e.g.,
pH). Exposures are tested in fresh water, salt water, tap water, brackish water, or estuarine water.
Both field and lab tests are included. Results are mostly relevant to surface and marine water
exposures. Acute, sublethal, and bioconcentration effects are included for tests with freshwater and
marine organisms. The data collected include over 100,000 individual test results and information
on 5,200 chemicals and 2,400 aquatic organisms.
AQUIRE is designed to be used as a reference tool, with individual and summary aquatic
toxicity data catalogued by toxicant, test organism, test conditions, and test endpoint. Tissue
residue and bioconcentration information for edible portions of aquatic species are stored in the
database. AQUTRE has potential for use in aquatic to human extrapolation of chemical exposures
and risks. Because AQUIRE is a compilation of the available data, it is recommended that
researchers requiring contextual information for the data consult original publications; reprints of
all references included in the database are on file. Additional information regarding purity, grade
formulation, active ingredients, and radiolabeled isotopes is stored in AQUIRE text files, which are
not available to the user at this time.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Aquatic food sources (e.g., fish, shellfish, algae)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxins/furans, radionucides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on
specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Aquatic toxicity data published in United States and international scientific papers and data
from independently compiled data files are collected and reviewed for appropriateness for the
AQUIRE database. Toxicity papers are acquired by literature searches, review article bibliographic
listings, U.S. EPA Water Quality Criteria document bibliographies, and from existing toxicity reprint
collections. The literature covers 1970 to the present, with current publications acquired and
reviewed on a continuing basis. The bibliographic file and the main database files are checked for
duplicate publications to assure that each data point is included only once in AQUIRE. If a
publication contains data for a single chemical, in addition to one of the above categories of
toxicants, the paper is retained and only the single chemical data are used in AQUIRE.
If data are published in a dissertation, symposium proceeding, internal report, or a book,
in addition to a peer-reviewed journal, only the journal publication is included in AQUTR.E.
Foreign publications are reviewed if either an English abstract or a translated table of data are
included. Data reported in review papers are abstracted from the original publication.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National and international
Identifiers: No geographic identifiers (database consists primarily of laboratory test results);
the data elements in AQUIRE are grouped by test chemical, test organism, test
conditions, and test endpoint
Time Coverage: 1970-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Variable, depends on source of data (data obtained from the
literature)
Regularity of sample collection: Variable, depends on source of data (data obtained from the
literature)
Source information: None available
Dispersion information: Not applicable — no data collected at the source
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Methods of Sample Analysis: Data are collected from the literature
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: The data encoded are evaluated according to existing standard test
methods such as the American Society for Testing and Materials, U.S. EPA, and the
American Public Health Association; each test reviewed for AQUIRE is assigned
a review code that indicates the adequacy of method documentation available in the
scientific paper
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Variable, depends on source of
data (data obtained from the literature)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Data are obtained
from the literature, reviewed for quality, and entered into the database on a
quarterly basis
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Quality assurance procedures begin with
literature acquisition and cataloging and continue through the chemical and species files,
the literature review process, data entry, and data retrieval. The AQUIRE literature is
processed by reviewers who receive 4 months of training. To be included in AQUIRE,
a study must involve exclusively aquatic test organisms; involve toxicants having Chemical
Abstracts Service Registry Numbers (CASRNs); involve aqueous, dietary, or parental
exposures; test chemicals; describe test conditions and test endpoints; and provide
documentation of test methods that conform with standard quality assurance guidelines.
Based on these and other criteria, studies are rated by AQUIRE reviewers as: (1)
meeting all criteria, (2) generally satisfactory, (3) weak or unsatisfactory, (4) format
limitation associated with an abstract or foreign paper, or (5) study in the Gilford File.
(The Gilford File, added in February 1989, contains laboratory data for Acute Toxicity
of Organic Chemicals (ATOC), determined using a single test species, 30-day fathead
minnows.) Data obtained from independently compiled data files must meet the
AQUIRE data parameter and quality assurance guidelines. If tests are missing key
fields, or the experimental niethodolo ’ was erratic, the data are rejected. Transfer of
data is by computer with accompanying quality assurance procedures.
Following the extraction of acceptable data, a 10 percent quality assurance check of
CASRN, verification of species Latin name, and confirmation of effect concentrations
are made. Differences (if any) are documented, discussed, and resolved by the data
coordinator. Any subsequent corrections are also reviewed by two staff members. In
addition to manual checks, there are various computerized checks within the database
structure. A biannual EPA QA/QC audit is also conducted.
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ENViRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
R Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Fish/Shellfish: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxin/furans, radionucides
Tissue residue and bioconcentration information for edible portions of aquatic species
are stored in the database
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registiy Number (C. SRN);
chemical name using Ninth Collective Index (9C1) System standard nomenclature;
Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) notation is used to describe
chemical structure; if a CASRN is not available through standard sources, the toxicity data
cannot be included in AQUIRE
DATABASE AVAILkBIUTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual entries and summary statistics are available for specific
agents
Availability: Federal, state, or local governmental agencies may obtain data using DECnet, Prime-
net, a modem, or computer; other users can obtain access through a government agency
Form: Machine readable — Tape (ASCII), on-line
Reports: None
Reference Documents: Aquatic Toxicily Infonnation Retñeval Data Ba se: A Technical Suppoii
Document. Anne Pili, Dana 0. Cane, and Barbara Riedel Sheedy. April 1989. U.S. EPA,
Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN 55804
Data/Reports Available From: Ann Pilli, U.S. EPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, 6201
Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, (218) 720-5516; or Scientific Outreach Center,
(218) 720-5548, for information about accessing the database
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BIENNIAL REPORTING SYSTEM
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (OSWER)
Contact Person: John Fogerty, U.S. EPA, OSWER, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460,
(202) 260-4697
Objectives and Coverage:
As required by the Resource Conservation and Recoveiy Act (RCRA), the Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 40 requires generators of hazardous wastes and facilities that treat, store, or
dispose of hazardous wastes to file biennial reports. EPA’s OSWER maintains and publishes this
information every other year in Naiional Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Reporis. These national
reports include national and state-level data and analyses on: the types and amounts of hazardous
wastes generated; waste treatment methods (e.g., injection well, landfill, incineration); and waste
management and waste minimization practices. The national biennial reports also include rankings
of types of hazardous wastes generated and amounts generated by states and facilities. Imports and
exports of hazardous wastes for each state are also included, as is a comparison of the latest and
previous national data. Summary profiles of the generation and management of hazardous wastes
for each state are provided.
The comprehensiveness of the national biennial reports is limited by inconsistent reporting
by states, although EPA has placed major emphasis on assuring the quality of submissions from the
largest hazardous waste generators and management facilities and is revising RCRA regulations to
require more consistent and comprehensive information. The national biennial reports do not
include data on wastes exempted from RCRA permitting requirements (e g, wastewater treatment
tank units regulated under the Clean Water Act), nor do they include data on RCRA-generated
wastes that are exported out of the United States.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water, soil, air, bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Hazardous waste codes as defined in 40 CFR, Part 261, subpart D,
including inorganic compounds; pesticides; VOCs; semi-VOCs; ignitable, corrosive, and
reactive wastes
Type of data available: National and state-level summary data are available
Estimation versus observational data: Both estimated and observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Generators and managers of RCRA hazardous wastes submit site reports to EPA regional
offices or to state offices authorized by EPA to administer RCRA programs by March 1st of each
even-numbered year. The National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report is a compilation and
analysis of this information. Due to inconsistent reporting by states, some data submitted to EPA
have provided detailed site-specific information, while other data have been reported only at the
aggregate level (e.g., total quantity of waste generated at a site, but not the types of waste
generated). Since these summary-level data were the only data that could be obtained for all sites,
only summary data were used to conduct national analyses in the 1987 National Biennial Report.
In addition, some states did not report all hazardous wastewaters subject to RCRA these exclusions
may have resulted in artifically low state and national quantity totals. Also, in some cases, EPA
could not unambiguously determine which generators were subject to reporting under RCRA, thus
resulting in a possible underestimation of hazardous waste generators. Finally, California did riot
provide compatible waste characterization data for most of its generators; again, this may have
resulted in an underrepresentation of generators in the EPA national report.
- Quality assurance measures helped to resolve some of the data inconsisteny problems
described above. Data were checked for completeness and internal consistency. In addition, an
evaluation of the largest hazardous waste generators and management facilities in each state was
conducted. This involved sites that generated or managed more than 100,000 tons of RCRA
hazardous wastes in 1985, 1986, or 1987, and also the five largest sites in each state regardless of
the quantities they generated. Subsequent to these quality assurance measures, EPA prepared draft
profile reports for each state which were reviewed by the state’s environmental coordinator for
accuracy. Data were then corrected for the National Biennial Report.
DATABASE CHARACFERTSTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Street address; zip code; city, municipality, or township; county/parish; state
Time Coverage: 1981-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Biennial
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
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Source information: Type and quantity of total hazardous wastes generated at regulated
facilities are reported (sometimes data are available on individual waste streams
generated)
Dispersion information: Wastes from each facility are tracked from source to final
disposition (i.e., treatment or disposal)
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Data is aggregated to the state-level for national analyses; some individual
site-specific data are available
Standard procedures used: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample (data) collection and analysis: 1 year
Approximate time between sample (data) analysis and data enny to database: 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; evaluation of largest hazardous
waste generators and management facilities in each state
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface water and ground water. Some information on discharged wastes to surface
water, groundwater, and leachate
SOIL
Sediment: Some information on hazardous waste industrial sediments and sludge
discharges
AIR
Outdoor air Organic and inorganic gases
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Discarded comrnerical chemicals (lab packs)
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; EPA hazardous waste codes;
state hazardous waste codes; Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes; hazardous waste
form codes
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DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Data are aggregated to the state-level for national analyses; some
individual site-specific data are available
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- EPA National Bieenial Reports; computer printouts; files or log books (vanes
by state)
Machine readable — On-line (national data beginning with 1989 will be available on-line
in 1992 in Focus software to authorized EPA mainframe users; states have own data
in various forms (e.g., tape, diskette)
Reports: 1987 National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (published every two years)
Reference Documents: Hazardous Waste Report: Instructions and Forms
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650; state RCRA program offices; EPA Regional
offices; Dma Villari, (202) 260-4670
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CHEMICAL SCREENING BRANCH (CSB) EXISTING CHEMICALS ASSESSMENT
TRACKING SYSTEM
Acronym: CECATS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Toxic Substances
Contact Person: John S. Leitzke, U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances, (TS-778), Existing
Chemicals Assessment Division, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC, 20460, (202) 260-3507
Objectives and Coverage:
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Section 8(e), notices of substantial nsk
are submitted to the Chemical Screening Branch (CSB) of the U.S. EPA Office of Toxic Substances
by manufacturers, processors, distributors, and importers of chemicals when they become aware of
new data that supports a conclusion that a chemical may present a substantial risk of injury to
human health or the environment. In addition, For Your Information (FYI) submissions are also
submitted, which are similar in content to the TSCA Section 8(e) notices, but are voluntary and go
beyond statutory requirements under TSCA.
CECATS tracks documents submitted to and developed by the CSB and contains both
administrative and chemical hazard/exposure tracking information. The purpose of CECATS is to
help determine which substances need further regulatory review. Chemical Hazard Information
Profiles (CHIPs) or Substitute Hazard Profiles are written for substances of greatest concern based
on environmental and health effects. Administrative tracking information includes submission and
report dates, submitter names, status of review, and initial disposition or distribution to outside
groups. Examples of chemical hazard/exposure information include Chemical Abstracts Service
Registry Number (CASRN), chemical name, and information type (type of toxicity or exposure data
contained in the document). CECATS is a document-tracking system, not a chemical-tracking
system, but it does track which chemicals are in which documents. Similarly, CECATS does not
contain endpoint information (such as actual toxicity values or toxicity information), but does track
which kinds of information can be found in which documents.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water, soil, air, human food sources, human samples, bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Most hazardous or toxic chemicals, including: VOCs, semi-VOCs, PCBs,
inorganic compounds, pesticides
Type of data available: Qualitative analyses of documents discussing particular chemicals; no
individual samples referenced
Estimation versus observational data: Both estimated and observational data are contained in the
documents referenced
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Each time a TSCA Section 8(e) notice or FYI submission is received by the Chemical
Screening Branch, a screening process is initiated to determine whether a Chemical Hazard
Information Profile (CHIP) will be developed for that substance. CHIPs are brief narrative reports
(20-40 pages) that summarize the readily available information on health effects, environmental
effects and exposure relating to a specific chemical. Substitute Hazard Profiles are also developed,
which are similar in content to CHIPs but generally are less comprehensive and shorter (10 pages),
address only one type of toxic effect, and do not address exposure. During screening, CSB
considers factors such as TSCA jurisdiction, severity of toxic effect, extent of exposure and
assessment, and regulatory status. Nearly 98% of all chemicals screened are not selected for further
review and are not published as CHIPs or Substitue Hazard Profiles.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics;
Coverage: National
Identifiers: None
Time Coverage: 1977-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies; whenever TSCA Section 8(e) notices are submitted
to the Chemical Screening Branch of the U.S. EPA Office of Toxic Substances
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable
Source information: Not applicable
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable
Standard procedures used: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not applicable
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media: Most of the following classes of compounds can be
found in each of the media indicated below: VOCs, semi-VOCs, PCBs, inorganic
compounds, pesticides
WATER
See above
SOIL
See above -
AIR
See above
FOOD SOURCES
See above
HUMAN SAMPLES
See above
BULK CHEMICALS
See above
Conventions Used to Identif& Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual document titles and references are entered into the database
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; portions of CECATS are accessible on-line
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts
Machine readable — On-line (direct access)
Reports: Chemical Hazard Information Profiles (CHIPs); Substitute Hazard Profiles
Reference Documents: None
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Data/Reports Available From: On-line access -- Carolyn Thornton, (202) 475-8620; Chemical
Hazard Information Profiles (CHIPs) and Substitute Hazard Profiles available from the
EPA Environmental Assistance Division (202) 554-1404; reports available from John Leitzke
(202) 260-3507
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COMMUNITY HEALTH AIR MONiTORING PROGRAM
Acronym: CHAMP
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL)
Contact Person: Thomas Lawless, U.S. EPA, AREAL, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919)
541-2291
Objectives and Coverage:
Cl-lAM? consists of epidemiological studies conducted in large metropolitan areas of the
United States to determine human health effects and morbidity and mortality associated with air
quality in these areas. Pollutant sampling data include long- and short-term air monitoring for
particulates, criteria pollutants, benzopyrene, and selected inorganic compounds. In addition,
human tissue samples from autopsied cadavers; and pulmonary function testing of individuals from
these areas were collected. Also included are results from a separate study which compared air
samples collected in a small town with those collected in a large city in California; and results of
pulmonary function tests of individuals who spent time in both of these areas.
This program was implemented during 1972-1977 by the former Epidemiology and Biometry
branches of the EPA.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air, human tissue samples
Classes of compounds: Particulates, criteria pollutants, inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs
(benzopyrene)
Type of data available: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Los Angeles, CA; Birmingham, AL; Salt Lake City, UT; Charlotte, NC; and Riverhead, NY
counties were selected by scientists at EPAs Epidemiology and Biometry Branches to be included
in a long term study of health effects of pollution. These study areas were selected because they
represent large metropolitan areas with an increase of respiratory disease caused or aggravated by
air quality. Local health officials in these counties were consulted to help select air monitoring
locations according to zip code. Continuous analyzers, located in areas in the center of selected
zip codes, measured criteria pollutants, benzopyrene, and selected inorganic compounds 24-
hours/day, 365 days/year. At the same time, size-selective particulate samples were collected on
filters using high volume samplers. Visibility monitors were also located in counties known to have
especially poor air quality. In addition, short term air quality sampling was conducted at facilities
in these areas where episodes affecting human health were reported in the Morbidity and Mortality
Report (Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health and Human Services). If pollutant
concentrations were found to be elevated, operation at the facility was halted by EPA until air
sample results were found to be within acceptable levels.
As part of this study, EPA contracted with the University of California (at Riverside) for
pulmonary function testing and medical examinations to be conducted on individuals residing in
these geographic areas. Volunteers were obtained through a screening questionnaire; testing and
examinations were conducted in portable vans located in each of the areas.
EPA also contracted with the University of California for human tissue (hair and fat)
sampling of autopsied cadavers from medical facilities in these areas. Pathologists contacted
researchers at the University whenever an autopsy was performed on individuals who had resided
in these areas. Samples were frozen, collected, and analyzed for various trace elements.
Samples of maternal and fetal blood and hair were also collected immediately following
delivery by physicians of hospitals within the geographic areas in cooperation with EPAs
Epidemiology and Biometry branches. These samples were sent to an EPA contracted laboratory
for analysis of trace elements.
A separate study compared air quality sample and pulmonary function test results collected
in a small town with those collected in a large city in California. Ambient air samples for criteria
pollutants, particulates, benzopyrene, and selected inorganic compounds were collected at Pacific
College, Anjun, CA, located in the mountains of Napa Valley. At the same time, pulmonary
function tests were conducted on students who volunteered for this study and were planning to
attend medical school at the affiliate Loma Linda University in LaSierra, CA. Once at Loma Linda
University, the pulmonary function of these students was re-tested and similar air quality
measurements were collected.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Region of state (Los Angeles, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Charlotte, NC;
Riverhead, NY; Anjun, CA; LaSierra, CA)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site and city, universal transmercator
coordinates of the monitor site and city; street address; city, municipality, or
township; county; state
Time Coverage: 1972-1977
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Daily
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: None
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Ambient air quality standards found in 40 CFR III, Parts 51, 52,
53, 58
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Immediate for direct reading
air measurements; approximately 5 days for particulate samples; approximately 1-2
months for human tissue samples
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entiy to database: 1 month
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analysis, data entry audits; procedures from the EPA Quality Assurance
Handbook for Air Pollution Mea sure,nent Systems
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban and rural: Particulates, criteria pollutants, inorganic compounds,
serni -VOCs (ben.zopyrene)
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES
Hair, fat, blood: Inorganic compounds (barium, boron, cadmium, chromium,
copper, iron, lead, magnesium, mercury, selenium, silver, tin, vanadium,
arsenic, beryllium, cobalt, zinc)
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture, SAROAD codes
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency reports
Reports: Reports describing short term air quality monitoring conducted at facilities where
episodes affecting human health occurred were prepared by EPA investigators
Reference Documents: 40 CFR III, EPA QualityAssurance Handbook forAir Pollution Measurement
Systems
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650
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COMPLIANCE DATA SYSTEM
Acronym: CDS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planmng
and Standards (OAQPS), National Air Data Branch
Contact Person: Jerry Husketh, U.S. EPA, NADB, MD-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,
(919) 541-5449
Objectives and Coverage:
CDS provided source data for the AIRS Facility Subsystem (AFS) and has been replaced
by the AFS (see separate entry for AFS). CDS was the standard mechanism for compliance and
enforcement tracking for all federal air emissions enforcement agencies and for over half of all state
and local enforcement agencies, especially for requirements such as State Implementation Plans
(SIPs), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Pollutants (NESHAPs). CDS information included data on all major and many minor
stationary sources of air pollution and included: an inventory of facilities subject to local, state, and
federal emissions regulations; descriptive facility information; type of pollutant being emitted;
emission point information (e.g., process descnption); compliance tracking of violators and of
facilities in compliance; and data on compliance and enforcement actions and progress, such as
inspections, enforcement schedules, notices of violation, civil actions, criminal actions, and orders.
CDS assisted local, state, and regional regulatory agencies in developing enforcement strategies and
providing reports that fulfilled performance and reporting requirements. CDS users were
responsible for data submissions, quality control, and retrieval, and were encouraged to closely
follow CDS quality assurance procedures.
CDS included data for over 70,000 stationary sources, with complete information for Class
A sources (as defined by the 1980 Alabama Power Decision) and less complete information for
Class B sources. Information was complete for violators and less complete for facilities in
compliance. Over 12,000 enforcement actions were included. Different emission points within a
single facility could be assessed, as well as total potential uncontrolled emissions for each process.
Pollutant loading information was available for a limited number of facilities through CDS (more
complete data sources were NEDS and AIRS). In addition to known point sources, which are
required to be tracked, CDS included information on unverified Class A VOC sources
(approximately 4,000 sources). Local, state, and regional enforcement offices also entered other,
nonmandatory types of data and information about other facilities into CDS. Data on special
enforcement problem areas were also included in CDS, such as information on selected primary
copper, lead, and zinc smelters (e.g., emission and process point identification).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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CROSSWALKIAIR TOXICS EMISSIONS FACTOR
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Acronym: XATEF
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS)
Contact Person: Anne A. Pope, EPA, OAQPS, MD-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919)
541-5373
Objectives and Coverage:
The XATEF Database Management System (DBMS), written by Radian Corporation for
the Noncriteria Pollutant Programs Branch of the EPA, allows users to estimate the magnitude of
potential air toxic emissions from source categories. The system is designed to facilitate the rapid
identification and cross-referencing of toxic air pollutants and emission source categories and
provide corresponding emission factors for these associations as available. Approximately 7,600
emissions factors for 400 compounds and 450 source categories, as well as a listing of approximately
15,000 pollutant source categories, are included in XATEF DBMS to date.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans,
radionudides, asbestos, particulates, acids/acid aerosols
Type of data available: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: Estimated data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Emissions factor information in XATEF DBMS is based on the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) Source Categoiy Code (SCC)/pollutant cross-references found in Toxic Air
Pollutant/Source Crosswalk -- A Screening Tool for Locating Possible Sources Emitting Toxic Air
Substances, Second Edition; and the air toxic emission factor collection found in Toxic Air Pollutant
Emission Factors —A Compilation for Selected Air Toxic Compounds and Sources, Second Edition.
Source category information is obtained from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) and the National
Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse (NATICH) databases (see Part I of this Inventory for a
description of these databases). Data in XATEF DBMS is updated annually.
The XATEF DBMS is an IBM AT Personal Computer (PC)-based application distributed
on a high density (1.2 MB) 5 1/4-inch diskette. The Crosswalk/Air Toxic Emission Factor Database
Management System User’s Manual is included on the distnbution disc. Information is available on
the database program, pollutants, emission factors, emission source categories, industrial processes,
SCC and SIC codes with cross references to pollutants, and database security. Presently, the entire
data system is brought up on PC. As of 1992, the user will be able to bring up the entire system
or specific sub-sets of data, if desired.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: None
Time Coverage: 1989-present (although data collection began in 1989, data may reflect earlier
years)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable; no samples collected; XATEF DBMS is
updated annually
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable; no samples collected
Source information: Source categories are available
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable; no samples collected
Standard procedures used: Users of the system follow the standardized disc format written
by Radian Corporation
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable; no samples
collected or analyzed
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entiy to database: Not applicable; no
samples analyzed
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Emissions: Particulates, inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxin/furans, radionuclides, asbestos, acids/acid aerosols
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi1 ’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data by purchasing the diskette; use of the XATEF DBMS
requires an IBM AT PC or compatible machine that: runs MS-DOS or PC-DOS version
3.0 or later, has at least 640 KB of free RAM, a fixed disk with at least 20 MB of storage,
and a high density 5 1/4-inch external disk drive
Form: Hard copy -- Reports may be printed on a dot matrix or laser printer
Machine readable --Diskette (compiled set of menu driven dBase files; however, the system
does not require dBase to operate; reports may be output to disk as an ASCII,
dBase, or Lotus file); bulletin boards; CD-ROM
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Reports: Crosswalk/Air Toxic Emission Factor Database Management System User’s Manual,
distributed to the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), EPA Libraries and
Regional Offices (also included on distribution disk); the users of the system design nd
generate their own reports in the form of a standard column or full page report
Reference Documents: Toxic Air Pollutant/Source Crosswalk-A Screening Tool for Locating Possible
Sources Emitting Toxic Air Substances, Second Edition (EPA-45012-89-017); Toxic Air
Pollutant Emission Factors-A Compilation for Selected Air Toxic Compounds and Sources,
Second Edition (EPA- 45012-90-011)
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; non-profit agencies may obtain the diskette
from Anne A. Pope, EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, MD-14, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-5373
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DISTRIBUTION REGISTRY OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN WATER
Acronym: WaterDROP
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Research
Laboratory
Contact Person: Wayne Garrison, U.S. EPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, Analytical
Chemistry Branch, College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, (404) 546-3145
The WaterDROP system contains information from the 1970s concerning the measurement
of organic pollutants in water that has been abstracted from water pollution literature, primarily
from the United States. Specific chemical information is available at particular locations. Negative
results as well as postive results are reported. Information includes: chemical name, CASRN
number, type of water measured, sampling method, data and location of sample; method of analysis;
pollutant concentration; confidence ratings; and citations. For substances identified as drinking
water pollutants, physical parameters such as boiling point and water solubility data are available.
Information is available only in the form of computer printouts.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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EASTERN LAKE SURVEY
Acronym: ELS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and
Development; EPA National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP)
Contact Person: Mr. Alan Herlihy, U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th
Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 757-4442
Objectives and Coverage:
The Eastern Lake Surveywas conducted in two phases as part of the National Surface
Water Survey (NSWS; other components included the Western Lake Survey and the National
Stream Survey, also described in this Inventory). Through a two-phase monitoring program, the
ELS assessed the effects of acidic deposition on surface waters in the Northeastern United States,
upper Midwest, the southern Blue Ridge, and Florida. The objectives of the Phase I survey
conducted in the fall of 1984 were to determine in potentially sensitive regions of the eastern
United States: 1) the percentage and location of lakes that were acidic (based on fall samples); 2)
the percentage and location of lakes that had low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC); and 3) the
chemical characteristics of the lakes studied. Another objective of Phase I was to provide a
database for selecting lakes for further study.
The objective of ELS-Phase II, conducted in 1986, was to assess temporal variability in
regional lake water chemistry with respect to acidic deposition effects. To achieve this, the ELS-
Phase II: 1) assessed the sampling error associated with ELS-Phase I sample; 2) estimated the
number of lakes that were not acidic in the fall, but were acidic in other seasons; and 3) established
seasonal water chemistry characteristics among lakes and related the fall index sample to seasonal
and annual water chemistry patterns.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water (lakes)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
For ELS-Phase I, water samples were collected in the fall of 1984 from 1,612 lakes selected
from within three regions of the eastern United States (Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Southeast)
expected to exhibit low buffering capacity (measured by ANC). A number of chemical variables
and physical attributes thought to influence or be influenced by surface water acidification were
measured for each lake. Lakes were selected by a systematic random process. The sample design
allowed the ELS-Phase I database to be used to investigate the chemical status of lakes within a
specific region. Additionally, the database can be used to investigate correlative relationships
among chemical variables on a regional basis.
For ELS-Phase II, water samples were collected from 145 statistically representative lakes
only from the Northeast in three seasons (spring, summer, and fall of 1986). Lakes analyzed in
ELS-Phase II were chosen from those samples in ELS-Phase I, using a variable probability sample,
and results were compared to the ELS-Phase I results. Like ELS-Phase I, data from ELS-Phase
II can be used to provide unbiased estimates of the status and extent of acidic and low ANC lakes
for a defined lake population. However, the ELS-Phase II sample did not include lakes with the
following characteristics: lakes with high ANC (>400 ug(L); severely nutrient-enriched lakes;
shallow lakes (<1.5 m deep); large lakes (>20 km 2 ); and lakes modified by anthropogenic
disturbances (e.g, major wastewater treatment plant discharge).
In the Phase-I l survey, data quality control measures identified several problems that would
limit the use of some sample results. For chloride, values measured at one of the labs should not
be used; these suspect values are flagged in the database or labeled as missing. Population
estimates for chloride should not be made for the summer and spring (fall values were measured
elsewhere and are valid). For conductivity samples, all field measurements appear to be unreliable,
were not validated, and should be interpreted with caution; no problems appeared with laboratory
conductivity measurements. For total aluminum, data showed very poor agreement between labs,
and precision was highly variable. (This problem was evident in all NSWS surveys.) Aiso, a
number of total aluminum values were less than one subcategory of aluminum. No measurement
problems were found with subcategories of aluminum. Finally, air-equilibrated dissolved inorganic
carbon and air-equilibrated pH showed some laboratory bias and poor precision at higher pH.
Users are strongly advised to use the closed-system dissolved inorganic carbon and pH
measurements for data analysis.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (ELS-Phase I — Northeast, Upper Midwest, southern Blue Ridge,
florida; ELS-Phase II — Northeast, including the Adirondacks, PoconosfCatskills,
northern New England, southern New England, and Maine)
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the monitor site; name of state; (ELS-Phase I also
included the name of the county/parish)
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Time Coverage: ELS-Phase I -- 1984
ELS-Phase II -- 1986
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: ELS-Phase I -- One time only; ELS-Phase II — Once in
spring, summer, and fall
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source and dispersion information: Specific sources not determined — acidic deposition is
typically from nonpoint sources of pollution, and reflects impacts from various
dispersed pollutants
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Methods for Chemical Analyses of Water and Wastes (modified
for acidic deposition research); Handbook of Methods for Acid Deposition Studies,
Laboratory Analysis for Surface Water Chemistry; Handbook of Methods for Acid
Deposition Studies, Field Operations for Surface Water Chemistry
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1-28 days, varies by analyte
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 3-6 months
Quality AssurancefQuality Control Procedures: For both ELS-Phase I and II — Laboratory blanks,
field blanks, duplicates, spikes, external laboratory analyses, data entry audits; in addition,
for ELS-Phase I — field audits, lab audits, analysis of known standards; for ELS-Phase II -
- analysis of natural audit material, lab split samples
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds; ions (including fluoride); microorganisms; physical
and chemical indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
ffi Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
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HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILkBILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents. Summary
statistics are also available on specific agents, as cumulative distribution functions of
regional lake acid-base status
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette (ASCII, SAS)
Reports: National Surface Water Survey, Eastern Lake Survey, Phase I: Quality Assurance Plan; Field
Operations Report; Data AnalysLs Plan
Reference Documents: National Surface Water Survey Eastern Lake Survey—Database Dictionaries
for Phase I and Phase II
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for data or report copies); Susan Christie,
(503) 757-4645 (for information on reports available)
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EMISSIONS CERTIFICATION DATABASE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Mobile Sources
Contact Person: Eldert A. Bontekoe, U.S. EPA, Office of Mobile Sources, 2565 Plymouth
Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48105, (313) 668-4200
Objectives and Coverage:
The Emissions Certification Database contains emissions data on regulated pollutants
(hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen) from certain types of motor vehicles
(automobiles and small trucks). Measurements are based on exhaust gases measured at the tailpipe.
The measurements are taken by the U.S. EPA’s Office of Mobile Sources, and the vehicles
represent all new domestic and imported consumer vehicles introduced into the United States
nationally. Test vehicles are selected based on the likelihood of being worst-case emitters. Each
type of engine is tested once per year. The Emission Certification Database verifies emissions
information supplied by manufacturers and is required under the Clean Air Act. The information
is primarily used by the U.S. EPA and manufacturers for regulatory purposes to ensure emission
compliance. Some analytical results are confidential.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (automobile exhaust emissions)
Classes of compounds: Particulates (hydrocarbons), criteria pollutants (CO, NOR)
Type of data available: Individual samples and summary statistics are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
All vehicles introduced into the United States each year are required to comply with
emission standards under the Clean Air Act. Each engine family produced by a given manufacturer
is tested for the regulated pollutants based on emissions measured at the exhaust pipe. Vehicles
are tested over a fixed cycle (speed-time or hp-time tract), and results are calculated on a
grams/mile or gramslBHp-Hr (BHp-Hr=break horse power per hour, a measure of the output of
an engine) basis. Testing procedures are developed by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE).
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: No geographic identifiers; identified by vehicle engine type
Time Coverage: 1975-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Each engine family is tested once per year;
Manufacturers may apply to carry over old data if vehicle is the same as last year
Regularity of sample collection: Annually
Source information: Data are collected at the source
Dispersion information: Not available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Society of Automobile Engineers standard procedures
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Seconds
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: I day
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; field blanks; acceptable ranges
for measured results; coordination with outside labs; comparison with manufacturer results
on same vehicle
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Automobile emissions: Particulates (hydrocarbons), criteria pollutants (CO, NOR)
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions used to identifS’ agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents; sorting is possible on thousands of variables (e.g., engine-specific details and
correlations)
Availability: Requester must be approved; some data is confidential; on-line data available within
U.S. EPA; files or log books only available to EPA personnel
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette, bulletin boards, on-line (ASCII)
Reports: Notices are published in the Federal Register
Reference Documents: None
DatafReports Available From: Notices are published in the Federal Register and provide the name
and address of the contact person; written requests for computer printouts to the U.S. EPA
Office of Mobile Sources, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Mi, 48105, Attention:
Certification Division
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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
A?ronym: EMAP
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development
Contact Person: Thomas Dixon or Miriam Rodon-Naveira, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and
Development, (RD-680), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington DC 20460, (202) 260-5782
Objectives and Coverage:
In 1988, the Science Advisoiy Board of the U.S. EPA recommended implementing a
program within EPA to monitor the status and trends of ecological conditions and to develop
innovative methods for anticipating emerging problems before they become crises. In response,
EPA initiated EMAP. The first five years of the Program will involve the design and
implementation of the system. EMAP objectives include: estimation of the current status, changes,
and trends in indicators of the condition of the nation’s ecological resources on a regional basis;
monitoring of indicators of pollutant exposure and habitat condition; identification of associations
between human-induced stresses and ecological condition; and generation of penodic statistical
summaries and interpretive reports on status and trends to resource managers and the public. The
EMAP networks will provide statistically unbiased estimates with quantifiable confidence limits over
regional and national scales for periods of years to decades.
Six broad ecological resource categories have been defined within EMAP: near-coastal
waters, inland surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid lands, and agroecosystems. Within each of
these categories, EMAP is determining the ecological resource categories and resource sampling
units that will be assessed in a series of annual surveys. Indicators of response, exposure, habitat,
and stressors will be defined. These will determine the types of environmental assessments that will
be conducted, such as biomarkers, pathogens, bioassays, tissue concentrations, ambient
concentrations, exotics, habitat structure and landscape pattern.
In 1990, EMAP initiated its first demonstration project, a study of estuaries in the mid-
Atlantic region. These data will be used for analyses to determine indices. Additional
demonstration projects will be conducted over the next several years. Full implementation of
monitoring in all resources is being targeted for 1995.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water, air, soil, human food
Classes of compounds: Currently inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs (soil); acids
(water); particulates, criteria pollutants, acids (air); additional classes will be added as the
Program develops
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Type of data available: Individual samples and summary statistics are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
The probability-based EMAP sampling design will lead to unbiased estimates with known
confidence of the extent of resource classes and their current ecological condition. The proposed
sampling design uses a systematic triangular sampling grid of randomly placed points in the U S.
Grid density will vary to meet specific needs, but the baseline density will be one point per 640 km 2
(about 12,600 points in the contiguous United States, around 2,400 points in Alaska, and 56 points
in Hawaii). A two-stage process is then used to select points from the grid for landscape
description and sampling site selection. In the first stage, landscape within a hexagonal area
centered on a subset of grid points sampled probabilistically from the large grid will be
characterized to estimate the extent of each resource class and to aid selection of resource sampling
units. In the second stage, a subset of resource sampling units is selected for each resource class,
from which regional estimates are to be made.
EMAP will operate a series of annual surveys, measuring indicators during a particular
season or other time period that is likely to be specific to each resource category. Distinct subsets
of sampling points (resource sampling units) will be selected, and environmental assessments will
be performed on a rotating four-year cycle. A particular site will therefore be sampled only every
fourth year, and condition estimates will be based on four-year running averages. Consequently,
EMAP will provide sufficient information about the conditions at any particular site for a period
of 40 to 60 years. Standardized analysis procedures will be developed for each survey and study
component.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude and universal transrnercator coordinates of the monitor site
Time Coverage: Phased-in; first demonstration data collected 1990; full implementation expected
by 1995
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Once every four years samples will be collected at a
specific monitoring site during a particular season or other time period that is likely
to be specific to each resource category
Regularity of sample collection: Every four years
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Source information: Not available
Dispersion information: Not directly available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Some assessments will be averaged over a season, others will have
individual entries
Standard procedures used: Procedures and manuals will be determined as the Program
develops; standard methods will be used when available
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: To be determined
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ent ly to database: To be determined
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Details not available at this time
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface water Acids (additional classes will be added)
SOIL
Sediment: Currently inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, other
physical and chemical characterization
AIR
Outdoor rural: Currently particulates, criteria pollutants, acids (HNO 3 )
FOOD SOURCES
FishlShellfish: Inorganic compounds, pesticides, PCBs
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registiy Number (CASRN) and
database-specific codes to link with other existing databases
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DATABASE AVAIL&BILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Requester must be approved
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts; Agency reports; journal publications
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette, on-line (ASCII, SAS), CD-ROM (future)
Reports: Yearly reports will be published; special reports are available about the planning process,
preliminary findings, and workshops; journal publications; periodical entitledEMAPMoniror
Reference Documents: EM4P Information Management Committee Charter, Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program Guidelines for Preparing Logistics Plans; En vzrontnental
Monitoring and Assessment Program (EM4P) Overview
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650; state offices within given biogeographic regions;
EPA Regional Offices; the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
The following individuals specialize in various resource categories:
EMAP Information Management: Eugene Meier (702) 798-2237
EMAP Air/Deposition Database: Steve Bromberg (919) 541-2919
EMAP Forests Soil Productivity Database: Rick D. Van Remortel (702) 734-3295
EMAP Near Coastal Database: Richard W. Latimer (401) 782-3077
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ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION AMBIENT MONITORING SYSTEM
Acronym: ERAMS
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation Program
Contact Person: Geraldine A. Luster or Paula Goode, U.S EPA, Office of Radiation Programs,
National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory , 1504 Avenue A, Montgomery, AL
36115-2601, (205) 270-3433
Objectives and Coverage:
ERAMS is comprised of nationwide sampling stations that provide air, surface water,
drinking water, and milk samples from which environmental radiation levels are derived. The
objective is to monitor and identi trends in the accumulation of long-lived radionucides in these
media. The surface water and drinking water data are compared with standards set forth in the
U.S. EPA National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NIPDWR). The milk program
is a cooperative effort with the Food and Drug Administration.
The field sampling stations are selected for wide population coverage as well as being
located near possible sources of environmental radioactivity, including nuclear power plants and
related industries. However, data may be too sparse for use in human health studies.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (including surface water, drinking water, and precipitation); air; food sources (milk)
Classes of compounds: Radionuclides; particulates (gross beta radiation); radiation (alpha, beta,
gamma)
Type of data available: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data. All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Since 1973, environmental radiation monitoring has been conducted for airborne particulates
and precipitation, drinking water, surface water, and pasteurized milk (at milk processing facilities).
Gross beta radioactivity measurements and certain specific analyses are performed on air
particulates and precipitation samples as indicator measurements in assessing the general impact
of all contributing sources on environmental levels of radiation.
Airborne particulates and precipitation samples are collected continuously at 74 field
stations located throughout the United States near present and potential sources of environmental
radioactivity. Seventy-eight drinking water monitoring sites are located in areas near nuclear power
plants and related industries, preferably in major population centers, and 58 surface water stations
are located downstream from operating nuclear facilities. In a cooperative program with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration’s Dairy and Lipid Product Branch, Milk Sanitation Section, monthly
milk samples are collected at 65 pasteurized milk processing facility sampling sites, with one or
more sites located in each state, Puerto Rico, and the Panama Canal Zone.
Sample collection for all media is conducted by state health departments (on a goodwill
basis). After collection, samples are sent to the National Air and Radiation Environmental
Laboratory (NAREL) for analysis. Samples are collected and analyzed using standard procedures
from the EPA “Radiochemical Procedures Manual.”
DATABASE CHARACFERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude and universal transmercator coordinates of the nearest city
centroid; name of city, municipality, or township; state
Time Coverage: 1973-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection:
Air particulates/precipitation: Air particulates are collected continuously with a
filter, and twice weekly field measurements of gross beta radioactivity are
taken; precipitation samples are composited monthly at stations with air
filters
Drinking water Analyses include: (a) tritium on a quarterly basis; (b) gross alpha,
gross beta, strontium-90, and gamma on annual composites; (c) radium-226
and -228 if the gross alpha exceeds certain levels; (d) specific iodine-131 on
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a quarterly sample per year for each station; and (e) an annual composite
for plutonium and uranium for stations that exceed gross alpha levels
Surface water Quarterly grab samples are taken; river and stream samples are
analyzed quarterly for tritium and annually for specific gamma activity
Milk: Samples are composited on a monthly basis, according to production, from
major milk suppliers representing more than 80% of milk consumed in a
given population center. Monthly samples are analyzed for gamma emitting
nuclides; quarterly composites are analyzed for strontium. For the first
month of the 3 quarters beginning January, April and October, 10 regional
composite samples of milk from states within each of EPA’s 10 regions are
analyzed for strontiurn-89 and strontium-90; also, all samples collected in
July are analyzed for strontium-89 and strontium-90
If any samples in any of the media show increased concentrations above background
or expected levels, the station is contacted and additional samples are
collected
Regularity of sample collection:
Air particulates/precipitation: Air filters collect continuously and are changed every
Tuesday and Friday; precipitation samples are collected as it rains or snows
and are composited for the month collected
Drinking water and surface water are collected monthly or quarterly depending on
the analysis being done
Milk is collected monthly or quarterly depending on the analysis being done
Source and dispersion information: Some drinking water stations have rivers or lakes as
source water; these sources are identified in the database; all surface water samples
are collected downstream from nuclear power plants or related industries; some milk
samples are collected from dairys in urban areas located in the vicinity of nuclear
power plants
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Samples composited monthly and quarterly (see Sample Characteristics
above)
Standard procedures used: Samples are analyzed using procedures from the EPA
Radiochemical Procedures Manual
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis:
Air particulates/precipitation: field measurements are taken 5 to 29 hours after
changing air filters; 6 weeks to 2 months for all analyses to be completed
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Drinking water Analysis begins one week after sample collection; 3-4 months for
all analyses to be completed
Surface water Analysis begins upon receipt of sample
Milk: 2-3 months
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 7-10 days
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data ently audits, laboratory blanks, duplicates,
spikes, external laboratory analyses
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Drinking water Radionuclides (radium, tritium, uranium, strontium), radiation
Surface water Radionuclides (tritium, gamma radiation)
Other (precipitation): Radionuclides (plutonium, uranium), radiation
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor Urban: Particulates (gross beta radiation)
FOOD SOURCES
Pasteurized milic Radionuclides (iodine, barium, cesium, potassium)
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifSr Agents: Chemical name
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; available on-line through direct VAX access; users can
call Ms. Bobby Weller, (205) 270-3466 for on-line access
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
Machine readable — Tape, on-line (ASCII, VAX backup, EBCIDIC)
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Reports: Quarterly reports, Environmental Radiation Data, published by the U.S. EPA Office of
Radiation Programs, are available to states that operate the ERAM s network and to
individuals requesting information
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: State Offices in states that operate the ERAMS network; U.S. EPA.
Office of Radiation Programs, Washington, DC, Dr. Charles Petko (205) 270-3411 or Paula
Goode (205) 270-3433
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FEDERAL REPORTING DATABASE SYSTEM
Acronym: FRDS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Groundwater and
Drinking Water
Contact Person: Cecil J. Sexton, U.S. EPA, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, 401 M
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7276
Objectives and Coverage:
FRDS is a centralized database for information on public drinking water supplies, including
their compliance with monitoring requirements, maximum contaminant levels (MCL), and other
requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1986. Data is used for the
Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program maintained by EPA’s Office of Drinking Water.
FRDS contains approximately 12 million records. Information tracked includes: owner/operator
name and address; operational status; location; on-site visits; sources; violations; enforcement and
compliance actions; treatment; variances and exemptions; area (county and population) the system
serves; and historical information. Additional information is entered at each state’s discretion.
FRDS does not track private wells or public water supplies excluded by the SDWA.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water and ground water
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCS, trihalomethanes, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, microorganisms, physical and chemical indicators of
water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 stipulate that all public water supply
facilities must conduct monitoring, maintain records, and provide compliance and enforcement
information to EPA. Monitoring must be performed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 141: The
National Pthnarj Drinking Water Regulations and analysis must be done in accordance with 40 CFR
Part 136: Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants. Public water supply
owners and operators are required to report monitoring results to the state (to the EPA Regional
office in non-primacy states or Indian lands) at frequencies (daily, monthly, quarterly, or yearly,
depending upon the contaminant) specified in state and federal regulations. Monitoring reports
are submitted to state (or Regional) enforcement officials, who determine if a violation has
occurred and submit quarterly reports to EPA Headquarters containing any new information for
FRDS. Some states submit FRDS information manually, while others have developed automated
thta processing systems compatible with FRDS.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the zip code, city, county, and monitor site; street address;
zip code; name of city, municipality, or township; county; state
Time Coverage: 1976-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies depending upon the size (population served) of the
public water supply and the monitoring requirements of state and federal regulations
Regularity of sample collection: Varies (see above)
Source information: EPA identification numbers are used to indicate source; source names
are sometimes given at the option of the state (or EPA Regional office)
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: CFR Part 141 allows public water supply facilities to pool up to five
samples; if the public water supply serves a population of greater than 3,300, five
samples can be pooled within their own system; if it serves a population of less than
3,300, it can pool five samples with four other public water systems
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Standard procedures used: Monitoring is performed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 14T
The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and analysis is done in accordance
with 40 CFR Part 136: Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of
Pollutants
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies with each contaminant
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 4 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; laboratory blanks (part of the
Laboratory Certification Project maintained by the EPA, Office of Groundwater and
Drinking Water, Technical Support Division)
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface, Groundwater Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCS, trihalomethanes,
pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, microorganisms (total
coliform, fecal coliform), physical and chemical indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
MR Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers (FRDS 4-digit codes)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents (see Reports)
Availability Any requester may obtain data; requester must be approved by EPA and states (or
Regions) for computer access rights; information on a public water supply that has an
ongoing enforcement case cannot by obtained
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Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, files, Agency reports, journal articles
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette (ASCII; FILEGEN is used to generate data in any
form), bulletin board, on-line
Reports: Quarterly reports, which include: Comprehensive Report; Service Area and Source Data,
Facilities and Population Served by Primary Water Supply Source; Distribution of PWSs (by
State, Source); Violation by Population; PWSs: Months in Violation; Annual Data
Evaluation/Random Selected Sample Systems; Violation by Primary Water Supply Source;
Summary and Violation Date; Months in Violation by Date; Random Selected Systems; State
Follow-up on Significant Non conipliers/Exc eptions Report; customized reports are also
available
Reference Documents: 40 CFR Pan 136: Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis
of Pollutants; Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1986; 40 CFR Part 141. The National
Primary Drinking Water Regulations; 40 CER Par r 142: The National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations Implementation; EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water Supply Guidance
Manual; Data Verification Protocol
DatalReports Available From: Cecil J. Sexton, U.S. EPA, Office of Groundwater and Drinking
Water, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7276 (for all forms of data and
on-line approval); state and regional environmental protection agencies also authonze user
accounts and passwords for on-line information
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FISH INFORMATION NETWORK
Acronym: FIN
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development
Contact Person: Joan P. Baker, Western Aquatics, Inc., Suite 220, Executive Park, 1920 Highway
54, Duram, NC 27713, (919) 544-9454
Objectives and Coverage:
The FIN database contains data and information relating to the distribution and status of
fish populations in surface waters in the Adirondack region of New York state that are sensitive
to or already affected by acidic deposition. All available data on physical characteristics, fish
populations, fishenes management procedures, and water chemistry for 2,759 lakes in the
Adirondack Ecological Zone and approximately 600 other lakes in proximity to the Adirondacks
have been incorporated into FIN. Efforts to compile data for other regions in the Northeast have
been initiated. Most data were obtained from 2 major sources: the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Carl L Schofield of Cornell University. Additional
water chemistry data were obtained from Donald F. Charles of Indiana University. Data compiled
in FIN have been recorded at the most specific level of detail possible. Also see separate entry for
the Acid Deposition Data Network (ADDNET), which maintains 14 data sets that contain
information on lake morphometry, station location, fish status, and water chemistry.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT MONiTORING SYSTEM
Acronym: GEMS
Sponsoring Agencies: World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP); Food and Agriculture Organization (FAQ) of the United Nations
Contact Persons: GEMS/AIR: Dr. David Mage, WHO, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland, 41-22-
91-3729; Gardner Evans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atmospheric
Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL), MD-56, Research Triangle Park.
NC 27711, (919) 541-3887 (United States contact)
GEMS/WATER: Dr. Martine Allard, WHO Collaborating Center on Surface and Ground
Water Quality at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW), National Water Research
Institute, Burlington, Ontario, (416) 336-6441
GEMS/FOOD: Dr. Gerry Moy, V/HO, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland, 41-22-791-3698, Jerry
Burke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), Division of Contaminant Chemistry, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition,
200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC (202) 245-1307 (United States contact)
Objectives and Coverage:
GEMS, established under the auspices of the WHO, UNEP, and the FAQ, is a program
which involves monitoring of air, water, and food quality on a global scale. Scientists from 60
countries throughout the world participate in GEMS. GEMS/AIR contains results of air quality
sampling; GEMS/WATER includes freshwater quality sample results; and GEMS/FOOD contains
food contamination results. Although the three programs do not cover many of the areas in the
developing world, they do provide valuable information which indicates current regional, national,
and global trends in environmental health.
The Collaborating Center on Air Pollution Control, established by the WHO and operated
by the U.S. EPA, maintains the GEMS/AIR database on EPA computers using application systems
designed specifically for the WHO. The WHO CCIW in Canada was established for the purpose
of data handling for the GEMS/WATER database. The GEMS/FOOD database is maintained by
the Information Systems Support Division at the United Nations (UN) International Computing
Center, WI-JO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Data for each of the GEMS monitoring programs are summarized and assessed by scientists
at the GEMS data centers, WHO, UNEP, and FAQ (GEMS/FOOD data only). A series of air
quality, water, and food assessment reports are issued, such as, air quality assessment reports which
evaluate the relative exposures of populations to ambient air pollution in a wide range of urban
areas and estimate the trends which emerge. It is hoped that dissemination of GEMS information
on levels, trends, and health significance of environmental contamination will permit UN member
countries to make national decisions for the improvement of environmental conditions of relevance
to public health.
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air; surface and ground water, food sources
Classes of compounds:
GEMS/AIR: Particulates; critena pollutants (sulfur dioxide and some data on nitrogen
dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead)
GEMS/WATER: Inorganic compounds; VOCs (benzene); semi-VOCs (phenol); pesticides;
PCBs; microorganisms (total and fecal coliform); physical and chemical indicators
of water quality; ions (including fluoride)
GEMS/FOOD: Inorganic compounds; PCBs; pesticides; aflatoxins
Type of data available: Summary statistics are available on specific agents for all GEMS databases;
individual data entries are only available with permission from WHO and UNEP for
GEMS/FOOD and GEMS/WATER, information on the availability of individual data was
unknown for GEMS/AIR at the time of publication
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
The gathering of data is done by national institutions of UN member countries with help
from relevant UN agencies. To maintain uniformity, a standardized coding system is used for each
database to transfer data betweer(countries and the data center. The data are checked and edited
and any questions which anse are resolved through WHO headquarters. Countries receive reports
from the data centers for scrutiny of their data. Any corrections or amendments are subsequently
applied to the master database.
Monitoring sites included in GEMS/AIR are large urban areas with three identifiable sites
within the metropolitan area: city center, industrial, and suburban. Air sampling data for total
suspended particulate (TSP) and sulphur dioxide are collected by scientists from participating
countries. Data are generally collected on a 24-hour basis and reported to the Collaborating Center
on Air Pollution Control on a quarterly schedule.
Monitoring stations in GEMS/WATER are selected from existing national or local networks
wherever possible; otherwise, new stations were established. Priority is given to rivers, lakes, and
groundwaters used for water supply. Data are collected by national institutions on a schedule which
varies from country to country and are forwarded to the WHO CCIW.
Food contamination data in GEMS/FOOD includes chemical and biological agents arising
from environmental and industrial pollution, agricultural technolo ’, food processing practices, and
natural sources. Data are collected by national food contamination monitoring programs in
countries producing the foodstuffs and importing countries at points of entry and are forwarded to
WHO headquarters. Data items reflect the food name and its country of origin, contaminant, year
of sampling, number of samples analyzed, detection limit, and median, 90th percentile, and
minimum and maximum measurement of the contaminant detected.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Global (over 60 countries)
Identifiers:
GEMS/AIR: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; street address
GEMS/WATER Latitude/longitude of the monitor site
GEMS/FOOD: Name and address of participating institutions and collaborating
laboratories
Time Coverage:
GEMS/AIR: 1972-present
GEMSIWATER: 1976-present
GEMS/FOOD: 1979-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection:
GEMS AIR: Varies; samples collected by individual countries; data collected daily
by participating agencies; reported to the Collaborating Center on a
quarterly schedule
GEMS WATER: Varies; samples collected by individual countries; data collection
by participating agencies and the Collaborating Center varies from country
to country
GEMS FOOD: Varies; samples collected by individual countries; data collected
yearly by participating institutions; approximately every 3 years by the
data center
Regularity of sample collection: Varies; samples collected by individual countries
Source information:
GEMS/AIR and GEMS/WATER: None
GEMS/FOOD: Data on global food contamination by food commodity is available;
source of food contamination (e.g., farm) can be traced by some of the
national institutions of UN member countries
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Dispersion information:
GEMS/AIR: None
GEMS/WATER and FOOD: Sample results may indicate dispersion to food
products and waterways
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Unknown; samples collected by individual countries
Standard procedures used: Standard analytical procedures required of national institutions
of each country; WHO standardized coding systems are used to transfer data
between the countnes and the data centers; the Global Water Data Management
System (Glowdat), a water quality database, is used by the WHO CCIW for data
processing and reporting
Approximate time between sample collection arid analysis: Unknown; samples collected by
individual countries
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Unknown; samples
collected by individual countries; approximate time between receival of data at the
data center and entry to database is 6-12 months for GEMS/AIR, 3 months for
GEMSTFOOD, and 1 month for GEMS/WATER
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Each country has its own procedures for data
collection; data entry audits are done at each of the data centers; GEMS/FOOD and
GEMS/WATER include a quality assurance/quality control program for laboratory analysis
that is maintained by designated laboratories; these programs are described in GEMS/FOOD
Analytical QualizyAssurance Studies; GEMS/WATER Operational Guide (information on the
GEMS/AIR quality assurance/quality control program for laboratory analysis was
unavailable at the time of publication)
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface and groundwater Inorganic compounds; VOCS (benzene); semi-VOCS
(phenol); pesticides; PCBs; microorganisms (total and fecal coliform),
physical and chemical indicators of water quality; ions (fluoride)
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor Urban: Suspended particulate matter, criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide
and some data on nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead)
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FOOD SOURCES
Plants, fish/shellfish, milk: Inorganic compounds (lead, cadmium, mercury, tin);
PCBs; pesticides (organochlorine and organophosphorus compounds),
aflatoxins
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents:
GEMS AIR: SAROAD coding system
GEMS/WATER: Chemical name or mL’tture; National Water Quality Data Bank of
Canada (NAQUADAT) coding system
GEMS/FOOD: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics are available on specific agents for all GEMS
databases; individual data entnes are only available with permission from WHO and UNEP
for GEMS/FOOD and GEMS/WATER; information on the availability of individual data
was unknown for GEMS/SIR at the time of publication
Availability: WHO publications are available to the public; requester must obtain approval from
WHO and UNEP for individual data for GEMS/FOOD and GEMS/WATER (unknown for
GEMS/AIR)
Form: GEMS/AIR: Hard copy -- Computer printouts.
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette (ASCII)
GEMS/WATER: Hard copy -- Agency reports
Machine readable -- diskette (ASCII)
GEMS/FOOD: Hard copy -- Agency Report
Machine readable -- diskette (ASCII; several other forms available)
Reports: Distributed to the TJNEP and the WHO
GEMS/AIR: Air Quality in Selected Urban Areas, which gives a statistical analysis of GEMS
air data, is prepared by the Collaborating Center on Air Pollution Control,
assessment reports are produced by WHO
GEMS/WATER: Several; data summaries are prepared in 3-year intervals and published
in GEMS/WATER Data Summañes; others include: GEMS/WATER Operational
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Guide, a directory of participating institutions; and GEMS/WATER Data Evaluation
Reports
GEMS/FOOD: Assessment of Chemical Contamination in Food (3 years of data
summaries); latest version was published in 1988 and includes 1983-1985 data (some
data is not included for reasons of confidentiality)
Reference Documents:
GEMS/AIR: WHO guideline, Selected Measurement Methods
GEMS/WATER: Several listed in Agency reports, examples include: Standard Methods for
the Examination of Water and Waste Water, American Public Health Association,
American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation, 1989;
Water Quality Assessments, A Guide for the Use of Blow Sediment and Water in
Environmental Monitoring, Chapman, D. (ed.), (in press)
GEMS/FOOD: Codex Alimenwriu.s, Codex Alimentarius Commission (includes acceptable
limits for contaminants); Federal Registers and similar national publications which
include food legislation (e.g., acceptable contaminant levels in food, sampling and
analysis methods) in each country
Data/Reports Available From:
GEMS/AIR: Gardner Evans, EPA, Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory, MD-S6, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711, (919) 541-3887 (for
published WHO documents); Dr. David Mage, WHO, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland,
41-22-791-3729 (for all other data forms and to request individual data)
GEMS/WATER: Dr. Martine Allard, WHO Collaborating Center on Surface and Ground
Water Quality at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW), National Water
Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario, (416) 336-6441
GEMS/FOOD: Dr. Gerty Moy, WHO, Geneva 27, Switzerland, 41-22-791-3698
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GREAT LAKES FISH MONITORING PROGRAM
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program
Office
Contact Person: David DeVault, U.S. EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office, 5GL, 230 S.
Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 353-1374
The Great Lakes Fish Monitoring Program, begun in 1970, collects samples of rainbow
smelt, coho salmon, and chinook salmon from the Great Leakes and analyses them for PCBs, DDT,
hexachloroberye, dacthal, chiordane, dieldrin, toxaphene, mire; heptachior experide, and
pentachlorophenyl methyl ether. The Program also performs analyses periodically for dioxins,
luvans, and others substances for special studies. Some data are collected annually (smelt, coho),
whie other data are collected biennially (different species are studied in different years). Available
reports include: Contaminants in Fish from Great Lakes, Harbors, and T,ibuiary Mouths (D. Devault,
ToxicoL 14:587); and Polychorinaced Dibenzofurans and Poloychiorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins in Great
Lakes Fish: A Baseline and Interlake Comparison (D. Devault, Environ. Tat and Chem., Vol. 8).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE RELEASFIHEALTH EFFECTS DATABASE
Acronym: HAZDAT
Sponsoring Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registiy (ATSDR)
Contact Person: Mike Periy, ATSDR, Office of the Assistant Administrator, Office of Information
Resource Management, 1600 Clifton Road (E28), Atlanta, GA 30333, (484) 639-0720
Objectives and Coverage:
ATSDR, created by Congress in 1980, has the mission to prevent or mitigate adverse
human health effects and diminished quality of life resulting from exposure to hazardous substances
in the environment. To achieve this goal ATSDR conducts health assessments and consultations
at Superfund sites and other sites; conducts or funds health studies of individuals exposed to
hazardous materials at these sites; and develops toxicological profiles of hazardous substances. As
part of these activities, ATSDR is currently developing HAZDAT, a database that records ATSDR
activities. At the time of this writing, past ATSDR data are being entered into HAZDAT. As of
January 1992, HAZDAT will be available to other federal and state agencies. It is not known when
it will be available to the general public. Data in HAZDAT include: site characteristics; ‘activities
and site events; contaminants detected; contaminant media; maximum concentration; population
impacted by the site or event; community health concerns; ATSDR recommendations;
environmental fate; exposure routes; and physical hazards at the site or event. HAZDAT also
includes data from EPA’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Information System (CERCUS), including CERCLIS number; site name; address; National Priority
List (NPL) status; site description; latitude and longitude; and operable units (specific locations at
each Site). Substance-specific data from ATSDR toxicological profiles are included in HAZDAT:
presence on ATSDR Priority List of Hazardous Substances; health effects by route and duration
of exposure; metabolites; interactions; susceptible populations; and biomarkers of exposure and
effects. HAZDAT can be used by ATSDR personnel for research and information management
purposes (e.g., to obtain a complete site history; for rapid access to toxicological data; to identliS ’
similarities of sites and events).
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water, soil, air, food sources, human tissue samples
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, senii-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, asbestos, ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Summary statistics are entered into the database
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Activities of ATSDR are performed by three Divisions; the Division of Health Assessment
and Consultation, the Division of Health Studies, and the Division of Toxicology. The Division of
Health Assessment and Consultation conduct site assessments at Superfund National Priority List
(NPL) sites and at sites where emergencies involving hazardous materials have occurred. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental protection agencies usually alert
ATSDR of an emergency event. Emergency response is jointly provided by ATSDR., EPA, and
other government agencies involved in emergency response. ATSDR provides recommendations
for evacuation, spill clean up, etc. The Division of Health Assessments and Consultation also
conduct health assessments at other sites (indoor and outdoor environments), when requested.
When substance information in included in ATSDRs health assessments and consultations, the
maximum concentration of each substance per media are included in HAZDAT.
When known exposures to individuals at sites visited by ATSDR have occurred, long term
epidemiological and biological monitoring are conducted or funded by the Division of Health
Studies. Information on the activities of the Division of Health Studies was unavailable at the time
of publication.
Data from each of these ATSDR investigations and current medical literature have been
used by the Division of Toxicology, in conjunction with EPA, to rank 275 substances at toxic waste
facilities in order of priority. Toxicological profiles for 120 of these substances have been developed
and are continually updated based on new information. Future plans include the development of
profiles for the remaining substances.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National (United States and U.S. Territories)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the point source (from the EPA CERCLIS database);
street address; zip codes; census tract; city, municipality, or township; county/parish;
state; congressional district
Time Coverage: 1980-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies, depending upon the conditions at the site and the
agency collecting the samples
Regularity of sample collection: Varies, depending upon the conditions at the site and the
agency collecting the samples
Source information: Data are collected at the source
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Dispersion information: On-site and off-site sampling data indicate migration in some
media
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: When substance information in included in ATSDRs health assessments
and consultations, the maximum concentration of each substance per media are
included in HAZDAT
Standard procedures used: Information not available at the time of publication
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies according to site and
agency
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Past ATSDR data
is presently being entered into the database; it is anticipated that health assessment
data will be entered at the completion of the assessment
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entiy audits; EPA and other government
agencies involved in emergency response perform sampling and analytical QA/QC
procedures
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface, groundwater, leachate, municipal, private: Inorganic compounds; VOCs;
trihalomethanes; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; dioxins/furans; radionuclides;
asbestos; ions (including fluoride); physical and chemical indicators of water
quality
SOIL
Residential industrial, sediment, Superfund sites, dust: Inorganic compounds;
VOCs; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; dioxin/furans; radionuclides; asbestos
AIR
Outdoor urban and outdoor rural: Inorganic compounds; VOCs; semi-VOCs;
pesticides; PCBs; dioxin/furans; radionucides; asbestos
FOOD SOURCES
Nondomesticated and domesticated mammals, plants, fish/shellfish: Inorganic
compounds; VOCs; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; dioxin/furans;
radionuclides; asbestos
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HUMAN SAMPLES
Inorganic compounds; VOCs; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; dioxin/furans;
radionuclides; asbestos
BULK CHEMICALS Not Applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes or identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics are entered into the database; data can be
aggregated by various topics
Availability: Currently, H.AZDAT is available only to ATSDR staff; after HAZDAT has been
verified for data accuracy, others may use and obtain data; will be available to other federal
and state agencies in 1992, and to the general public later
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency reports
Machine readable — On-line (IBM mainframe)
Reports: ATSDR Annual Report FY ( ); currently distributed only to ATSDR
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: Mike Perry, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,
Office of the Assistant Administrator, Office of Information Resource Management, 1600
Clifton Road (E28), Atlanta, GA, 30333, (404) 639-0720
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HISPANIC HEALTh AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY
Acronym: HHANES
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), National Center for Health Statistics
Contact Person: Robert Murphy, National Center for Health Statistics, Room 900, 6525 Belcrest
Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-7068
Objectives and Coverage:
HHANES, a data collection effort conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS) from 1982 to 1984, was mandated to collect health data on Hispanics and to derive
estimates of health and nutritional status that are comparable to estimates available for the general
population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) programs (see
the description of NHANES in Part I of this Inventory). The goals of HHANES were: (1) to
estimate the national prevalence of selected diseases and risk factors in Hispanic populations, (2)
to estimate distributions of selected health parameters, and (3) to document and investigate reasons
for trends in selected diseases and risk factors. HHANES collected and disseminated data obtained
from physical examinations, diagnostic tests, anthropometric measurements, laboratory analyses, and
personal interviews. A representative sample of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban
Americans, who constituted approximately 76 percent of the 1980 Hispanic population in the
United States, were interviewed; 85 percent of those interviewed were also examined. The database
was specifically designed to assess exposure in minority populations (Hispanics) and Hispanics 6
months to 19 years of age and 45 to 74 years of age. The data collected included information on
exposure to pesticides, lead, and other toxics as well as blood levels of a variety of toxicants and
their metabolites. HHANES was the first special population survey undertaken by the NCHS. It
was designed to identi& unmet health care needs of Hispanics and has been used to study blood
lead levels in Hispanic children and cigarette consumption among Mexican American smokers.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human samples (blood, urine, hair)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds (trace metals, lead), semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
cotinine, carboxyhemoglobin, thiocyanate, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents; summary statistics (e.g.,
geometric and arithmetic means, percentage of individuals with elevated levels, and
percentage of individuals with quantifiable levels) on specific agents tested in sample
populations
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
HHANES used complex, multistage, stratified, clustered sample of defined populations to
obtain data representative of the health and nutritional status of Hispanics 6 months to 74 years
of age in the United States. The population studied was the civilian noninstitutionalized Hispanics
from three areas of the country: Mexican Americans in the Southwest (defined as California,
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado), Puerto Ricans in the New York City area (defined
as selected counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut); and Cuban Americans in Dade
County (Miami), Florida. Using 1980 census data, counties from these target survey areas were
identified and characterized by Hispanic population density and number. Based on this
information, the sampling areas were identified. The stratification variables used were number of
Hispanics, the percent of the population that was Hispanic, the ratio of the 1980 to 1970 Hispanic
population, median income, and the percent of the Hispanic population that was urban. Based on
these data, households and individuals within households were chosen for inclusion. Eligible
Hispanics 6 months to 19 years in age and 45 to 74 years of age were oversampled to improve the
reliability of estimates of their health characteristics and nutritional status.
Information on a wide range of demographic variables was obtained including age, national
origin, sex, income, education, and marital status. Physical examinations, diagnostic tests (including
blood pressure, electrocardiograms, and dental examinations), anthropometric measurements,
laboratory analyses (including urinalysis, biochemical analysis of whole blood and serum, and oral
glucose tolerance tests), personal interviews, and dietary interviews were conducted on individuals
selected for participation. Using standard analytic and QC/QA procedures, blood samples were
analyzed for pesticides, trace metals, lead, cotinine, carboxyhemoglobin, thiocyanate, PCBs, and
erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and urine samples were analyzed for pesticides and PCBs. During a
pilot test, hair samples from a subsample of 12- to 19-year-olds were tested for selected trace
metals. Questions were asked regarding the type of heating fuel used, tobacco use (12- to 74-year-
olds), farmwork history, use of Kwell for head or body lice, and pesticide exposure (12- to 74-year-
olds).
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
- Coverage: Regional (i.e., the Southwest; the New York City area; and Dade County
(Miami), Florida)
Identifiers: SMSA (standard MSA); state; region of the country
Time Coverage: 19824984
Sample Characteristics
Frequency of sample collection: Sampling occurred on a daily basis in each primary
sampling unit (county); each individual was sampled once
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Regularity of sample collection: Blood and urine samples from each individual were
collected at the time of his or her physical examination at the mobile exam center;
individuals were examined mornings, afternoons, or evenings, weekdays or weekends;
each individual was examined/sampled only once
Source information: Information was collected on use of pesticides at work and at home,
smoking history (to compare with serum cotinine, carboxyhemoglobin, and
thiocyanate concentrations), and occupation
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: EPA Toxicant Analysis Center in St. Louis, Missouri performed
the pesticide and PCB analyses; the National Center for Environmental Health and
Injury Control (NCEHIC) (formerly the Center for Environmental Health)
performed the lead and eiythrocyte protoporphyrin analyses; Dr. Edward Radford
at the University of Pittsburgh conducted the thiocyanate and carboxyhemoglobin
analyses; the University of California, San Francisco analyzed a small subset of the
blood samples for cotinine; the University of New Mexico Primate Researeh Center
analyzed blood samples for trace metals
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: A few months; longest period
of freezer storage before analysis was 2 to 3 years for pesticides; the lead samples
were stored for a shorter period of time
Approximate time between sample analyses and data entry to database: Varied by analyte
and lab
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Field blanks, duplicates, spikes, external laboratory
analyses, data entry audits; the EPA Toxicant Analysis Center performed and reviewed the
QA/QC procedures; the lab participated regularly in an interlaboratoiy QC study; NCHS
and EPA reviewed the QA/QC results; the NCEHIC lab also participated in an
interlaboratoiy study
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
JE, Not applicable
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FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES
Blood, urine, hair Inorganic compounds, serni-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, cotinine,
carboxyhemoglobin, thiocyanate, and e!ythrocyte protoporphyrin
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi1 ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents; summary statistics
(geometric and arithmetic means, percent with elevated levels, and percent with quantifiable
levels) on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data as they become available on publicly accessible
computer datatape; data are provided in a form that does not reveal individual identities
or violate confidentiality.
Form: Hard copy — Journal publications
Machine readable — Tape (ASCII); pesticide and cotinine data not yet released on computer
data tape
Reports: Summary statistics are published in reports on an irregular basis in Vital and Health
Statistics, Series 11
Reference Documents:
Carter-Pokras, 0., GJ. Pirkie, G. Chavez, and E. Gunter. 1990. Blood lead levels
of 4-11 year old Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and Cuban children. Public
Health Rep ons. 105(4): 388-393.
Interagency Committee on Nutrition Monitoring. September 1989. Nutrition
monitoring in the United States: The directory of federal nutrition monitoring
activities. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Services. DHHS Pub. No. PHS 89-1255-1.
Maurer, K.R., R. Russell-Briefel, C.M. Dresser, et al. 1985. National Center for
Health Statistics. Plan and operation of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, 1982-84. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 1, No. 19.
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. DHHS Pub. No. PHS 89-
1321.
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Najjar, M.F. and R.J. Kuczmarski. 1989. National Center for Health Statistics.
Anthropoinetric data and prevalence of overweight for Hispanics: 1982-84. Vital
and Health Statistics, Series 11, No. 239. Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office. DHHS Pub. No. PHS 89-1689.
Perez-Stable, E.J., B.V. Mann, DJ. Brody, and N.L Benowitz. 1990. Apparent
underreporting of cigarette consumption among Mexican American smokers. Am.
J. Public Health. 80(9): 1057-1061.
DatafReports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650; state offices; federal offices; regional libranes
of the National Libraries of Medicine; schools of public health. For information, call the
NTIS at (301) 436-8500. For information and copies of Vital and Health Statistics, call the
Scientific and Technical Information Branch, NCHS at (301) 436-8500
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INTEGRATED DATA BASE
Acronym: 1DB
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Contact Person: M.L Payton, U.S. DOE, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management,
DOEJRW-132, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9140
Objectives and Coverage:
1DB is a national database of spent fuel and radioactive waste inventories used for national
program planning, decision-making, and other program management activities. This database
compiles the historical waste inventories through the most recent data year. These include
inventories from commercial as well as DOE facilities, except spent fuels produced from the
manufacture of nuclear weapons. Information on spent fuels and wastes are included for nuclear
reactors, storage facilities, reprocessing facilities, uranium mill tailings, and miscellaneous sources
defined as part of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Environmental Data:
Media: Bulk chemicals, soil
Classes of compounds: Radionuclides (waste forms include spent fuel, highly radioactive material,
transuranic wastes, low-level waste, uranium mill t ilings, miscellaneous radioactive
materials, and mixed low-level wastes)
Type of data available: Summary statistics on specific waste forms (available for specific sites by
year)
Estimation versus observation data: All data are inventory amounts; direct measurements are not
available
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Data are included from all commercial and government reactors, special fuel associated with
government-sponsored research and demonstration programs, universities, private industries, storage
facilities, and fuel reprocessing plants. Over the years, waste regulations have been revised, waste
category definitions have changed, measurement instrumentation and calibration methods have been
improved, and record-keeping has been upgraded at all waste generating and receiving sites.
Therefore, the quality of the information over time has changed. In addition to the spent fuel and
wastes from processing, uranium mill tailing information is available from all licensed commercial
sites and from restoration sites. Sites are selected for restoration under the Uranium Mill Tailings
Remedial Action Program (UMTRAP), the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
(FUSRAP), the Decontamination and Decommissioning Program (D&D), and the Surplus Facilities
Management Program (SFMP). UMTRAP site criterion is that the processing site must have had
all or substantially all of the uranium production for sale to federal agencies prior to January 1971.
FUSRAP site criterion is that the sites were formerly used to support the nuclear activities of
DOE’s predecessor agencies (the Manhattan Engineer District and the Atomic Energy
Commission). The D&D program objective is to decontaminate and decommission inactive, surplus
DOE facilities formerly associated with the government’s defense efforts. The SFMP’s objective
is to decontaminate and decommission inactive, surplus DOE facilities formerly associated with
civilian projects.
Information is available by site. However, the dispersion from the site, apart from
transportation of packaged waste to waste disposal sites, is not available.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Facility name
Time Coverage: 1980-present (some data available as early as 1960)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable; frequency of data collection is yearly
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable; data collection is done on a regular basis
Source information: Site specific
Dispersion information: Not available
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable
Standard procedures used: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not applicable; data
are available for previous calendar year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Not applicable
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL
Industrial: Radionuclides
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HTJMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Radionuclides
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Definitions of spent fuel and radioactive waste are specified
by DOE
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Data on specific waste forms are available by site, by year
Availability Detailed information is available from specific DOE and commercial sites; database
access available to DOE and DOE-sponsored contractors
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
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Reports: Routinely available annually; distributed by DOE (see addresses below) to DOE field and
area offices, sites and contractors, Environmental Restoration offices and contractors, and
selected government agencies; annual report: Integrated Data Base for 19xc US. Spent Fuel
and Radioactive Waste Inventories, Projections, and Characteristics
Reference Documents: See reports
Data/Reports Available From: U.S. DOE, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, (202)
586-9687; DOE, Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, (301) 353-
4728 or (301) 353-3569; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Integrated Data Base Program,
(615) 574-6823
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INTERAGENCY MONITORING OF PROTECTED VISUAL ENVIRONMENTS
Acronym: IMPROVE
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Air Quality
Division
Contact Person: Kristj Gebhart or William Maim, NPS, Air Quality Division, CIRA Building,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, (303) 491-8292
Objectives and Coverage:
IMPROVE consists of air quality data from Class I (“Clean Air”) areas that include national
parks and wilderness areas with special prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) status. This
monitoring program is an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, providing financial support. NPS provides
monitoring and maintains data to determine spatial and temporal trends in visibility in the NPS
parks and wilderness areas for which visibility is an air quality related value. Monitoring is also
Fonducted to determine what species of particulates (e.g., sulfates, nitrates) causes visibility
problems. Data are presently used for visibility research. The data will also be used for regulatory
purposes when a baseline for visibility has been established.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Particulates, criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide), acid aerosols, inorganic
compounds (including sulfates, nitrates)
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Class I national parks with 6,000 acres of land or greater and class I wilderness areas with
5,000 or greater acres of land (as of August 7, 1977)) with PSD Status are included in this sampling
program. Of these sites, those where air quality permit investigations have been made by state
environmental protection agencies are selected for monitoring.
Since fine particles cause most of the visibility degradation in protected areas, these are
included in this air monitoring program. Ambient sulfur dioxide measurements are also collected
at approximately twenty of these sites, selected to represent each geographic area of the United
States Sample locations in the parks and wilderness areas include areas away from local sources
(e.g., a parking lot) and easily accessible areas. Two-24 hour samples per week are collected
throughout the year using continuous analyzers. Particulate filters are changed on a regular basis
by NFS personnel and are analyzed at the University of California, Davis, CA. Information on
sampling and analysis of acid aerosols and inorganic compounds was not available at the time of
publication.
In the future, the IMPROVE sampling strategy may include the following changes:
monitoring of additional pollutants; change of sample duration to better meet research needs;
improved minimum detection limits; different monitoring sites, and inclusion in the National Park
Service Environmental Database Management System (NPSEDMS). See separate entry for
NI’SEDMS.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; name of park and monitoring site; state;
elevation
Time Coverage: 1979-present (varies by site; some as early as 1979; others as late as 1988)
Sample Characteristics
Frequency of sample collection: Two 24-hour samples per week
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: IMPROVE data are used to develop receptor and regression models
to help identify sources
Dispersion information: Pollutant levels in national parks and wilderness areas reflect
dispersion
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: None
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Several weeks
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Several weeks
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, external
laboratory analysis, data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor Rural: Particulates, criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide), inorganic
compounds (including sulfates and nitrates), acid aerosols
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics (quarterly summaries of
sample averages and standard deviations) are available
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Tape, diskette (ASCII, SAS)
Reports: Quarterly Data Summaries, written by the University of California, are distributed to the
National Park Service
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Reference Documents: IMPROVE Sampler Manual, Version 2
Data/Reports Available From: Thomas Cahill, University of California, Cracker Nuclear
Laboratory, Davis, CA 95616, (916) 752-4674
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INFERNAL RADIATION DOSIMETRY SYSTEM
Acronym: OHSP (Offsite Human Surveillance Program)
Sponsoring Agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratoiy (EMSL); U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Nevada Operations Office
Contact Persons: Anita A. Mullen, U.S. EPA, EMSL, P.O. Box 93478, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-
3478, (702) 798-2597; Michael A. Marelli, U.S. DOE, Nevada Operations Office, P.O. Box
98518, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8518, (702) 295-0961
Objectives and Coverage:
The information in OHSP is used for monitoring and documentation of human radionuclide
exposure of families residing in communities and ranches surrounding the Nevada test site (Nevada,
Utah, and California locations). Whole body and lung counts, as well as radiochemical bioassays
of urine and fecal samples, are conducted. The database primarily includes internal radiation
dosimetry measurements on a moderate size cohort over a twenty year period. Supporting data on
noble gas or radionuclide measurements in air, water, animal tissue, and occasionally in plants are
also maintained by the laboratory in charge of the Internal Radiation Dosimetry System. The EPA
and DOE use results obtained from OHSP, along with these other data, to evaluate the total
radiological dose to the region from the Nevada test site. Data in OHS? include names and social
security numbers and are therefore considered confidential. Summary data may be obtained upon
request and approval.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human tissue samples (another related database maintained by EPA, the Sample Tracking
and Data Management System (STDMS), covers water, air, and animal tissue samples)
Classes of compounds: Radionuclides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The original monitoring program started in December 1970 with 34 families (142
individuals) who resided in communities and ranches surrounding the Nevada test site. They were
selected on the basis of their willingness to participate in the program and their location of
residence in relation to possible releases from the site. Families who resided in areas not affected
by such fallout were also selected to participate as controls. In 1981, families of the operators of
the community monitoring stations were added to the program.
Urine samples are collected from the participants and analyzed for radionuclides on a 6-
month basis (less often when traveling or scheduling problems arise). The original 34 families are
sampled in the spring and fall, and the additional families in the summer and winter. If
radionuclides are detected that may be excreted mainly in feces, then fecal samples are collected.
Otherwise only urine samples are collected and analyzed. Whole body and lung counts are
conducted on the same schedule.
If an individual or a family moves out of this geographic region, they are droped from the
monitoring program and replaced with a new family within the region who is willing to participate.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the zip code, city and county centroids, the point
source and the monitor site by loran reading; street address; zip codes; city,
municipality or township; county/parish; state
Time Coverage: 1970-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Seasonal schedule but not always regular
Regularity of sample collection: Irregular; 6-month intervals attempted (sometimes
affected by travel and scheduling problems)
Source information: Yes, utilizing the STDMS database
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
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Standard procedures used: Whole body and lung counters are intercalibrated to standards
of the National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST); standard EPA
radiochemical methods used -- NRA 1.16 Determination of Tritium in Tissue, NRA
1.21 Determination of Tritium in Urine, NRA 2.17 General Operation of Gamma
Ray Detection Systems, NRA 1.12 Simultaneous Analysis of Plutonium, Uranium
and Thorium in Environmental Samples; all radiochernical procedures are traceable
to NIST standards
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Immediately for whole body
counts; 1 month for radiochemical bioassays
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entxy to database: 1 week or less
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analyses, data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES
Radionuclides in urine and feces (normally measure plutonium, americium and
strontium, however other radionuclides can be detected)
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Requester must be approved; individual data are confidential when used with name
or social security number. Summary data may be obtained upon request and approval.
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette (ASCII)
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Reports: Annual Agency report, Offsie Environmental Monitoth g Report; journal
publications periodically printed in Health Physics Journal
Reference Documents: Nuclear Data/Canberra Software Documentation (Whole Body Counting
Series and Radionuclide Analysis Series); guidelines from International Committee on
Radiological Protection and the National Committee on Radiological Protection
Data/Reports Available From: Anita Mullen, U.S. EPA, P.O. Box 93478, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-
3478, (702) 798-2597; confidential information (i.e. any identifying information of
participants) will be deleted; participants may obtain their own data on hard copy; diskettes
and tapes provided on request (not on-line)
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LAKE ANALYSIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Acronym: LAMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development; Environmental Research Laboratory-D; Large Lakes Research Station
Contact Person: Mr. William L Richardson, U.S. EPA, 9311 Groh Rd. Grosse lie, MI 43138-1697
(313) 692-7611
Objectives and Coverage:
The Lake Analysis Management System (LAMS) is a compilation of multiple EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory data containing physical and biological information on water,
sediment, fish, biota (e.g., ducks), and phytoplankton from the Great Lakes Basin, including the
Canadian portion. The primary objective of this database is to provide research information for
various Great Lakes projects.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (lakes), sediment
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, PCBs, pesticides
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data Both observational and estimated data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
LAMS currently includes data from approximately 12 projects; examples include the Green
Bay Mass Balance Project and the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channel Study. Sample design
and analysis vanes depending on the individual project. Generally, a hypothesis is developed based
on a series of questions (e.g., what is the optimal expenditure of pollution control resources). A
sampling framework is established (e.g., based on source, transport, fate, exposure, dose). Sites are
chosen based primarily on recommendations by EPA’s Regions 2 and 5 in collaboration with the
Great Lakes National Program in Chicago. Examples of sampling methods (e.g., for the Green Bay
project) include pumping and filtering of water samples from different depths, coring for sediment
samples, and taking biological samples with nets. Sampling is done in conjunction with other
organizations involved with the specific project, such as state agencies, individual companies, and
EPA regions. When necessary, estimated data are derived from existing literature.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Great Lakes Basin including Canadian portion
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the point source and the monitor site; name of state
Time Coverage: 1974-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Data collected on an as-needed basis, i.e., for special
research projects
Regularity of sample collection: Dependent on the objectives and design of the project
Source information: Yes
Dispersion information: Models and dispersion coefficients are used
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Depends on the project
Standard procedures used: Various EPA standards are used as well as standards developed
for individual projects
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Depends on the project
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analysis, data entry audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds; pesticides; PCBs
Municipal: Inorganic compounds; pesticides; PCBs
SOIL
Sediment: Inorganic compounds; PCBs
ME Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUIvIAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture; STORET identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability: Data available to anyone who can provide funding for processing or who is willing to
obtain the data without assistance
Form: Hard copy--Computer printouts, journal publications
Machine readable--Tape, diskette (ASCII, variable)
Reports: Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Project Report; Green Bry Mass Balance Project
Report
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; Debra Caudell, EPA, Environmental
Research Laboratory, (313) 697-7600
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LOCKHEED - EPA, ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY -
LAS VEGAS
Acronym: LESC-EPA, EMSL-LV
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory (EMLS)
Contact Person: William H. Engelmann/Steve P. Gardner, 944 East Harman, Las Vegas, NV
89119, (702) 798-2664
Objectives and Coverage:
The Lockheed-EPA database was established to evaluate the performance of the indicator
parameters specified for use in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ground-
water monitoring program. After finding that the initially-specified indicators were unreliable,
Lockheed-EPA recommended alternatives. The database is now being used to evaluate the success
of other regulatory monitoring programs, to develop ground-water contamination profiles for
hazardous waste disposal sites, and to design industry-specific ground-water monitoring systems to
protect human health and the environment.
The database consists of data obtained from the records of various state and federal
agencies responsible for ongoing investigations of waste disposal sites; these agencies, not Lockheed,
collect and analyze samples. The database contains primarily ground-water monitoring data, but
also contains some soil data from approximately 550 hazardous waste disposal site investigations
across the United States. The data can be sorted by regulatory classification (e.g., RCRA site,
CERCLA site, etc.); by industry type (e.g., mixed-disposal site, aerospace, wood-treatment, etc.);
by location/site, industry, region, state, or nation; or by sampling date.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Ground water, soil (Superfund sites)
Classes of compounds: Ions (e.g., chloride and fluoride), physical and chemical indicators of water
quality (e.g., acidity, alkalinity, color, odor, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, BOD,
salinity), inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxins/furans, radionuclides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics on specific agents; statistics
(frequency of detection, average concentration, mean concentration, and data variance)
have been generated for specific wells, individual sites, specific industries, EPA regions,
states, regulatory classification, and national summaries
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Sample collection and analysis are performed by various state and federal agencies, who are
also responsible for performing standard QA/QC procedures. Lockheed-EPA reviews the data
collected from agency records to ensure that the results are appropriate for entry into the database
(i.e., that they are ground-water and not surface-water or leachate monitoring results, etc.).
Information from the records (e.g., chemical/contaminant name, chemical concentration, collection
frequency, etc.) is then entered into the database and tabulated. Basic statistics generated include
frequency of detection, average concentration, and variance of measurements. Statistics are used
to track trends in contaminant occurrence as a function of geographic location, industry type, and/or
regulatory classification.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Location of point source and monitor site as indicated by state; hydrologic unit
codes (U.S.G.S. hydrologic region); U.S. EPA Region
Time Coverage: 1978 to 1987. Although data are still being generated at the site investigation
level, they have not been collected or entered into the database since 1987
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sampic collection: Varies by facility; Superfund sites may be limited to a
single event; RCRA detection sites require quarterly monitoring; RCRA assessment
monitoring may range from semi-annual to monthly; frequency for sanitary landfills
has not been established
Regularity of sample collection: Each of the 550 facilities control their own sampling
frequency
Source information: All of the data were generated as part of site-specific characterization
and/or monitoring/remediation activities
Dispersion information: The individual site monitoring wells are identified as upgradient
or downgradient of the site and/or onsite/offsite; also, for many sites backup hard
copy site maps are available to identify sampling locations to support source-
receptor investigations
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No. Analytical scans for 11-45 compounds are entered as a group to track
the non-detectable events; detectable concentrations are entered individually by
chemical
Standard procedures used: Varies by agency and facility; most are site-specific and use
standard collection protocols and sample handling/processing procedures
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies by number of analyses
required (ranges from 31 to 250 analytes) and number of wells per facility (4 to 100)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Varies
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Varies by facility/agency; QA/QC procedures are
available in the original site - investigation file, but have not been incorporated in the active
data files
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Ground water (hazardous waste sites): Ions (e.g., chloride and fluoride), physical
and chemical indicators of water quality (e.g., acidity, alkalinity, color, odor,
turbidity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, BOD, salinity), inorganic compounds,
VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi- VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans,
radionuclides
The database contains records for Appendix IX compounds (245 substances for
which monitoring is required at RCRA sites) and 800 tentatively identified organic
compounds reported in RCRA and CERCLA site monitoring records. Some limited
data are also available for leachates.
SOIL
Superfund Site: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs
This information has been filed in hard copy format when it was produced during
the original site investigation, but it has not been incorporated into the database
1B Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
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BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN),
chemical name or mixture, database-specific numeric codes for ground-water contaminants,
contaminant-specific analytical methodology (volatile, base/neutral, pesticide, inorganic)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents. Summary statistics are on
specific agents. Statistics available for specific wells, individual sites, specific industries, EPA
regions, states, regulatory classifications, and national summaries
Availability: Restricted to data collection agency
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Reports: Yes, produced irregularly (as required to meet project objectives) and distributed to
federal offices.
Reference Documents: None provided
DatafReports Available From: Russell H. Plumb, Jr., Lockheed-ESC, Las Vegas, NV (702) 734-
3265
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LONG-TERM MONITORING PROJECF
Acronym: LTM
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development
Contact Person: John Stoddard, Mantech Environmental Technolo ’ Inc., EPA, Environmental
Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 757-4441
Objectives and Coverage:
LTM is a database designed to assess long-term trends in the acid-base status of individual
lakes or streams in six rural areas: Maine, Vermont, the Adirondack and Catskill Mountain regions
of New York, the Upper Midwest, and the Colorado Rockies. The results of monthly or quarterly
samples taken in these lakes and streams are compiled. This information identifies any changes in
pH status and other parameters which may have occurred over the sampled time period (1983 -
present) and is indicative of trends in the region. Lakes and streams in other rural and urban areas
will be included in this project in the future.
Summary of Environmental Data
Media: Surface water
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds; physical and chemical indicators of water quality;
ions
Type of data available: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Sites were selected based on pre-existing data from studies of acid deposition. Water
samples are collected 1 meter below the surface from a boat in each lake and mid-stream. Samples
are collected monthly in the Catskill Mountain regions; quarterly in Maine, Vermont and the Upper
Midwest, and three times each summer in the Colorado Rockies. Water samples are transported
to 1 of 6 laboratories nationwide, where they are analyzed for pH, acid neutralizing capacity, sulfate,
nitrate, chloride, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, total aluminum, dissolved organic carbon,
electrical conductivity and color. In some locations, pH is measured in the field as well as in the
laboratory using a pH meter.
Other monitoring networks, e.g., the National Acid Deposition Program-National Trends
Network (NADP-NTN) (see separate entry for Acid Deposition System for a description of NADP-
NTN), and the Multi-state Atmospheric Pollution and Power Production Study (MAPIIIS) (a
privately funded database that provides regional air data), are used to obtain information on acid
deposition. Based on this information, estimates of acid deposition and its relation to p1-1 change
can be made in the lakes and streams of the LTM.
Sites monitored have been the same throughout the project, although there are plans to
include other lakes and streams in the future.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (lakes or streams in Maine, Vermont, the Adirondack and
Catskill Mountains in New York, the Upper Midwest and Colorado Rockies)
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the point source; name of state; hydraulic unit
codes
Time Coverage: 1983-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Samples are collected monthly in the Catskill Mountain
regions; quarterly in Maine, Vermont and the Upper Midwest, and three times each
summer in the Colorado Rockies
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: This project uses source information from sites included in other
monitoring networks in which estimates of acid deposition and its relation to pH
change have been made to relate sampling results and sources (see Sample Design
and Analysis).
Dispersion information: Not applicable
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: All methods listed in EPA/600/4-87/026 Handbook of
Methods for Acid Deposition Studies: Laboratory Analyses for Surface Vater
Chemistry (1987)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: I month
Approximate time between sample analyses and data entry to database: 6 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, external
laboratory analysis, data entry audits, natural audit samples (3 times/year); individual
laboratories have primary responsibility; auditing and oversight is done by EPA laboratory
in Corvallis, Oregon
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds (calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium,
total aluminum); physical and chemical indicators of water quality (pH, acid
neutralizing capacity, dissolved organic carbon, electrical conductivity, color);
ions (sulfate, nitrate, chloride)
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SA1 4PLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture
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DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Dath Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; diskettes in ASCII or SAS format will be sent upon
request (not available on-line)
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, journal publications
Machine readable -- Diskette (ASCII and SAS data sheets)
Reports: All data from 1983-1989 will be published as 11 journal articles in Water, Air and Soil
Pollution in 1992 (in press)
Reference Documents: Data Users Guide to the US. EPA Long Term Monitoring Project
DatalReports Available From: John Stoddard, ManTech Environmental Technology Inc., U.S. EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 757-
4441
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MARINE POLLUTION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
Acronym: MPRS
Sponsoring Agency: United States Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard,
Marine and Environmental Protection Division
Contact Person: Mary Robey, United States Coast Guard, Marine and Environmental Protection
Division, 2100 Second Street SW, Washington; DC 20593, (202) 267-6670
Objectives and Coverage: -
MPRS includes data on spills and potential spills (whenever there is a potential for a vessel
to spill its contents, e.g., a grounding) into the navigable waters of the United States and on any
land or air releases to United States coastal zones that the Coast Guard responded to. Data are
classified into seven categories of information: chemicals, facilities, vessels, resources, violations,
materials, and personnel. Spill and release information includes data on the product and amount
spilled or released; the location, date, and time of the spill or release; the removal party; the funds
expended; and the source (facility or vessel) of the spill or release. These data are used for
justification of criminal action, and for monitoring and research purposes.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water; soil; air
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, acids/acid aerosols
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Field units of the United States Coast Guard respond to reported spills, potential spills, or
releases in navigable waters and in other media within their jurisdiction. Water, air, and/or soil
samples are collected when circumstances justify the need for sampling. These circumstances
include source identification and justification of criminal action, and depend upon the
characteristics of the spilled or released material (e.g., volatility). Samples are taken at the source,
whenever necessary and possible, and in areas surrounding the source. If the source is unknown,
samples are taken from the spill and suspected sources. The United States Coast Guard Central
Oil Identification Laboratory (COIL) compares oil spill samples with suspected source oil samples
using gas chromatography for source identification. Samples other than oil are analyzed by a local
contractor.
DATABASE CHARACIERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitudeflongitude of the point source; name of city, municipality, or township;
state -
Time Coverage: 1973-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Whenever the circumstances of a pollution incident or
potential incident justify the need for sampling
Regularity of sample collection: Irregular, as stated above
Source information: Data are collected at the source of the spill or release for verification
of the source, whenever necessary and possible
- Dispersion information: Samples taken from areas surrounding source; samples taken from
spill area when source is unknown
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: United States Coast Guard procedures included in the Marine
Safety Manual (e.g., Oil Identification System (OIS) for analysis of oil in water and
soil)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 2 days
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Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Varies; several
days, depending upon workload at laboratory
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Duplicates; data entry audits will be done in the
near future
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface, groundwater, leachate, private: Inorganic compounds, VOCs,
trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides
SOIL
Residential, industrial, sediment: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs,
pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionucides
AIR
Outdoor urban, industrial outdoor rural: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-
VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, acids/acid/aerosols
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUIvIAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to 1dentif y Agents: Database-specific codes (Chemical Hazard Response
Information System (CHRIS) codes)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents (data can be accessed in any form requested)
Availability Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — computer printouts
Machine readable -- Tape (ASCII)
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Reports: Polluting Incidents In and Around U.S. Waters, available periodically (approxiniately every
3-4 years; the latest edition is 1986); distributed to other Coast Guard units and the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA
22161, (703) 487-4650
Reference Documents: Several, examples include Comindant Instruction (COMDTINST) M16450.2
Se,ies, and the Chemical Hazard Response Information System
Data/Reports Available From: Mary Robey United States Coast Guard, Marine and Environmental
Protection Division, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593; reports available
from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA
22161, (703) 487-4650
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MICROBIOLOGY AND RESIDUE COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM
Acronym: MARCIS
Sponsoring Agency United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and
Inspection Service, Science and Technology Program, Residue Evaluation & Planning
Division
Contact Person: William T. Hubbert, D.V.M., USDA, Annex Building, 3 12th Street SW, Room
602, Washington DC, 20250, (202) 205-0007
Objectives and Coverage:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA collects samples of meat and
poultiy at slaughtering establishments and from import shipments at ports of entiy as part of its
National Residue Program. The samples are analyzed for the presence of unacceptable
concentrations of chemical compounds that may contaminate meat and poultry presented for
inspection. The results of these analyses are contained in MARCIS. The compounds primarily
include: pesticide chemicals approved for direct application to livestock and poultry or for treating
crops that become components of animal feed or that are used in some way in the farm
environment; animal drugs used to treat or prevent diseases or to enhance production; and
environmental contaminants. (The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) establish acceptable levels of residues (tolerances) for these
compounds in their respective areas of responsibility.) The MARCIS program is carried out as part
of the Agency’s responsibilities under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products
Inspection Act to ensure that USDA-inspected products in commerce are safe, wholesome, and free
of adulterating residues. Results are evaluated to indicate prevalence and concentrations of
residues, to identify producers marketing animals with violative concentrations of residues, evaluate
residue trends, and identify problems within the industry for which corrective efforts may be
needed. The National Residue Program also maintains the Residue Violation Information System
(RVIS) database, which includes followup data on violations and is used by FSIS and the FDA.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Food sources
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, radionuclides,
microorganisms, antibiotics, veterinary drugs
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Residue testing of animals slaughtered in the United States is divided into three major
activities: monitoring, surveillance, and exploratory projects. Each year, compounds are selected
for monitoring based on the availability of laboratory methodolo ’ (because of the large number
of potential residues that may occur in the food chain, analytical methods are not available for all
compounds of interest) and the existence of an FSIS evaluation system for the compounds to be
tested. This system classifies each pesticide, animal drug, and environmental contaminant according
to its potential for harmful residues to occur in animals at slaughter, and inherent toxicity. It is
intended for FSIS use as a guideline and not for the development of formal quantitative estimates
of risk from meatborne residues. An advisory board of scientists from EPA, FDA, and USDA
identify any significant new information that may affect a compound classification. Once
compounds are selected and suitable methods are available, a monitoring program based on
unbiased sampling, is designed to provide information on the occurrence of residue violations in
specified animal populations. The number of samples chosen in an annual plan for a given
compound-species combination is designed to detect a national problem that affects a specified
percentage of the animal population of interest (the number of samples generally is chosen to
provide 95% probability of detecting at least one violation when one percent of the animal
population sampled is violative).
When the results of monitoring indicate that producers are marketing animals for slaughter
with violative concentrations of residues, the animals are subjected to ongoing sampling and testing
(termed surveillance sampling) until compliance is demonstrated. This sampling is di;ected at
particular carcasses or products based on monitoring results. In-plant testing procedures may be
performed by the inspector. Samples indicating the presence of a residue are submitted to an FSIS
laboratory for analysis. Test results indicate the appropriate regulatory action.
When test results indicate a violative concentration of residues in an imported product,
subsequent shipments of the same product group from the establishment are retained at the port
of entry until laboratory results are known. If results are positive, the suspect product is not
permitted to move into commerce. All shipments of the product from that country are placed on
an increased testing schedule until a record of compliance is re-established for the country.
In addition, exploratory projects are often conducted to evaluate the occurrence of residues
in animals for which no safe limits have yet been established, to evaluate new monitoring methods
and approaches, and for a variety of other reasons. These studies may be nationwide or limited to
specific geographic areas. Sample collection may be random and statistically based, or biased to
obtain “worst case” information. The results are given either to the FDA, which has responsibility
for establishing tolerances for animal drugs and environmental contaminants in food, or to the
EPA, which sets pesticide tolerances in food. These results are included in MARCIS.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Street address; zip codes; name of city, municipality, or township; state
Time Coverage: 1976-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Daily
Regularity of sample collection: Animals are randomly selected for monitoring at
slaughtering establishments; sampling of import shipments at ports of entry is done
on a pre-established schedule; surveillance sampling is conducted until compliance
is demonstrated
Source information: Not applicable
Dispersion information: Sample results from slaughtering establishments indicate dispersion
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: FSIS standard procedures are published in the USDA
publication, Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook; these procedures are modifications of
established methods, including: methods of the Association of Official Analytical
Chemists, Federal Register methods, historical official methods, and other published
methods; these procedures have been modified and validated as needed by FSIS to
provide acceptable performance characteristics to detect compounds in muscle, liver,
kidney, or fat tissue
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Immediately for in-plant testing,
and within 1 week for laboratory samples upon receipt at the laboratory
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Within 48 hours
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, field audits,
duplicates, spikes, external laboratory analysis, check of sample analysis, data entry audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Domesticated animals and birds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs,
pesticides, PCBs, radionuclides, antibiotics, and veterinary drugs
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers, or other codes (CFR
reference names are used when available; isomers of a compound are not listed separately;
different salts, esters, etc. are listed separately if the use conditions of these substances
appear in different CFR citations; metabolites are listed separately only when the tolerance
citation refers to a specific rnetabolite, or when a suitable regulatory method is available for
the metabolite; complex mixtures are listed as a single entry)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents (violative residue levels within each animal species or production class; results are
given according to the tissue/organ targeted)
Availability Any requester can obtain reports; individual data is confidential
Form: Hard copy -- Agency reports
Reports: Annual reports: Compound Evaluation and Analytical Capability, National Residue
Program Plan includes compounds considered, criteria for evaluation, residue limits, FSIS
residue analytical capability, a 10 year history of the NRP, and a program plan for the
upcoming year; Domestic Residue Data Boo/c National Residue Program lists violative residue
levels within each species or production class for the previous year
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Reference Documents: Meat and Poultry Inspection: The Scientific Basis of the Nation ‘s Program;
40 CFR 180; 21 CFR 556; 21 CFR 109; 21 CFR 522, 524, 526, 529, 540, 544, 546, 548, 558,
Chemistry QualiryAssurance Handbook; Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook; The Microbiological
Laboratory Guidebook
Data/Reports Available From: Office of Information and Legislative Affairs, United States
Department of Agriculture, FSIS, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 447-9113
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MONTH AND STATE CURRENT EMISSION TRENDS
Acronym: MSCET
Sponsoring Agency: Argonne National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy
Contact Person: Edward Kohout, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, (708) 972-7644
Objectives and Coverage:
MSCET provides monthly air emissions estimates and identifies trends for oxides of nitrogen
(NOr), sulfur dioxide (SO ), and nonmethane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by state, region,
season, and sector (e.g., industrial, commercial, residential). Estimates are based on a variety of
information, including energy consumption, type of technology used, and emission control
technology. MSCET predominantly uses estimated data and modeling to generate emissions factors
and other information. MSCET has developed methodologies and estimates for both stationary
and mobile emissions sources. Estimates are available for the 48 contiguous United States and are
used for monitoring, research, and regulatory purposes. MSCET also provides “flash reports,” which
are recent emission trends that provide a forecast for one additional year beyond the year cited in
the most recently published EPA Trends Report.
As with most estimates, a level of uncertainty is associated with MSCET emission estimates
due to lack of or insufficient data in some areas. The database is, however, useful in making
comparisons across different regions and over time.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (outdoor urban, outdoor rural, and/or stack emissions)
Classes of compounds: NOR, SO 2 , VOCs
Type of data available: Summary statistics on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: Mostly estimated data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
MSCET developed four separate methodologies for calculating emissions estimates based
on emission source category. Methodologies were developed for: the electric utility industry, the
transportation sector, the copper smelting industry, and all remaining sources, termed ICRIM
(industrial fuel combustion, commercial/residential fuel combustion, industrial processes, and
miscellaneous sources). Whenever possible, MSCET estimated emissions at the individual
combustor (e.g., boiler) level; when this level of data were not available, emissions were estimated
based on the type of technology used.
For electric utility estimates, MSCET used a consumption/emission factor (CEF) method,
in which the amount of fuel consumed each month was multiplied by an appropriate emission
factor, which included reductions in emissions if pollution control devices were used. In special
cases, direct estimation methods (e.g., continuous emission monitors) were used instead of the CEF
method.
For the transportation sector, MSCET methodology was based on an emission factor.
Separate algorithms were used to estimate on-highway and off-highway (e.g., locomotive, aviation,
and waterway) emissions. For on-highway sources, emissions were calculated using vehicle-miles-
traveled (V?vfl’) data and emission factors from EPA’s MOBILE4 model, which includes speed,
temperature, and altitude as major parameters. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s
publication Highway Statistics provided VMT by state and road type. For off-highway sources, EPA
AP-42 Form was used, as well as sector-specific documents which provided statistics on operational
and fuel consumption activity data. The Transportation and Energy and Emissions Modeling
System (TEEMS) methodology was used to estimate various transportation emissions.
For copper smelters, data were supplied primarily by state air pollution control agencies and
were computed using a plant-level sulfur mass balance technique based on actual measurements of
fugitive emissions. NOx and VOC emissions from copper smelters are considered to be
insignificant; therefore, these were estimated differently, using the ICRIM methodology described
below. When mass balance data were unavailable, data from the EPA AP-42 Form and information
from continuous emission monitors were used to estimate sulfur dioxide emissions. These data
supplemented the 1985 National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) Emissions
Inventory data. In the absence of available sulfur-content value and heat value data at the state
level, national-level sulfur-content values and heat values for the specific fuel type were used.
Confidentiality of plant-level data prevented comprehensive quality assurance checks.
Methodology for the ICRIM sector utilized data from the 1985 NAPAP Emissions
Inventory, which provided base-year estimates. When available, state-level activity data (usually
from the State Energy Data System, or SEDS, database) were also used. MSCET then developed
trends data using sector-specific growth rates, often derived from time-series data from the EPA’s
National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates, 1940-1987 (also known as the EPA Trends Report), or
from Federal Reserve Board (FRB) indexes of industrial production. The ICRIM methodology
utilized a “shift-share” approach (e.g., states with a higher relative growth gain in share), based on
NAPAP data. Monthly emissions were estimated by disaggregating annual emissions based on
monthly activity data. Monthly shares before 1985 were held constant because these data were
missing. If no appropriate trend indicator could be identified, emissions were held constant at the
levels reported in the 1985 NAPA.P Inventory.
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Other data sources for the ICRIM emissions estimates included: the FIA’s Monthly Energy
Review for fuel consumption data; the U.S. Department of Commerce Survey of Current Business
for industrial production data; the Department of Energy’s Quarterly Coal Report; the Natural Gas
Monthly; and data collected by the National Climatic Data Center (state-specific, population-
weighted, heating-degree-day data).
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National (48 contiguous states)
Identifiers: State; region (e.g., SE, NW, etc.); EPA Federal Regions 1-10
Time Coverage: 1975-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Monthly
Regularity of sample collection: Data are collected as they become available
Source information: Some samples are taken at source
Dispersion information: None available, except for some copper smelter data
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Yes
Standard procedures used: Methodologies developed from: the EPA 1985 National Acid
Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) Emissions Inventory; the EPA Trends
Report; the EPA MOBILE4 model; and the Argonne National Laboratory’s
Transportation Energy and Emissions Modeling System (TEEMS) methodology
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1 month
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 1 month
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban; outdoor rural (industrial, agricultural, and/or residential); sthck
emissions: NO SO 2 , VOCs
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentilS ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics on specific agents by geographic region, state, and
season or month
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports
Machine readable — Diskette (ASCII, SAS, Tab delimited)
Reports: Current Emission Trends for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, and Volatile Oi anic
Compounds by Month and State: Methodolo j and Results (August 1990)
Reference Documents: Review of the Month and State Emissions Trends (MSCET) Data Bases for
the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (1990, third-party review); data sources
for the MSCET electric utility and some of the other MSCET emissions estimates included:
(1) the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Form 759: Monthly Power Plant Report
(formerly FPC-4) (data on monthly fuel consumption); (2) Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Form 423: Monthly Report of Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants
(formerly FPC-423) (data on monthly deliveries of fuels to plants and fuel quality); (3) EIA
Form 767: Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report (formerly Form 67) (fuel
consumption data for individual boilers); (4) EPA Report AP-42: Compilation of Air
Pollutant Emission Factors (estimated emission factors for stationary point and area
sources); (5) Report EPRI-CS-4277-SR, S02 and NOx Retrofit Control Technologies
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Handbook, and Report EPRI-CS-5361, Retrofit Combustion Controls for Gas/Oil-Fired Utilz,y
Boilers (two Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) reports on retrofit controls with
estimates of potential reductions in NOx emissions using low-NOx burners).
Data/Reports Available From: Chuck Cilek, (708) 972-4237
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MONTHLY EMISSIONS INVENTORY FOR SULFUR DIOXIDE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Department of Ener ’, Argonne National Laboratoiy
Contact Person: Don Hanson, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne,
IL, 60439, (708) 972-5061
This inventory of monthly emissions of SO 2 for 1975.1983 was designed to reflect actual
annual SO. emissions variability. The database has been discontinued. Data include state-total and
source-category-specific monthly SO 2 emissions for the 48 contiguous United States. Computation
of monthly emission estimates involved a portioning of total annual SO 2 emissions to monthly values
through the use of several databases. Also see the separate entries for the Month and State
Current Emissions Trends (MSCET) and for the Acid Deposition Data Network (ADDNET).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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NATIONAL ACID PRECIPITATION ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (VERSION 2)
Acronym: NAPAP
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air & Ener ’ Engineering
Research Laboratory
Contact Person: Janice Wagner, MD-62, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-1818
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) was authorized by Congress
under the Acid Precipitation Act of 1980. This major research program was initiated to study the
causes and potential adverse effects of acid deposition in and around the United States. A
fundamental objective of the NAPAP research was to investigate emissions sources that may
contribute to acid deposition. To achieve this objective, a NAPAP Task Group on Emissions and
Controls developed historical and current (1985) inventories of acid deposition precursor emissions.
Since long range pollutant transport plays a critical role in acid deposition, emissions inventories
encompassed geographic areas larger than those where the acidification and deposition effects were
observed. The investigation of acid precipitation in the United States (particularly in the northeast)
and in Canada required development of emissions inventories for all states and provinces in both
countries.
The NAPAP assembled data in two phases. The first phase involved data collection and
quality assurance of total emissions and source characteristics of acid deposition precursors. Data
in the NAPAP Emissions Inventory include point source emissions and facility data (i.e.
documentation of physical parameters such as stack height) for 9,175 plants and 66,308 points
(stacks) in the United States and Canada, as well as area source emissions estimates (e.g., for motor
vehicle emissions) for 3,073 United States counties and 10 Canadian provinces. Emissions estimates
of natural sources of total suspended particulates were also determined and included in the 1985
U.S. NAPAP Natural Particulate Emissions Inventory. Since these database characteristics are
similar, although the source is different, the database characteristics described in this summary
pertain to both.
The second phase included the development of a modelers’ emissions inventory in which
total emissions data were converted to a format suitable for use as input to regional atmospheric
transport models. Hourly emissions by day of the week and season were calculated for speciated
aggregate emissions. These models are used to study source-receptor relationships and regional
impacts of pollutants involved in acid deposition.
(See the separate entries in part I of this inventory for the Acid Deposition System (ADS)
and in Part II for the Acid Deposition Data Network (ADDNET).)
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (point and area source emissions)
Classes of compounds: Criteria pollutants (except ozone), VOCs, total hydrocarbons, total and size
fractionated particulates, acids/acid aerosols, inorganic compounds
Types of data available: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: Predominantly estimated data
Sample Design and Analysis:
EPA worked closely with state air pollution programs to plan, fund, assemble and ensure
the quality of the inventory data. EPA and states have the authority to collect required emissions
data under Title 40, CFR, Part 51, Section 51.321-51323. Environment Canada was the regulatory
agency responsible for developing Canadian national emissions inventories. In a manner analogous
to the State-EPA partnership in the United States, Environment Canada worked with provincial
environment ministries to collect emissions data for Canadian industries.
Both the emissions and modelers’ emissions inventories are divided into point and area
sources. The database contains information on the precise location of point sources that emitted
at least 100 tons per year of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, total suspended particulates, or
carbon monoxide during the 1985 base year. Area sources include mobile and stationary sources
too numerous and too small to be listed individually, such as residential space heating. The United
States point and area source emissions, as well as facility data (information on the engineering
design and performance of industrial processes), were generated by state agencies using the
National Emissions Data System (NEDS) methodology, in which emissions are estimated directly
for each source. Individual state confidentiality restrictions prevented the complete reporting of
some priority data elements. Environment Canada calculated source emissions for Canada
following a similar methodology.
In addition to criteria pollutants, emissions estimates for primary sulfate particulate, total
hydrocarbons, VOCs, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and ammonia, which also play an
important role in the acid deposition process, were developed by EPA and Environment Canada
through the application of emission factors.
Estimates of natural alkaline particulate emissions from unpaved roads, wind erosion, and
dust storms (United States only) were also developed and included in the 1985 U.S. NAPAP
Natural Particulate Emissions Inventory.
The total emissions data were converted into a modelers’ inventory of emissions (using the
flexible Regional Emissions Data System - FREDS) in a format that can be used as input to
regional atmospheric transport models. This format includes a grid of specific geographic areas,
hourly emissions data, and is speciated (e.g., information on stable product chemical species rather
than emitted chemical species is included; VOCs and TSP emissions are broken into various
chemical species classes, which include 32 classes of VOCs, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide,
sodium calcium, potassium and magnesium).
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics
Coverage: National (48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia); Canada (to 60
degrees north latitude)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude and universal transmercator coordinates of the county and
point source; name of county and state
Time Coverage: 1985
Sample Characteristics: Not applicable; no samples collected or analyzed
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable; no samples collected; database reflects
emissions estimates for 1985
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable
Source information: Data represent source emissions
Dispersion information: Annual total emissions data are converted into a modelers’
inventory of emissions which can be used as input to regional atmospheric transport
models. This modelers’ inventory is included in the 1985 NAPAP Modelers’
Emissions Inventory (Version 2).
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable; no samples analyzed, however, small and numerous
sources (estimated data) are aggregated as area sources
Standard procedures used: Not applicable; no samples analyzed, however, U.S. emissions
data were collected through the EPA National Emissions Data System (NEDS) (see
separate entry in Part I of this Inventory); Environment Canada calculated source
emissions for Canada following a similar methodology
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not applicable;
approximate time between data collection and entry into database varies
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits of inventories (checks for
completeness, range checks, analysis of utility records, emissions confirmations by facilities
for the largest emitters, and identification of missing values for priority data items)
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban, outdoor rural, stack emissions: Total and size fractionated
particulates, criteria pollutants (except ozone), VOCs, acids/acid aerosols,
inorganic compounds
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi [ & Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers; pollutants are
identified according to the location on the data record
DATABASE AVAILkBIL1TY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Agency report
Machine readable -- Tape (ASCII)
Reports: One report only, which reflects the base year 1985 — The 1985 NAFAP Emissions Inventory
Version 2: Development of the Annual Data and Modelers’ Tapes. The objective of this
report is to present information to assist users of the emissions and modelers’ inventories.
The report describes the data collection efforts, emissions summaries, methodologies, and
data sources used to estimate and allocate the emissions estimates to the modelers’
inventoly; the quality assurance/quality control procedures; the formats of the modelers’
inventory data tapes; and the information required to access the inventory data.
Reference Documents: Several used, listed at the end of each chapter in the report; examples
include: NEDS/NAPAP Emission Inventory Workshop Handboolg Criteria Pollutant Emission
Factors for the 1985 NAFAP Emissions Inventory; EPA Emissions Confirmation Guide for
Major Source Categories
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Data/Reports Available From: Agency report and magnetic tapes can be purchased from the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road., Springfield,
Virginia 22161, (703) 487-4650; agency report order number: EPA-600 [ 7-89-012a;
approximately 20 to 30 magnetic tapes available, examples include: 1985 Emissions Inventory
Version 2 - United States and Canadian TSP Non-Mobile Sources Modelers Tape - Spring,
Saturday 1985; NA PAP Emissions Inventory Version 2 - Point Source Data 1985; NAPAP
Emissions Inventory Version 2 - Canadian Annual Area Sources 1985; NAPAP Emissions
Invento,y Version 2 - U.S. Point Source Modelers Inventory for 1985; for a complete listing
of available tapes, requests should be faxed to NTIS (fax #: 703 321-8547)
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NATIONAL AIR MONITORING STATIONS
Acronym: NAMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS)
Contact Person: David Lutz, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-
5476
Objectives and Coverage:
NAMS, part of the SLAMS network (see separate entry for SLAMS), was established to
monitor ambient air concentrations of criteria pollutants and particulates as well as some other
pollutants in areas with high pollutant concentrations and high population exposure. These stations
meet stricter criteria than the rest of SLAMS for siting (fixed sites in areas of high population),
and for instrument selection (all equipment at NAMS must meet the standards of the “List of
Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods”; other SLAMS sites must only meet these criteria
if they are used to designate attainment or non-attainment status for compliance with the Clean Air
Act). Location of NAMS sites do not change over time, providing continuity in monitoring. NAMS
data are submitted at least quarterly (often monthly) by states to OAQPS. Data obtained from
NAMS (and other SLAMS Sites) comprise most of the data found in the Air Quality Subsystem
(AQS) of the Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) (see separate entries for AQS in
Part I and AIRS in Part II for further information).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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NATIONAL AIR TOXICS INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE
Acronym: NATICH
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and
Radiation/Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Contact Person: Vasu Kilaru, Pollutant Assessment Branch, MD-13, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711, (919) 541-0850, (919) 541-5332
Objectives and Coverage:
NATICH was established to assist state and local air pollution agencies in developing and
implementing air toxics control programs. Its primary purpose is to collect, classi&, and disseminate
air toxics information from state and local agencies, the U.S. EPA, and other federal and
international agencies, thereby facilitating the exchange of information about air toxics and
regulatory/monitoring programs. Information about the activities of various agencies, problems
encountered by these agencies, and agency contacts can be found in the database as well as
information about air pollutants (e.g., permit decisions, ambient air and source emissions test data,
EPA risk assessment information). Bibliographic citations for published studies are also available.
Data from all federal, state, and local regulatory/control agencies are included in the
database. As a result, the database covers all types of air toxics studies conducted in different
locations and environments. The data in NATICH are not available through other databases.
NATICH is presently linked to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). (TRI contains information
submitted by industry under the provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to
Know Act.) In the future, NATICH may also be linked to EPA’s Aerometric Information Retrieval
System (AIRS).
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Criteria pollutants, inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, PCBs,
dioxins/furans, asbestos
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents; summary statistics (including
pollutant information, e.g., information on health effects, exposure assessment), ambient
monitoring data, etc.) on specific agents. Data can be sorted by activity (e.g., emissions
testing for traditional sources, ambient monitoring), by pollutant (e.g., by name, code), or
by source category. Bibliographic and agency information are also available.
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
NATICH compiles data received from state and local agencies; it does not itself collect or
analyze samples, nor does it review or analyze agency data. NATICH does not evaluate the
suitability of agency sampling techniques or analytical methods for the determination of risk
assessment, air standards, or criteria. NATICH includes data from all types of air toxics studies
conducted in various locations throughout the United States.
The Clearinghouse collects information annually by sending data collection forms to all state
and local agencies. Information may be submitted in three ways: (1) agency responses to annual
surveys, (2) direct entry of data by agencies, and (3) electronic transfer of large data files. The
information thus acquired is classified by agency, pollutant, and emission source, and includes data
on general agency facts (including address and agency contacts), regulatory program descriptions
and contacts, permits, acceptable ambient concentrations, ambient air monitoring studies, source
tests, emissions inventories, research and methods development, and supporting publications
Citations and abstracts are included for published EPA, National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), and other federal/international agency documents, such as emission factors
documents, health assessments, source sampling/ambient monitoring methodologies, and technical
monitoring documents. Ongoing EPA and NIOSH research projects, such as chemical hazard
information profiles and epidemiolo ’ studies, are also cited and abstracted.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: City, municipality, or township, county/parish, state
Time Coverage: 1984-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Data collected from agencies on a yearly basis
Regularity of sample collection: Varies by agency
Source information: For source testing, includes Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
codes, industry categories, and Source Category Codes (SCC); for permits, includes
the SCC code and the process within the facility
Dispersion information: Not available in database; contacts in state and local organizations
may be able to provide information; contact names are incliuded in the database
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Unknown
Standard procedures used: Varies by state or local agency
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies by agency
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Varies
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry QA/QC is performed by the contractor
that enters the data into the database. The Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number
(CASRN) and chemical name are checked and the data are checked for any inconsistencies.
In addition, the state agencies can check the data and change incorrect entries. (The
QCIQA for sample collection and analysis is performed by the state or local agency, not by
NATICIL)
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban; industrial outdoor rural; stack/source emissions; ambient
monitoring information: Criteria pollutants, inorganic compounds, VOCs,
semi-VOCs, PCBs, dioxins/furans, asbestos
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN)
chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents. Summary statistics on
specific agents; summary information includes pollutant, acceptable ambient limits, source
testing data, etc.
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Availability Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, Agency reports
Machine readable — On-line (ASCII)
Reports: Bimonthly newsletters containing information on research, agency case histories, and
state, local, and federal air toxics programs and activities; special reports on specific air
toxics issues; annual hard copy reports of all data contained in the database; and responses
to requests for specific information. In addition, the user can generate 25 different reports
in which the information is sorted by Agency, pollutant, Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) codes, industiy category description, or key word on various topics including:
Acceptable Ambient Levels, pollutant research information, methods development activities,
non-health-related impacts, permitting information, emissions inventory, and source testing
information. -
Reference Documents: NATICHDatabase Report on State, Local and EPA Air ToxicsActivities (July
1990)
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port 1 oyal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; state and federal EPA Offices; for information,
contact Vasu Kilaru, Pollutant Assessment Branch, MD-13, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711, (919) 541-0850, (919) 541-5332
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NATIONAL COASTAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE INVENTORY
Acronym: NCPDI
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Contact Person: Daniel R.G. Farrow, NOAA, Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and
Assessment (ORCA), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Division, Pollution
Sources Characterization Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 220, Rockville, MD 20852,
(301) 443-0454
Objectives and Coverage:
The NCPDI, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
Pollution Sources Characterization Branch, contains pollutant loading estimates for all point,
nonpoint, and riverine sources located in coastal areas that discharge to the estuarine, coastal, and
oceanic waters of the contiguous United States (excluding the Great Lakes). Discharge estimates
for nine separate classes of pollutants in nine major source categories are included in this database.
The estimates were originally made for the base year 1982, but can be considered to approximate
pollutant discharge conditions during the period 1980-1985. A series of projects are currently
underway to improve and refine the estimates for selected pollutant sourte categories and coastal
areas. Information in this database is provided to resource managers at the federal, state, and local
level to help develop effective management strategies to protect and restore these waters.
The development of these data is one of several interrelated activities of NOAA. A
separate database is maintained for each of these activities (see the National Status and Trends
Program and the National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine Waters for descriptions of
related NOAA databases). Each of these databases use the same spatial framework and together
are used by NOAA for the strategic assessment of the Nation’s coastal and oceanic resources.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds; pesticides (1982 and 1987 data available for 35
pesticides; original 1982 data available only for organochlorine pesticides); microorganisms;
PCBs (original 1982 data only); physical and chemical indicators of water quality; other
(petroleum hydrocarbons, nutrients, wastewater treatment sludges, and flow)
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summaiy statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: Most values based on estimates; some observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The NCPDI uses NOAA’s National Estuarine Inventory (NEI) (see separate entry in Part
II) data atlas, which was created to provide a spatial framework that could be used in several
related NOAA projects. The spatial framework developed was the estuarine drainage area (EDA),
defined by NOAA as that portion of a watershed that most directly affects an estuary and is
delineated by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cataloging units and the head of the tide. Two atlas
volumes were subsequently published detailing the land use and physical and hydrologic
characteristics of the estuarine systems within the NEI.
The NCPDI was developed for three geographic regions in the United States: the Gulf of
Mexico, East Coast, and West Coast. Seasonal and annual estimates of pollutant discharges from
source categories were made for the base year, 1982, in each of these regions. Estimates are
currently being updated to 1987 and will be completed in the next few years (updates have been
completed for the Gulf of Mexico). Source categories for the 1982 estimates include: point
sources, urban and nonurban non-point sources, sources upstream of coastal areas, irrigation return
flow, oil and gas operations, marine transportation operations, accidental spills, and dredging
operations. Only the point, nonpoint, and upstream source categories are included in the 1987
estimates.
The Land Use Data Analysis (LtJDA) program of the USGS, which compiles data for 40
different types of land use in the United States, was the primary source of land use data for the
NCPDI. Other sources, such as the National Resources Inventory of the U.S. Soil Conservation
Service; the Bureau of the Census; the Census of Agriculture; and state, regional, and city planning
agencies were also used. The result was a set of consistent land use estimates in acres that were
used for analysis in each of the geographical regions. These data indicate the amount of surface
area occupied by land use activities that affect pollutants contained in stormwater runoff.
Pollution estimates for each source category include: the level of activity in the base year;
the quantity of wastewater or runoff discharged per unit of output or over a specified period of
time; and the concentrations of pollutants in wastewater or runoff. For point sources, discharges
are estimated primarily through EPA and state National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit and compliance files. If such information is inaccurate or incomplete, engineering
estimates of typical pollutant concentrations are made based on the facility type. For nonurban
nonpoint sources in the East Coast, the Simulator for Water Resources on Rural Basins Model, a
watershed modeling program, is used to estimate runoff and sediment discharge. Nitrogen and
phosphorous discharges are based on the Cornell University Nutrient Simulation Model. Estimates
of pollutant discharges for other constituents are made based on these parameters. For urban
nonpoint sources, the volume of runoff is estimated and the pollutant load is calculated using
information obtained from a former EPA database, the National Urban Runoff Program (NURP)
(NURP has been discontinued, however, urban runoff data are not collected by cities). For
upstream sources, monitoring information from USGS National Stream-Quality Accounting
Network (NASQAN) stations is used to estimate pollutant mass loadings. A detailed description
of these estimation methods is included in a set of Methods Documents.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National (estuarine, coastal, and oceanic waters of the contiguous United States,
excluding the Great Lakes, extending landward to the head of the tide and seaward
to the boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone (12 miles offshore))
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the point source; name of city, municipality, or
township, and county; state; hydrologic unit codes; estuarine drainage area
Time Coverage: 1982, 1987 (estimates are periodically updated)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable — no samples collected; estimates
were made on a seasonal basis and aggregated to an annual basis for 1982; these
estimates are presently being updated to 1987
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable — no samples collected; updating of
pollution discharge estimates in the three geographic regions is an ongoing process
Source information: Point source information collected from states and NPDES
permit files; data for non-point sources can be related to category of land use (e.g.
agricultural, urban) but not to specific sources
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable -- no samples analyzed
Standard procedures used: Not applicable -- no samples analyzed; (see Sample Design and
Analysis for established data analysis and estimation methods used)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable -- no
samples collected or analyzed
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not
applicable — no samples analyzed; approximate time between data
collection and data entry is 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; audit trail (each data point can
be traced back to its source of information)
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds (arsenic, iron, lead, mercuiy, zinc, cadmium,
chromium, copper); pesticides (1982 and 1987 data available for 35
pesticides; original 1982 data only for organochiorine pesticides);
microorganisms (fecal coliform bacteria); PCBs (original 1982 data only);
physical and chemical indicators of water quality (biochemical oxygen
demand, total suspended solids); petroleum hydrocarbons, nutrients (total
nitrogen and phosphorus); wastewater treatment sludges; flow (wastewater
flow or surface runoff)
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK C}IEMIICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif r Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers (standard chemical
abbreviations are used, prefixed with a seasonal or annual abbreviation)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on
specific agents (e.g., data can be aggregated by pollutant, source category, individual source,
spatial unit, temporal dimension)
Availability: Any requester may obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts
Machine readable -- Diskette (ASCII, SAS, Rbase)
Reports: The National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Inventory summarizes activities of the NCPDI;
assessment reports on specific topics (e.g., the National Coastal Pollutant Discharge
Inventory: Point Source Discharges in Coastal Areas of Texas - A Summary By Estuarine
Watershed for 1987; National Coastal Pollution Discharge Inventory: Publically Owned
Treatment Works in Coastal Areas of the USA; The National Coastal Pollution Discharge
Inventory Discharge Summaries for New Jersey) are distributed to a targeted constituency
with an interest in the report topic (government agencies and other users of this
information), and are also available upon request; Methods Documents which describe the
methodologies used to generate pollutant loadings for source categories are available
upon request; all reports include a discussion of data quality and limitations relevant to the
report topic
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Reference Documents: Several, which are listed in reports; examples include: Planning Guide for
Evaluating Agricultural Nonpoint Source Water Quality; Control of Water Pollution from
Cropland, Volume 1: A Manual for Guideline Development, and Volume 2: An Overview;
Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standard for Specified Point
Source Catego,y
Data/Reports Available From: Mitchell Katz, NOAA, ORCA, SEA Division, Pollution Sources
Characterization Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 220, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-
0453 (for reports); Daniel R.G. Farrow, NOAA, ORCA, SEA Division, Pollution Sources
Characterization Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 220, Rockville, MD 20852, (301)
443-0454 (for data requests); a letter describing the requested information should be sent
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NATIONAL CONTAMINANT BIOMOMTORING PROGRAM
Acronym: NCBP
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Contact Person: Donald Steffeck, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Environmental
Contaminants, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 330, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-2148
Objectives and Coverage:
Since 1967, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has periodically analyzed residues of
selected organochlorine contaminants and potentially toxic elements in samples of fish and birds
collected from a nationwide network of stations. This program, which originated as the F\VS
segment of the National Pesticide Monitoring Program (a multiagency monitoring effort), is now
maintained by the FWS as the National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP). NCBP
documents temporal and geographic trends in concentrations of environmental contaminants that
may threaten fish and wildlife and provides information on the success of regulatory actions
intended to reduce environmental concentrations of toxic materials. The database covers freshwater
streams and interior upland and wetland habitats.
The NCBP is scheduled to change its name and sample design in October 1992; the name
will become the Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Program. In addition, the data
will be made accessible to the general public. At present, it is only available through journal
articles.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Fish and bird samples
Classes of compounds: Pesticides, PCBs, VOCs, semi-VOCs, and inorganic compounds in fish
(earlier data do not include the toxic metals and PCBs), pesticides and PCBs in birds
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Freshwater fish were collected from stations at key points in major rivers throughout the
United States and in the Great Lakes from 1967 to 1988 at approximately 2 to 3 year intervals. The
species of fish collected and statistical representativeness vary by region and year. The frequency
of measurements and locations where samples were collected could bias site-specific evaluations.
Three samples were collected from each station; two of a representative bottom-feeding species and
one of a representative predatory species. Each were analyzed for organochlorine chemicals
(pesticides, PCBs, industrial chemicals) and inorganic metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead,
mercury, selenium, and zinc). Laboratory analysts also looked for other potential contaminants in
the 1988 collection by checking for unknown peaks on a gas chromatograph. Extrapolation of
results to other fish and game animals may be uncertain.
In an effort to assess the body burden of organochlorine compounds in birds, the FWS
analyzed starlings and wings from wild ducks shot or trapped by hunters in the United States from
1965 to 1985. (Sampling of ducks occurred during the 1965, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1981,
1982, 1984 and 1985 hunting seasons; sampling of starlings occurred from 1967 to 1985 at 2 to 3
year intervals.) For ducks, mallard wings were used since this species is found throughout the
continental United States. Black ducks from the Atlantic Flyway were also included because
mallards are not abundant there. The starling was chosen because it is numerous, widely distributed
throughout the continental United States, and an omnivorous feeder.
Sampling of fish and birds is planned to occur approximately every five years as part of the
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Program. Other bioassessment methods will
also be included in this new program.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; name of state; hydrologic unit codes
Time Coverage: 1965-1985 for black ducks and mallards; 1967-1985 for starlings; 1967-1988 for fish
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies; mainly on a 2-3 year basis; future sampling is
expected to occur approximately every 5 years
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: None available
Dispersion information: Not applicable
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Each site consists of a pooling of 3-5 individual samples of fish and
usually 10 or more bird samples
Standard procedures used: Biological sampling and bioassay techniques have varied
according to species, year of analysis, and laboratory; FWS is in the process of
standardizing these techniques to be used in the new program; standard FWS
chemical extraction methods are used, which are classified according to the chemical
analyzed; procedures are included in published journal articles
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1 year, varies depending upon
sample collection
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 3 years; varies
depending upon sample collection
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
data entry audits; confirmation of 10% of the samples is done by gas chromatography with
mass spectrometry; interlaboratory cross checks were done on select samples up until 1980
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Fish: Pesticides; PCBs; VOCs; semi-VOCs; inorganic compounds (arsenic,
cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc)
Birds (ducks): Pesticides; PCBs
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
OTHER :
Birds (starlings): Pesticides; PCBs
Fish (non-consumable): Pesticides; PCBs; VOCs; semi-VOCs; inorganic compounds
(arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc)
Conventions Used to Identi& Agents: Chemical name or mixture
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DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Published articles
Machine rcadable — will probably be available after October 1992
Reports: 40 articles published to date; examples include: National Contaminant Biomonitoring
Program: Concentrations of Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, and Zinc
in US. Freshwater Fish, 1976-1984; Residues of O ganochlorine Pesticides and
PolychloibiphenyLs in Starlings From the Continental United States, 1982; Organochlonne
Residues in Adult Mallard and Black Duck Wings, 1981-1982; all articles published prior to
1980 are included in Pesticide Monitoring Journal, most articles published after this time are
included in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Taücology; articles discuss
multiyear aggregated data and are generally available approximately eveiy 2 to 3 years
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: Donald W. Steffeck, U.S. FWS, Division of Environmental
Contaminants, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 330, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-2148
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NATIONAL EMISSIONS DATA SYSTEM
Acronym: NEDS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS), National Air Data Branch
Contact Person: Jerry Husketh, U.S. EPA, NADB, MD-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,
(919) 541-5449
The National Emissions Data System (NEDS) provided source data for the AIRS Facility
Subsystem (see separate entry) and the AIRS Area/Mobile Source Subsystem (currently under
development) for point source and area air emissions, primarily for criteria pollutants. These two
AIRS systems have replaced NEDS. Information on individual point sources was available through
NEDS and is now available through AIRS, including: pollutant type and quantity; emissions control
equipment; estimated percent of emission control efficiency; emission estimation methods used and
emission estimates (for both point and area sources); identification of confidential information;
universal transmercator zone and latitude longitude data; stack data; ash and sulfur content; and
fuel use data, including fuel type, boiler design, combustor/processing method, and throughput,
operating, and fuel process rates. Raw data or summary statistics (e.g., geographic and process-
related summaries of emissions and fuel consumption) were available for individual plants for each
criteria pollutant. Inventories of the total number of plants/points within a state or county were
also available, as well as a ranking of plant emissions within a state or nationally for each criteria
pollutant. Emissions could also be identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and
Source Classification Code (SCC). Responsibility for maintaining the NEDS database was shared
by states, EPA Regional Offices, and EPA’s National Air Data Branch (NADB). States submitted
data annually to the Regional Office, which validated the data and sent them to the NADB for
database updates.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIMEN BANK
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development, and Office of Health Effects Research; U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Contact Person: Stephen A. Wise, NIST, Building 222, Room B-158, Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
(301) 975-3112
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Environmental Specimen Bank, one of many projects within the National
Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (NBSB) (see separate entry in Part II) at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, was established in 1979 as a pilot program to investigate the feasibility
of long-term storage of environmental samples. Well-preserved and documented samples are
archived for retrospective analysis as analytical techniques improve or as concerns about previously
unidentified pollutants arise. To date, this pilot project has focused primarily on the establishment
of a human liver bank, the analysis of approximately 20 percent of the archived liver specimens for
selected organic and inorganic constituents, and research related to specimen banking.
Approximately 600 liver specimens have been collected since 1980; analysis for trace elements,
organic pesticides, and PCBs have been done on approximately 100 of these samples. In addition,
NIST has made a comparison of different storage conditions and has developed sampling and
storage protocols for archived specimens. The existing database on the stored human liver
specimens and the unanalyzed liver specimens in the bank offer a number of opportunities, such
as: providing baseline environmental data for monitoring pollutant trends over time and among
different sites; providing the opportunity for retrospective analysis of samples from the past; and
evaluating the stability of biological samples during storage.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human samples
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, pesticides, PCBs
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
In 1980, liver samples were collected during autopsies performed at three locations: the
Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota; the King County Medical Examiners Office in Seattle,
Washington; and the State of Maryland Medical Examiners Office in Baltimore, Maiyland. From
1981-1990, liver samples were obtained from the Seattle, Washington facility; in 1991, samples were
obtained from the Baltimore, Maryland facility. These facilities work with local universities which
serve as contractors for EPA and N1ST for this project. The three geographic areas were chosen
to represent the east and west coasts and the central United States. Livers are selected from adults
18 years of age or older, who did not have a long hospital stay, were not drug users, and were free
from hepatitis and the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). Thus fir, analysis for trace
elements, chlorinated pesticides, and PCBs has included three groups of liver samples collected in
1980, 1982, and 1984.
Human liver samples are collected, processed, and stored under conditions that avoid or
minimize contamination of the specimen or any other changes in specimen chemical composition.
Non-contaminating materials are used for any contact with the sample (e.g., a titanium-bladed knife
is used to avoid contamination from environmentally important trace elements found in
conventional cutting instruments; clean, dust-free Teflon surfaces are used for sample preparation).
Identical (e.g., homogeneous) sample aliquots are necessary to allow for valid comparison of
analytical techniques and evaluation of the stability of specimens during storage. A cryogenic
homogenization procedure using Teflon disk mills was developed by NIST scientists for this
purpose. These mills homogenize sample aliquots, with subsampling errors due to nonhomogeneity
estimated at less than 2 percent. This procedure minimizes contamination and eliminates the risk
of potential changes in the sample associated with thawing and re-freezing. After sample
preparation, the liver specimens are stored in Teflon bags or jars and frozen in liquid nitrogen at
the NIST specimen bank facility. Presently, specimens are banked at -150° C to avoid the physical
changes noted at other temperatures and because of the relative maintenance-free, low cost
operation of liquid nitrogen vapor freezers. Information describing the sample and the sampling
site are recorded and maintained in the National Environmental Specimen Bank database.
To address the question of storage stability, aliquots of the homogenized liver samples were
analyzed for various inorganic and organic contaminants, and were stored under conditions such
as freeze-dried, room temperature, and fresh frozen at .250, 800, or -150° centigrade (C) and
reanalyzed in several years for comparison of storage conditions. Results of chemical analyses and
physical evidence of changes (e.g., color changes, clumping, formation of ice crystals) in the sample
aliquots were used for comparison purposes.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (Baltimore, MD; Minneapolis, MN; and Seattle, WA)
Identifiers: Name of city and state
Time Coverage: 1980-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: 50 samples per year
Regularity of sample collection: Irregular, based on availability; approximately one sample
per week is typically collected
Source information: None
Dispersion information: Limited to geographic region
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: NIST sample collection and analytical protocols, e.g., Analysis
of Human Liver Specimens
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 2-5 years (archiving of
specimens is the goal)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 4-6 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, duplicates, spikes
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
R Not applicable
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FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES :
Liver biopsies: Inorganic compounds, pesticides, PCBs
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Journal publications
Machine readable — Diskette (ASCII)
Reports: Wise et al (1989), Experiences in Environmental Specimen Banking, International Journal
of Environmental Anabytical Chemistry, volume 37, pages 91-106; Zeisler et al, (1984),
Biological Trace Element Residues; Zeisler et al (eds), (1983), The Pilot Environmental
National Specimen Bank-Analysis of Human Liver Specimens, National Bureau of
Standards Special Publication 656; Wise and Zeisler, (1984), (name not available at time of
publication), Environment, Science, and Technology
Reference Documents: Several, which are listed at the end of each publication
DataIReports Available From: Stephen A. Wise, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Building 222, Room B-158, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, (301) 975-3112
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NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY
Acronym: NHANES
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Health Examination
Statistics
Contact Person: Robert Murphy, 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-7068
Objectives and Coverage:
NHANES, a major data collection system of the National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS), is a series of discrete data collection surveys in which randomly selected groups of U.S.
citizens are interviewed and examined to determine their health and nutritional status. The goals
of NHANES are: (1) to estimate the national prevalence of selected diseases and risk factors, (2)
to estimate national population reference distributions of selected health parameters, (3) to
document and investigate reasons for trends in selected diseases and risk factors, (4) to contribute
to the understanding of disease etiology, and (5) to investigate the natural history of selected
diseases.
NHANES obtains health data from civilian noninstitutionalized individuals in locations
throughout the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii); the study specifically includes minority
populations and low-income populations. Young, old, and minority populations are oversampled
to ensure that the data collected for these groups are reliable.
To date, two NHANES surveys have been completed and a third is underway. (A HANES
survey specifically targeted for Hispanics (HHANES) is described separately in Part I of this
Inventory.) The data for NHANES I were collected from 1971 to 1975, the data for NHANES II
were collected from 1976 to 1980, and NHANES HI was begun in 1984 and is expected to be
completed in 1994.
NHANES has historically been a multi-agency effort. In addition to NCHS, the following
agencies have participated in NHANES surveys: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the
Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Energy, the National Center for Environmental
Health and Injury Control (NCEHIC), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
and the Centers for Disease Control.
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human samples (blood, urine)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds (including trace metals), VOCs (NHANES Ill only),
semi-VOCs, pesticides, cotinine, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, carboxyhemoglobin (NHANES
II only), and thiocyanate (NHANES II only)
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents; summary statistics (e.g.,
geometric and arithmetic means, percent elevated, and percent quantifiable) on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
NHANES studies are cross-sectional and use a complex, multistage, stratified, probability
cluster sample of households throughout the United States. Primary sampling units (PSUs) are
identified, and characterized using a wide range of stratification measures such as age, sex, race,
national origin, education, income, and marital status. The number of PSUs identified and the
number of people examined/interviewed is different for each NHANES. For NHANES I and II,
over 20,000 people were interviewed/examined in 100 and 64 PSUs, respectively. For NHANES
Ill, NCHS plans to interview/examine over 40,000 people in 88 PSUs.
Physical examinations, diagnostic tests (including blood pressures, electrocardiograms, bone
densities (NHANES III only), and dental examinations); anthropometric measurements; laboratory
analyses (including blood and urine tests, biochemical analysis of whole blood and serum, and oral
glucose tolerance tests (NHANES II and Ill only); x-rays (x-rays of the hand and wrist were taken
for NHANES I, x-rays of the cervical and lumbar spine and of the chest were taken in NHANES
II, and no x-rays are planned for NHANES Ifl); personal interviews; and dietary interviews are
conducted on individuals. Blood and urine samples are analyzed using standard analytic and
QC/QA procedures. Blood sera from NHANES II are being saved for later analysis under
NHANES III. In addition, any sera available after protocol analyses were performed under
NHANES II, were frozen and stored. These sera have been largely depleted by subsequent
analyses for various chemicals (including lead) and antigens to infectious agents. NHANES IH is
storing sera and white blood cells for future analysis. Longitudinal followup interviews were
obtained from the adults in NHANES I (NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study). A similar
followup is planned for NHANES HI.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: SMSA (Standard MSA), state, region of the country
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Time Coverage: 1971-1994 (periodic)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Sampling occurs on a daily basis, but each individual is
sampled only once
Regularity of sample collection: Samples are collected at the time of the physical exam
which may be scheduled weekdays or weekends, mornings, afternoons, or evenings;
each individual is examined once
Source information: For NHANES III, questions were asked regarding the smoking history
of the sampled person and other household members, the source of drinking water,
home heating sources, and occupational exposure to volatile substances. For
NHANES II, questions were asked regarding smoking status (carboxyhemoglobin
study), pica (lead study), pesticide and disinfectant exposure, and occupation.
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: The analytical procedures used for each NHANES are set by
the agency conducting each test. For NHANES II, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency analyzed the urine and blood samples for pesticide residues and
metabolites, the Bureau of Labs of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) analyzed
blood samples for lead, and Dr. Edward Radford at the University of Pittsburgh
analyzed blood for carboxyhemoglobin. For NHANES Ill, NCE}TJC is measuring
cadmium, lead, cotinine, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, pesticides, and volatiles
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Depends on analyte
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Generally,
immediately
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Field blanks, duplicates, spikes, external laboratory
analyses, data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
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IB Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES
Blood, urine: inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, cotinine,
carboxyhemoglobin, and eiythrocyte protoporphyrin
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents; summary statistics (geometric
and arithmetic means, percent elevated and percent quantifiable) on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data, which are provided in a form that does not reveal
individual identities or violate confidentiality (for NHANES III, data are not available to
the public until after study completion in 1994)
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports, journal publications (not available for NHANES Ill until
1994)
Machine readable — Tape (ASCII) (not available for NHANES Ill until 1994)
Reports: Summary statistics are published in reports on an irregular basis in Vital and Health
Statistks, Series 11
Reference Documents:
For NHANES I
National Center for Health Statistics. 1973, 1977. Plan and operation of the Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, United States 1971 -73. Vital and Health Statistics,
Series 1, No. lOa (1973) and lOb (1977). Washington, DC: U. S. Government
Printing Office. DF [ EW Pub. No. PHS 79-1310.
Singer, J.D., P. Granahan, N.N. Goodrick, et al. 1982. National Center for Health
Statistics. Dietand iron status, a study of relationships: United States, 1971 -74. Vital
and Health Statistics, Series 11, No. 229. Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office. D}{HS Pub. No. PHS 83-1679.
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For NHANES II
Fuiwood, R., C.L Johnson, J.D. Biyner, Ct a!. 1982. National Center for Health Statistics.
Hematological and nutritional biochemistry reference data for persons 6 months- 74 years
of age: United State.s, 1976-1980. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 11, No. 232.
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. DEHS Pub. No. PHS 83-1682.
Mahaffey, KR., J.L Annest. 1986. Association of eiythrocyte protoporphyrin with blood
lead level and iron status in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey, 1976-1980. Environmental Research 41:327-338.
McDowell A., A. Engel, J.T. Massey, and K. Maurer. 1981. National Center for Health
Statistics. Plan and operation of Second National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey, 1976-80. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 1, No. 19. Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 89-1321.
Murphy, R. and C. Harvey. 1985. Residues and metabolites of selected persistent
halogenated hydrocarbons in blood specimens from a general population survey.
Environmental Health Perspectives. 60:115-120.
For NHANES III
Interagency Committee on Nutrition Monitoring. September 1989. Nutrition monitoring in
the United States: The directory of federal nutrition monitoring aitivities. Hyattsville,
MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
DHHS Pub. No. PHS 89-1255-1.
Woteki, C.E., R.R. Briefel, and R. Kuczmarski. 1988. Contributions of the National
Cancer for Health Statistics. Ani. .1. Gun. Nutr. 47:320-8.
DatafReports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; state offices; federal offices;
regional libraries of the National Libraries of Medicine; schools of public health;
for information, call the NTIS at (301) 436-8500; for information and copies of the
Vital and Health Statistics Reports, call the Scientific and Technical Information
Branch, NCHS at (301) 436-8500
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NATIONAL HERBICIDE USE DATABASE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP); U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service; National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Resources Conservation and Assessment
(ORCA), Strategic Environmental Assessments Division
Contact Person: Leonard Gianessi, Resources for the Future, Inc., 1616 P St., N.W., Washington,
DC 20036, (202) 328-5036
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Herbicide Use database, compiled by Resources for the Future (RFF),
contains data on herbicide use in agricultural crop production throughout the United States.
Estimates of use for 96 active ingredients on 84 crops in the 48 contiguous states of the United
States are included in the database. Data available for each crop include 1987 estimates for the
number of acres of harvested crop, the average rate of use per acre, the total number of acres
treated, and the total pounds of active ingredient used. This information can be aggregated on a
county, regional (group of counties), state, or national level. Data are used by regulatory officials,
researchers, environmental groups, and planning agencies to design policies for herbicide monitoring
in the environment and to evaluate proposed regulatory actions.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Pesticides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available
Estimation versus observational data: All estimated data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Crop acreage estimates were taken from the 1987 Census of Agriculture, and estimates of
herbicide use were taken from publicly available federal and state government reports. Additional
insecticides and fungicides have been added to the database since 1987. This information was
aggregated into summary statistics by scientists at Resources for the Future, Inc., based on surveys
conducted by the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
information obtained from company manufacturers.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Name of county and state
Time Coverage: 1987-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable; no samples taken
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable; no samples taken
Source information: Amount of pesticides used over a year in each state and county
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples poole& Not applicable; no samples taken
Standard procedures used: Resources for the Future, Inc. standard procedures for data
verification
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable; no samples
taken
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not applicable; no
samples taken; approximate time between data received and data entry to
database is within 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Pesticides
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes or
identifiers
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on a county,
regional (group of counties), state, or national level
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Diskette (ASCII, dBase)
Reports: Herbicide Use in the United States: National Summary Report; The Use of Herbicides in
US. Crop Production: Use Coefficients Listed by State; The Use of Herbicides in U. S. Crop
Production: Use Coefficients Listed by Active Ingredient; Herbicide Use Data, by County for
the State of ( ); National Herbicide Report (County Level); reports are available upon
request; customized county reports which provide information on the estimated use of 96
active ingredients for any regional grouping of counties are also available
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: Leonard Gianessi, Resources for the Future Inc., 1616 P Street,
N.W., Washington, DC. 20036, (202) 328-5025
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NATIONAL HUMAN ADIPOSE TISSUE SURVEY
Acronym: NHATS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Toxic Substances
(OTS)
Contact Person: Janet Remmers, EPA, OTS, National Human Monitoring Program, 401 M St.,
SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-1583
Objectives and Coverage:
NHATS is maintained by the National Human Monitoring Program for the purpose of
detecting and quantifying the prevalence of toxic organic compounds in the general population.
NHATS data are used to address part of OTS’s mandate under the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA). Baseline levels of chemicals in human adipose tissue specimens collected from autopsied
cadavers and surgical patients in the continental United States are measured. This monitoring
program has been used primarily for establishing exposure trends for organochlorine pesticides and
PCBs. In 1984, additional volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds were included to detect
other potentially toxic compounds that might be entering the environment. This expanded target
list was used in the analysis of adipose specimens collected during fiscal year 1982 (FY82). A
follow-up study of the FY82 data was also conducted in order to identify any gas
chromatography/mass spectromet!y peaks which had not been previously identified. NHATS has
also performed several other one-time special studies, such as for lead and cadmium, and a clinical
study of transformer workers. The program is currently finishing analyses on samples collected in
1987. It is unclear whether the program will continue; no new sampling is planned.
The significance of this database is twofold. Human risk compound comparison with
NHATS data allows EPA to more accurately assess the danger of these compounds to the human
population from environmental sources. Secondly, if future sampling is done, compounds identified
in this study may be selected for inclusion in the broad scan analysis (see Sample Design and
Analsis) of future NHATs samples. This would provide EPA with long-term bioaccumulation
information which could be tracked for possible long-term trends.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human tissue samples
Classes of compounds: Semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs (1970-present); inorganic compounds and
VOCs (1982); dioxins/furans (1982, 1987)
Type of data available: National and regional (census division) summary statistics are available on
specific agents on a yearly basis
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Human adipose tissue specimens are collected according to a statistical survey design and
are representative of a cross-section of the population. The sampling frame consists of
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) of the continental United States, partitioned into 17 strata.
Approximately 1,000 samples are obtained each fiscal year (for some years, the sample size may be
much less). Where MSAs or Standardized Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA) cross stratum
boundaries, they are divided to fit within the strata. A probability sample of MSAs is selected, with
the probability proportional to the population size. Rural populations were not considered in the
sampling strategy. A hospital, medical examiner, or pathologist within each selected MSA is
designated to participate in the survey. Participants are requested to collect human adipose tissue
specimens from autopsied cadavers and surgical patients. Quotas for sample collection for each
participant are specified for age group, race group, and sex of donor. The extent to which these
samples reflect the prevalence in the general population is unclear. If the tissue is collected from
a cadaver, the donor should preferably have died suddenly (for example, from a car accident or a
heart attack). Cachexic (i.e., physically wasted and malnourished) patients, victims of pesticide
poisoning, and patients institutionalized for long periods of time are excluded. Samples are
composited by region and age-group before analysis, and all samples are sent to the laboratory
contractor (which changes from year to year).
Data on organochlorine pesticides and PCBs reported for the NHATS specimens up to the
FY82 collection are based on packed column gas chromatography/electron capture detector analysis.
The NHATS specimens collected during FY82 were selected for a broad scan analysis of volatile
and semi-volatile organic TSCA-related chemicals using high resolution gas chromatography/mass
spectrometiy. Although broad scan analysis provided OTS with an expanded list of potentially toxic
compounds in adipose tissue, a large number of unidentifiable peaks existed. Therefore, a
procedure was subsequently developed to automatically characterize these unidentified peaks based
on a forward library search approach. This procedure resulted in the tentative identification of
many additional compounds, however, a significant number of peaks were still unresolved or
unidentified in the gas chromatography scan. As a final choice the traditional reverse search
approach was adopted on a larger set of target compounds that offered a greater degree of
selectivity and sensitivity. On the set of FY 82 composite samples target compound analysis was
done using three listings of chemicals selected as being among the most environmentally significant:
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title Ill, Section 313 toxic chemical
listing; the SARA Section 110 listing, and a listing of 16 priority compounds from the unidentified
peaks study and targeted by EPA as chemicals of interest. Three-hundred and forty-nine
compounds were identified from these listings.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Standardized Metropolitan Statistical
Area (SMSA)
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Time Coverage: 1967-present (Public Health Service administered NHATS from 1967-1970; EPA
from 1970-present)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Annual
Regularity of sample collection: Collection quota is given on a yearly basis; design does not
specify that specimens must be collected at any specific time during the year
Source information: Not available
Dispersion information: Geographic trends rather than individual specific source receptor
relationships can be inferred
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Samples are composited according to geographic region and age group
prior to analysis
Standard procedures used: NHATS has developed its own protocols, most of which are
specifically designed for this program (e.g., broad-scan analysis method)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies greatly -- 1-5 years;
depends on budget availability for chemical analysis
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 4-10 months,
depending on the complexity of the data
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; spikes; external laboratory
analyses; data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
R Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
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HUMAN SAMPLES :
Adipose tissue: Semi-VOCs, pesticides and PCBs (1970-present); inorganic
compounds and VOCs, (1982); dioxin/furans (1982, 1987)
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: National and regional (census division) summary statistics are available
on specific agents on a yearly basis
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Not available
Reports: Available on an irregular basis as analyses are completed; Available reports include:
Broad Scan Analysis of the FY82 National Human Tissue Survey Specimens; Characterization
of the HRGC/MS Unidentified Peaks from the Analysis of Human Adipose Tissue; Baseline
Estimates and Time Trends for Beta -benzene hexachioride, Hexachlorobenzene, and
Polychiorinated B phenyls in Human Adipose Tissue, 1970-1983; Identification of SARA
Compounds in Adipose Tissue; Mirex Residue Levels in Human Adipose Tissue: A Statistical
Evaluation; Analysis for Polychiorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and Dibenzofurans (PCDF)
in Human Adipose Tissue: Method Evaluation Study, also numerous journals articles
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650
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NATIONAL HUMAN MILK MONITORING PROGRAM
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP)
Contact Person: Jerome Blondell, U.S. EPA, OPP, Health Effects Division (H7509C), 401 M St.,
SW, Washington, DC 20460, (703) 557-0336
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Human Milk Monitoring Program contains the results of two studies: the
National Study to Determine Levels of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides in Human Milk
(conducted in 1975-1976), and a follow-up to this study, The Second National Study to Determine
Levels of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides and Polychiorinated Biphenyls in Human Milk
(conducted in 1976-1978). The objective of these studies was to estimate the distribution of
selected organochlorine pesticide and PCB levels in human milk among nursing mothers giving birth
in general care hospitals in the United States. A total of 1,436 milk samples were collected in the
first study and 1,842 in the follow-up study from women residing in urban and rural areas
throughout the contiguous Unites States The studies were designed to provide information on the
levels of pesticides and PCBs retained in human milk, the geographic variatiqn in retention, and
the characteristics of nursing mothers (including age, dietary information, race, and number of
children nursed). Data collected are useful in estimating long-term trends in pesticide and PCB
levels in human milk. However, the degree to which these results can be generalized to the entire
population is limited because of potential selection bias (it was not known whether the subjects who
agreed to participate in the study differed from those who elected not to participated in it.)
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Human milk samples
Classes of compounds: Pesticides, PCBs
Type of data available: Summary statistics are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
General care hospitals (622) were chosen from those that participated in the EPA Second
National Hospitalized Acute Pesticide Poisoning Study and were classified into one of five
geographic regions (northeast, southeast, midwest, northwest, southwest). The regions were derived
by grouping ten EPA regions into five. Within each of the regions, general care hospitals with
nursery facilities were stratified and a certain percentage were selected according to number of
births during a calendar year. Every effort was made to obtain information directly from the
selected individuals (mothers).
Residue analysis performed at participating laboratories included isolating the fat from the
milk and extracting the chlorinated hydrocarbons from the fat. Primary identification and
quantification of the pesticides were performed using a gas chromatograph with an electron capture
detector. During data analysis, standard chi-square tests for homogeneity of proportions were used
to statistically investigate differences in distribution of the residues of each contaminant in rnothers
milk by geographic region, race, age, and number of children nursed. Differences in residue
concentrations between urban and rural areas were also examined. Analyses were limited to the
effects of factors individually rather than jointly; thus, reported differences with respect to one
factor were not adjusted for the effects of all other factors. Also, because of the small sample sizes
it was not possible to investigate the potential effects of employment in a pesticide related industry
and exposure to pesticides at home or at work.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Geographic region (northeast, southeast, midwest, northwest, southwest)
Time Coverage: 1974-1978
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Irregular; two studies conducted; mothers participating in
the studies provided one sample per study
Regularity of sample collection: Samples were collected at the same time in each sampling
period
Source information: No environmental samples were collected to examine the relationships
between the mothers’ milk samples and environmental concentrations of pesticides
and PCBs. However, the results from the second study showed decreases in the
concentrations of pesticides and PCBs in mothers milk since the time of the first
study consistent with the banning or restriction of most of these materials in the
United States after the first study.
Dispersion information: Limited to one of five geographic regions
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: EPA Analytical Standards for Chlorinated Pesticides;
procedures listed in the Manual of Analytical Methods for the evaluation, storage,
activation, and use of Florisil by Pesticide Community Studies Laboratories, Primate
Research Center, Perrine, Florida (1971)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Several months
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 1 week
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Duplicates, spikes, external laboratory analyses
(desi ied and monitored by EPA), intralaboratory analyses, data entry audits, training of
field epidemiologists and analytical chemists
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
L& Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES
Milk: Pesticides, PCBs
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: Chemical or mixture name
DATABASE AVAILABIUTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics are available on specific agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
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Reports: National Study to Determine Levels of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides in Human Milk;
Second National Study to Determine Levels of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides and
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Human Milk (E.P. Savage et al (1984)); distributed to the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
Reference Documents: Several listed at the end of each report; examples include: Insecticides in
Human Milk; DDT in Human Milk; The Insecticide Residues in Human Diet; Chlorinated
Hydrocarbon Insecticides in Plasma and Milk of Pregnant and Lactating Women
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; Jerome Blondell, U.S. EPA, OPP, Health
Effects Division (H7509C), Washington, DC 20460, (703) 557-0336 (for information on
reports)
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NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE BANK
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National
Institute of Standards and Technolo ’ (NIST)
Contact Person: Stephen A. Wise, MIST, Building 222, Room B-158, Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
(301) 975-3112
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank was initiated in 1990 by NOAA, in conjunction
with NIST, to establish a representative collection of tissues from marine mammals for future
contaminant analyses and documentation of long-term trends in environmental quality. This project
is one of the many activities of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (see separate entry in
Part II of this Inventory). The National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank is similar to the Alaskan
Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (see separate entry in Part I of this Inventory) except that
it focuses on the 48 contiguous states of the United States, whereas the Alaskan project focuses on
Alaskan marine mammals. Since most marine mammals are at or near the top of the food chain,
chemical analysis of their tissues may be useful in determining whether bioaccumulation of
contaminants associated with human industrial activities is occurring in the marine food chains. To
date, only tissue samples from marine mammals in the Northeast have been collected for inclusion
in the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank. These include blubber and liver tissue samples from
harbor porpoises caught in nets by commercial fisheries and from pilot whales which have been
stranded on Cape Cod, MA. Samples have been taken from a total of fourteen of these animals
to date. Plans for future sampling include tissue collection of marine mammals from all coastal
regions of the contiguous United States.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ENVIRONMENTAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Acronym: NPSEDMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Air Quality Division
Contact Person: Mr. William Brick, Manager, Rocky Mountains Operations, P.O. Box 25287,
Denver, CO 80225, (303) 989-2667
Objectives and Coverage:
NPSEDMS is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS) for the purpose of assessing
the effects of air pollution on vegetation in U.S. National Parks, primarily those designated as Class
I (“Clean Air” areas).
This database consists of air sampling results for criteria pollutants within these parks.
Utilizing these results, the NI’S seeks to: assess the effects of air pollution on sensitive resources
in these parks; understand the nature and sources of air pollution; assess the effects of emission
control strategies to mitigate or eliminate the impact of existing and proposed emission sources on
NI’S resources; and provide NI’S personnel with the information needed to comply with statutory
resource management and protection responsibilities and to support other air quality related
management needs.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Criteria pollutants
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
National Parks with 6,000 acres of land or greater are selected for inclusion in this program
based on their Clean Air Act class designation (class I parks are included), as well as ecoregion
representation and expected range of pollutant concentration.
A site visit is made at each park to determine appropriate sample locations, which include
cleared areas with electric power and a telephone system nearby, if possible. Other sites may be
selected for special sampling projects designed to determine damage to a particular plant life.
Time-integrated air samples for sulfur dioxide (two 24-hour samples each week of the year) are
collected on filter packs. If elevated concentrations are detected on a frequent basis, monitoring
of sulfur dioxide is conducted 24 hours/day throughout the year, using continuous monitoring
methods (pulsed fluorescence spectroscopy).
Air sampling for ozone is conducted 24 hours/day throughout the year, using Continuous
chemiluminescence (ultraviolet absorption photometry) monitors, at all sites except Steam Town
National Historical Site, Scranton, PA.
- Meteorological measurements are also taken at most parks in the program, with plans-for
these measurements to be taken at all of these parks in the future.
All air quality and meteorological measurements are reduced to hourly, arithmetic averages,
except for vector wind speed, which is calculated to a vector average. All averages are reported to
the EPA Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) (see separate ently in Part II of this
Inventory).
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National, primarily in areas designated as Class I under the Clean Air Act
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude and universal transmercator coordinates of the monitor site;
name of county and state
Time Coverage: 1980-present (most sites on-line since 1987)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Two 24-hour, time-integrated samples for sulfur
dioxide/week in most locations; continuous monitoring of sulfur dioxide, ozone,
and meteorological variables in some locations
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: Results of fine particulate sampling included in the NPS Visibility
Monitoring Program Database are used to relate data from NPSEDMS to sources
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Dispersion information: No data collected at source
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: NPS standard procedures are used for time-integrated samples;
EPA reference and equivalent methods EQOA-0577-019, EQOA-0881-053, EQSA-
0876-013, EQSA-0276-009 are used for continuous analyzers. The EPA methods are
referenced in: Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems
(Volume 1: Piinciples; EPA 600/9-76-005; Volume 2: Ambient Air Specific Methods,
EPA 1600/4-77/027A); or Ambient Monitoring Guidelines for Prevention of Significant
Deterioration, EPA 450/4-87-007
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1-2 months for time-
integrated, sulfur dioxide samples; instantaneous for other continuous sulfur dioxide,
ozone and meteorological measurements; precipitation data recorded on event basis
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 24 hours-i week
for continuous measurements; 45-90 days after each calendar quarter for the
integrated sulfur dioxide measurements
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
data entry audits; EPA quality assurance requirements for continuous measurements found
in 40 CFR 58, Appendix A are followed
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR:
Outdoor Rural: Criteria pollutants (ozone and sulfur dioxide) and
meteorological measurements
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HLTMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif y Agents: Database-specific codes or identifiers, or other codes (EPA’s
AIRS database codes)
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DATABASE AVAILkBILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents; various data extremes, averages, and doses are summarized by month for ozone and
sulfur dioxide; hourly measurements are available as well as graphical (time-series) plots of
data for all air quality and meteorological data
Availability Although the general public does not have on-line access to this system, any requester
can obtain hard copies of the data by contacting any regional EPA office; federal, state, or
local governmental agencies and subcontractors of EPA may obtain data through EPA’s
AIRS system
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette (ASCII); on-line through EPA’s AIRS system
Reports: Preliminary data available monthly for internal use only; Quarterly and Annual Reports
(for 1989 and 1990); it is anticipated that separate reports for quarterly and annual data will
be published for 1991; reports are distributed to state air pollution control agencies, EPA
Regional Offices, NPS Regional Offices, U.S. Forest Service Regional Offices, and
individual NPS units
Reference Documents: Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 40, Parts 53-60, Protection of the
Environment
Data/Reports Available From: Miguel Flores, Department of the Interior, National Park Service,
Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225, (303) 969-2072
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NATIONAL PESTICIDE SURVEY
Acronym: NPS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs
Contact Person: OPP Docket, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA, 401 M St., SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (800) 426-4791
Objectives and Coverage:
Primary objectives of the NPS include regulatory, monitoring, and research activities. The
two goals of this one-time survey are: (1) to determine the frequency and concentration of
pesticides and nitrate in drinking water wells nationwide, and (2) to improve EPA’s understanding
of how the presence of pesticides and nitrate in drinking water wells is associated with patterns of
pesticide use and the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination. The program was designed
to obtain information on public community water supply wells and rural domestic drinking water
wells nationwide. The survey does not assess the presence of pesticides or nitrate at the local,
county, or state levels, nor does it address the presence of pesticides or nitrate in ground water or
surface water generally. Instead, the survey focused on the quality of water in drinking water wells
before treatment, rather than the quality of drinking water at the tap.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (wells — municipal and private, before treatment or blending)
Classes of compounds: Pesticides, nitrate, inorganic compounds (127 analytes, total)
Type of data available: Summary statistics on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: EPA sampled over 1,300 wells; estimated data were used to
determine pesticide use because actual county-level data were not available
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The National Pesticide Survey was designed to yield results that are statistically
representative of the nation’s approximately 94,600 community water supply wells and 10,500,000
rural domestic water supply wells. Stratified random probability sampling methods were used to
select wells for water quality analysis. EPA sampled 540 community water supply wells in all 50
states and 752 rural domestic wells in 38 states. All counties in the United States were
characterized according to (a) pesticide use, and (b) the relative vulnerability of ground water to
contamination. Questionnaires were used to collect additional data describing the well and
surrounding area; well construction; pesticide use on the property where the well was located; and
information on crops, pesticide use, and land use within one-half mile of the well. Chemicals were
chosen that had potential to leach into ground water and which were used in at least one million
pound quantities nationwide in 1982. All pesticides regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act were
included.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the zip code centroid; street address; name of city,
municipality, or township; county/parish; state; congressional district; well
identification codes
Time Coverage: 1988-1990
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Each site sampled once
Regularity of sample collection: Sampling of over 1,300 sites spread out evenly in two-week
intervals during the year
Source and dispersion information: Questionnaires were used to identify locations and
activities that might affect the presence and levels of pesticides in drinking water
wells
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Most methods found in Methods for the Determination of
O,ganic Compounds in Drinking Water, CERI (EPA/600/4-88/039); used two existing
EPA methods (NPS Methods 7 and 9) and developed six new methods (NPS
Methods 1.6)
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: less than 14 days
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Database is to be
publicly released approximately a year and a half after the collection of the last
sample
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Lab blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
external lab analysis; data entry audits; field audits; interviewer training; 24-hour hotline for
sampling teams; logic checks; instrument control standards; reanalysis
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds AnalTzed by Media:
WATER
Groundwater, municipal, private: Inorganic compounds, pesticides
SOIL Not applicable
IB. Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CI{EMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name or mixture; database - specific
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics on specific agents (data on single location -- per well
— at one point in time); data is cross-referenced by chemical
Availability: Any requester (except that names and addresses of private well owners are
confidential); database will be publicly available approx. 8/91
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
Machine readable — tape (SAS)
Reports: National Pesticide Survey: Project Summary (Fall 1990); “Results and Findings (projected
release date, Spring 1991)
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Reference Documents: National Pesticide Survey: Survey Analy:es (Fall 1990); National Pesticide
Survey: AnaiLytical Methods (Fall 1990);
Data/Reports Available From: Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791; also available from state
pesticide regulators (e.g., agriculture departments); drinking water regulators (e.g., health
and/or environmental departments); and EPA U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) headquarters and regions
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NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL RADON SURVEY
Acronym: NRRS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation Programs
Contact Person: Frank Marcinowski, U.S. EPA, Office of Radiation Programs, 401 M Street, SW
(ANR-464); Washington, DC 20460, (202) 475-9615
Objectives and Coverage:
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (Public Law 99-499, 1986)
Section 118(k) requires the U.S. EPA Administrator to conduct a national assessment of radon
levels where people normally live and work, including educational institutions. The National
Residential Radon Survey provides an estimate of the national frequency distribution of annual
average radon concentrations in occupied residences (97.5% of the 1980 United States population)
for each of the 10 EPA regions. The survey was designed to achieve reasonablel precision in
estimating the number of homes with relatively high levels of radon concentration (above 10 pCifL).
The survey is also intended to provide information from which correlations can be made between
radon concentrations, house construction, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
characteristics. In addition, the survey is designed to provide information on radon exposures to
sensitive populations, such as children and smokers.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Indoor air
Classes of compounds: Radon
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summaxy statistics are available on specific
agents; also distribution estimates on a national and regional basis
Estimation versus observational data: Observational assessments
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Sample Design and Analysis:
NRRS was divided into two phases. Phase I of the survey involved identifying the
households to be sampled, interviewing the residents of each household, and placing the detectors.
Phase II included panel maintenance, collection of the detectors, analysis of the data, and
production of a final report. Houses selected were those that were defined by the United States
Census as containing household populations, which account for approximately 97.5% of the United
States population, and those in which permanent residents lived. The study did not include
nonhousehold populations, such as inmates of institutions, military personnel in base housing or on
ships, or residents of college dormitories, rooming houses, convents, or halfway houses. Following
administration of the survey questionnaire, year-long alpha-track detectors (ATDs) were placed in
the participating residences. Detectors were placed at each level of the home used as living areas,
other than the basement. Single-level homes received one detector in the living area and one in
the bedroom area. Multi-level homes received a maximum of 3 detectors. A total of 7,134 homes
were selected for the survey, based on statistical and geographical coverage. After panel
maintenance, 6,285 (88 percent of Phase I) homes remained for Phase II -- well above the target
value of 5,000 homes required to meet the survey precision. The detectors were retrieved through
the mail during the summer of 1990. The ATDs were analyzed, and statistical analyses performed
on the data. No information is available on the homes that did not return the detectors.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Primary sampling unit (PSU), consisting of census-defined counties or county
equivalents; latitude/longitude of the county centroid; census-tract (enumeration
district); zip code; street address; name of city, municipality, or township; state
Time Coverage: 1989 — 1990
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Yearly
Regularity of sample collection: Once a year, in June-August, in the same homes each year
Source information: Samples taken at individual homes
Dispersion information: Radon emanates from soil; hot spots are statistically identified
through measurements
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: For certain analyses, the arithmetic average of measurements taken at
several locations within a house are used
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Standard procedures used: U.S. EPA Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product
Measurement Protocols; U.S. EPA Interim Protocols for screening and follow-up;
Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 2 weeks-I month
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 2 weeks
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analyses, data entry audits, performance evaluation audits, technical
systems audit
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not Applicable
SOIL Not Applicable
AIR
Indoor Homes: Radionuclides -- radon
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions used to identify agents: Chemical name
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Agregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Tape, diskette (ASCII)
Reports: Available in 1992
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Reference Documents: Planning the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Residential Radon
Survey; The National Residential Radon Survey: Final Quality Assurance Project Plan
Data/Reports Available From: Frank Marcinowski, U.S. EPA Office of Radiation Programs, (202)
475-9615
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NATIONAL SHELLFISH REGISTER
OF CLASSIFIED ESTUARINE WATERS
Acronym: Register
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); Interagency Task Force on Shellfish Growing Waters (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NOAA)
Contact Person: Eric Slaughter, NOAA, Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment
(ORCA), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Division, Human Activities Branch,
6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-8843
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Shellfish Register is a compilation of information about estuaries in the
United States that have been classified for shellfishing. To protect public health, approximately 19
million acres in 24 states are currently classifed as either approved, conditionally approved,
restricted, or prohibited for shellfishing (for oysters, clams, and mussels). First published in 1966,
the Register was developed to inventory acreage and classification status of shelifishing waters; later
versions have also included information on water quality (based primarily on fecal coliform levels).
The latest (1990) Register includes historical trends data; information on pollution sources
(including point and nonpoint sources), productivity of waters, and state management efforts;
reasons for changes from the 1985 classifications; and discussions of relationships between shellfish
production, classifications, pollution, and public expenditures. The Register is updated every 5
years, and data are being digitized using NOAA’s Geocoast Geographic Information System
(GEOCOAST), which will store data, perform calculations, and print data onto nautical charts.
The development of these data is one of several interrelated activities of NOAA. A
separate database is maintained for each of these activities (see the National Status and Trends
Program and the National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Inventory (NCPDI) for descriptions of
related NOAA databases). Each of these databases use the same spatial framework and together
are used by NOAA for the strategic assessment of the Nation’s coastal and oceanic resources.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water (estuaries)
Classes ofcompounds: Microorganisms, inorganic compounds, pesticides, PCBs, radionuclides; also
meteorological and hydrographic data
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents
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Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
The Register uses NOAA’s National Estuarine Inventory (NEI), which was created to
provide a spatial framework that could be used in several related NOAA projects. The spatial
framework developed was the estuarine drainage area (EDA), defined by NOAA as that portion
of a watershed that most directly affects an estuary and is delineated by U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) cataloging units and the head of the tide. Two atlas volumes were subsequently published
detailing the land use and physical and hydrologic characteristics of the estuarine systems within
the NEI.
Sampling requirements and procedures for the Register are based on the National Shellfish
Sanitation Program (NSSP) Manual. The NSSP requires that a sanitary survey be performed before
an area is approved as a source of shellfish harvesting. The sanitary survey identifies and evaluates
all actual and potential sources of pollution; determines the distance of such sources from shellfish-
growing areas; assesses the effectiveness and reliability of sewage treatment systems; ascertains the
presence of poisonous or deleterious substances; and collects and analyzes water samples from the
growing area, particularly for bacteriological quality. Sample collection should provide a profile of
adverse pollution conditions, reflecting point sources and meteorological, hydrographic, and
seasonal factors. Sampling is performed by state regulatory agencies, primarily for total or fecal
coliform. Sanitary surveys are reviewed at least annually by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and are reevaluated every 3 years. “Hot spots,” such as industrial discharge areas, are
sampled routinely. For the 1990 Register, NOAA examined state data and/or conducted field
investigations with state personnel for waters in over 100 estuaries.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National (24 shellfish-producing, coastal states)
Identifiers: National Ocean Survey nautical charts (being digitized); latitude/longitude of
point source, and monitor site (sometimes available); state; estuarine drainage area
Time Coverage: 1966 to present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: States collect data monthly; Register data are compiled
every 5 years
Regularity of sample collection: Varies; some states use adverse pollution conditions to
determine when to sample; others use scheduled random sampling
Source information: State sanitary surveys identify pollution sources, their positional
relationship, and the extent of their impact on shellfishing waters
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Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: FDA National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Manual
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1 week
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Varies by state
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Varies by state, but is referred to in the NSSP
Manual
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Microorganisms (total and/or fecal coliform bacteria, vibrio bacteria,
occasionally viruses, and dinoflagellates (for marine biotoxins, such as red
tide, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning)); inorganic compounds;
pesticides; PCBs; and radionucides (primarily Gulf of Mexico)
SOIL Not applicable
AIR Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi& Agents: Varies by state
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents; consistent with other NOAA
programs which use the NEI framework
Availability Federal, state, or local governmental agencies may obtain data; National Technical
Information Service (NTIS); over 1,000 agencies and individuals in NOAA’s user files will
automatically receive the 1990 Register
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Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports
Machine readable (for classification and pollution source data only; not available for water
quality results) -- Diskette (RBase, Excel); other forms, varies by state
Reports: Generated irregularly except for the Register itself, for which a report is generated every
5 years
Reference Documents: 1990 National Shellfish Register; The Quality of Shellfish Crowing Waters in
the Gulf of Mexico; The Quality of Shellfish Growing Waters on the East Coast of the United
States; The Quality of Shellfish Growing Waters on the West Coast of the United States; NSSP
Shellfish Sanitation Program: Manual of Operations
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; state offices (all relevant agencies in shellfish-
producing states); federal offices (those part of the Interagency Task Force on Shellfish
Growing Waters); industrial members of the Shellfish Institute of North America; contact
individual state health agencies for specific results, or contact the Register for referrals to
appropriate state official; Mitchell Katz, NOAA, (301) 443-8843
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NATIONAL STATUS AND TRENDS FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Acronym: NS&T
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment (ORCA)
Contact Person: Thomas O’Connor, NOAA (0MA32), ORCA, Coastal Monitoring Bioeffects
Assessment Division, 6001 Exec. Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-8644
Objectives and Coverage:
The purpose of the NS&T Program is nationwide monitoring to determine the
environmental quality of estuarine and coastal waters and to detect any spacial or temporal changes.
The principal objectives of the NS&T database are to: 1) maintain and manage all chemical
concentrations reported from NS&T monitoring programs for marine organisms and sediments; 2)
provide data to other NOAA personnel for analysis; and 3) provide data to major data centers for
permanent storage. NOAA coordinates its NS&T program with the Near Coastal component of
EPA s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) (see separate entiy for
EMAP).
NS&T contains seven major components: the Mussel Watch Project; the Benthic
Surveillance Project; Biological Effects Surveys and Research; Historical Trends Assessment;
Specimen Banking; Regional Assessments; and a Quality Assurance Program. The Mussel Watch
Project monitors chemical levels in bivalve mollusks (mussels and oysters) and sediments. The
Benthic Surveillance Project monitors chemicals in benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish and associated
sediments; frequency of external and internal disease conditions in fish is documented. Biological
Effects Surveys are two- to three-year studies conducted in specific locations after previous studies
have indicated potential for substantial environmental degradation. These studies are designed to
provide detailed information of the magnitude and extent of ecosystem degradation. Biological
effects research has been conducted in Boston Harbor, southern California, Tampa Bay, Long
Island Sound, and the Hudson-Raritan Estuaiy; liver tumors, impaired reproduction, or genetic
toxicity in fish resulting from exposure to chemical contaminants have been studied in these areas.
The Histoncal Trends Assessment project combines new and historical data to provide
information about the evolution of environmental contamination, generally focusing on areas of
highest contamination of specific chemicals; fish, shellfish, and sediment data have been added to
provide information on long-term chemical contamination trends. The Environmental Specimen
Banking Project (see separate ently for the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank in Part II of
this Inventoiy) maintains a specimen bank at the National Institute of Standards and Technolo ’
in Gaithersburg, MD, for future uses (e.g., testing of chemicals that have not yet been identified
as toxic; use of new analytical methods). The Regional Assessment project seeks to compare local
levels of contamination to national-scale results. Finally, the Quality Assurance project seeks to
produce nationally uniform analytical results and to ensure comparability among data sets. All
participating laboratories must use standard procedures and standard reference materials, and must
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perform routine tests to check reliability of techniques against both known and unknown chemical
samples.
The development of these data is one of several interrelated activities of NOAA. A
separate database is maintained for each of these activities (see the National Shellfish Register of
Classified Estuanne Waters and the National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Inventory (NCPDI) for
descriptions of related NOAA databases). Each of these databases use the same spatial framework
and together are used by NOAA for the strategic assessment of the Nation’s coastal and oceanic
resources.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Fish/shellfish (mussels and oysters, bottom-dwelling fish); marine sediments
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; radionuclides
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents
Estimated versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
NS&T uses NOAA’s National Estuarine Inventory (NE!), which was created to provide a
spatial framework that could be used in several related NOAA projects. The spatial framework
developed was the estuarine drainage area (EDA), defined by NOAA as that portion of a
watershed that most directly affects an estuary and is delineated by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
cataloging units and the head of the tide. Two atlas volumes were subsequently published detailing
the land use and physical and hydrologic characteristics of the estuarine systems within the NE!.
NS&T sampling includes approximately 300 sites from near-coastal and estuarine waters.
Sites are located in all states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Monitoring sites are selected 10 to 100
km apart to collect data representative of large areas. Sites are regularly moved within areas,
although sampling strate ’ does not change. Distances between sites are less in estuaries and
embayments than along open stretches of coast. The site selection method is designed to avoid
small-scale patches of contamination. A uniform set of environmental measurements is applied
nationally. Information on source of pollutants is not determinable through the database. The
NS&T Program includes urban, suburban, and rural areas, and avoids hot spots and/or known
discharge points. Biological effects studies are conducted in areas that have moderate to high
contamination levels.
In the Mussel Watch Project, six separate composites from each site (three for organic
compounds and three for metal analyses) are collected. Each mussel composite contains 30
individuals, each oyster composite contains 20 individuals, and each sediment sample is made of
three composites. For most contaminants, bivalves accumulate chemicals at different rates;
therefore comparisons of biological data from different sites should always account for species type.
Comparisons among-sites can also be made for sediment samples. In the Benthic Surveillance
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Project, chemical analyses are generally done on three composite samples of 10-20 fish livers each.
Sixty individuals are analyzed for microscopic changes caused by disease. Nationwide, 15 different
fish species are analyzed, wtih different species sampled at different sites. For the Specimen
Banking project, approximately 10 percent of samples collected at NS&T sites are stored in liquid
nitrogen at the National Institute of Science and Technology. The Historical Trends Assessments
Project focuses on two types of trends: those involving a single contaminant or contaminant class,
and those involving a number of contaminants at a specific geographical region over different time
periods. Chemical trends in the sediment cores can be examined through 5 to 10 year intervals.
DATABASE CHARACrERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of monitor site
Time Coverage: 1984-present for benthic fish and sediments
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Yearly
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: None available
Dispersion information: All samples taken in near-coastal and estuarine waters
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Benthic Surveillance and Mussel Watch Projects Sampling
Protocols; NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OMA 40; NOAA Technical
Memorandum NMFS F/NWC-92; A Rapid High-Pressure Liquid Chromatographic
Method for Isolating Contaminants from Tissue and Sediment Extracts (Northwest
Fisheries Center); National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) standard
reference materials
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 6 months
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
external lab analysis; data entry audits; annual inter-lab comparison exercises
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL
Sediment (marine): Inorganic compounds; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs;
radionuclides; (more specifically, for the Mussel Watch and Benthic
Surveillance projects, this includes 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs); 20 cogeners of PCBs; DDT and its and breakdown products (DDD
and DDE); 9 other chlorinated pesticides; butyltins; 4 major elements; and
13 trace elements)
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Fish/Shell fish: Inorganic compounds; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs; radionuclides;
(more specifically, for the Mussel Watch and Benthic Surveillance projects,
this includes 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); 20 cogeners of
PCBs; DDT and its breakdown products (DDD and DDE); 9 other
chlorinated pesticides; butyltins; 4 major elements; and 13 trace elements)
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable -
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Database-specific codes
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents; consistent with other NOAA
programs which use the NE! framework
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, agency reports, journal publications, some microfilm
Machine readable -- Diskette, on-line (ASCII, Lotus, Excel, SPSS, RBASE, as needed)
Reports: Irregularly published; depends on data submissions and timing of analysis; over 200
documents available, including: PCB and Chlorinated Pesticide Contamination in U.S. Fish
and Shellfish: A Historical Assessment Report; A Summary of Selected Data on Chemical
Contaminants in Sediments Collected During 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987;A Summary of Data
on Tissue Contamination from the First Three Years (1985-1988) of the Mussel Watch Project
Reference Documents: None
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Data/Reports Available From: State officers of coastal states; SEA Grant Program, (401) 792-6114;
federal offices (NOAA, including NOAA Data Center, other offices if requested); Dr. Tom
O’Connor (301) 443-8655
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NATIONAL STREAM SURVEY
Acronym: NSS
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development; National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP)
Contact Person: Alan Herlihy, U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street,
Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 757-4442
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Stream Survey (NSS) was a component of the National Surface Water Survey,
which also included the Eastern and Western Lake Surveys (see separate entries for these databases
elsewhere in this Inventory). The NSS covered surface waters in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern
United States. Its objectives were to 1) determine the percentage, extent, location, and chemical
characteristics of streams that were acidic or that had low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and thus
might become acidic in the future; and 2) identify streams representative of important classes that
might be selected for more intensive study or long-term monitoring. The NSS contains chemistry
data, geographic attributes, and watershed descriptive information.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water (streams)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, ions (including fluoride); physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The NSS was designed to chemically and physically characterize a target population of
streams in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States based on a probability sample. For the
purposes of the NSS, streams were defined as water bodies that have drainage areas of less than
155 square kilometers (60 square miles), but are large enough to be represented as blue lines on
1:250,000-scale U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps. This size was viewed as a
reasonable compromise that includes streams large enough to be important for fish habitat, yet still
small enough to be susceptible to the impacts of acidic deposition. During the spring of 1986, the
NSS sampled stream segments (corresponding to river reaches) of a stream network at both
upstream and downstream locations.
A two-stage statistical sampling procedure was developed to select a representative subset
of 500 stream reaches as a probability sample from which the characteristics of the total reach
population could be extrapolated. Reaches were excluded if they were too large, located within
metropolitan areas or tidal zones, or affected by oil field brine, acid mine drainage, or point source
pollution. The NSS used index values to describe the chemical status of each stream sampled.
Users of the NSS can readily examine subpopulations of interest. The NSS also includes results
of a pilot stream survey conducted in the southern Blue Ridge Province.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (mid-Atlantic; southeastern United States)
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the monitor site; name of county/parish, state
Time Coverage: 1986
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: One time only
Regularity of sample collection: A total of one or two samples per site were collected in
the spring of 1986
Source and dispersion information: Acidic deposition typically originates from nonpoint
source pollution and impacts of various pollutants; specific sources are not
determined in this database
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
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Standard procedures used: EPA Methods for Chemical Analyses of Water and Wastes
(modified for acidic deposition research); Handbook of Methods for Acid Deposition
Studies, Laboratory Anabysis for Surface Water Chemistry; Handbook of Methods for
Acid Deposition Studies, Field Operations for Surface Water Chemistry (all published
by the EPA Office of Research and Development)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 2-28 days, varies by analyte
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 3-6 months
Quality AssurancefQuality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes,
external laboratory analyses; data entry audits; lab and field audits; natural audit samples
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds; ions (including fluoride); physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents. Summary
statistics are also available on specific agents, as cumulative distribution functions of
regional stream acid-base status
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Tape, diskette (ASCII, SAS)
Reports: National Stream Survey -- Quality Assurance Report; Field Operations Report
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Reference Documents: National Stream Sun’ey Database Guide; A Sampling and Analysis Plan for
Streams in the National Surface Water Suivey
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for data or report copies); Susan Christie,
(503) 757-4645 (for information on reports available)
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NATIONAL URANIUM RESOURCE EVALUATION
Acronym: NURE
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Contact Person:
NURE consists of radiometric and magnetic data from aerial surveys and geochemical data
from waters and sediments. Data are available by latitude/longitude. Data are available from:
USGS, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198. For furthter information about NURE, write
U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2567, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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NATIONAL VOC DATABASE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development
Contact Person: Dr. Larry T. Cupitt, Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
(AREAL), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-2270
Objectives and Coverage:
Anticipation of new federal regulations for air toxics has placed added emphasis on the
measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in most states. Consequently, knowledge
concerning ambient atmospheric concentrations of VOCs has advanced considerably in the last
decade. A national ambient VOC database was previously prepared for the U.S. EPA covering the
period from 1970 to 1980 (Brodzinsky and Singh, 1983). This database has now been updated to
include the ambient outdoor and indoor VOC measurements collected between 1980 and 1987.
Some personal VOC monitoring data (e.g., from EPA’s VOC Total Exposure Assessment
Methodology (TEAM) studies were also included. The database was prepared by collecting,
evaluating, and consolidating reports (from researchers and the literature) of ambient and indoor
VOC concentrations in urban, rural, remote, source-dominated, and indoor environments; it covers
more than 300 potentially hazardous VOCs. All available data were included and given a quality
rating. Nevertheless, the original references should be consulted to obtain more detailed
information before using the database for specific applications.
The database, which is in dBase 111+, is organized into 7 files: ambient daily average
concentrations, indoor daily average concentrations, sampling and analysis methods, sampling site
information, bibliographic data reference, chemical-specific and unit conversion information, and
a file containing lists of synonyms of and chemicals related to, the VOCs in the database. The
database is designed to be used with dBase IH+, which permits efficient linking of files and key
fields such as data reference, site type, and chemical name.
The primary and secondary objectives of this exposure database are research and
monitoring, respectively. The database can be used to: preliminarily compare air quality in urban,
non-urban, source-dominated, and indoor environments; highlight areas of adequate and inadequate
information; and provide a foundation for evaluating the implications of state and federal
regulations.
Even though within the database the data are reported to three significant digits in ppv, this
does not mean that all data are accurate to the ppt levels. Conversion of concentrations from gIm 3
to ppb and different analytical techniques resulted in concentration values reported to three decimal
places. Other limitations of the database include assumptions made in filling in less-than-detectable
concentrations; combining multiple observations taken during a given day; and pooling results from
widely different sites, and different sampling and analysis protocols. These and other limitations
must be kept in mind when using the database, which is primarily intended as a screening tool.
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: VOCs
Type of data available: Individual samples are entered into the database; individual data entries
are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
The data assembled in this project came from many different studies with a wide variety of
objectives, sampling time and methods, and analytical techniques. The 1980s VOCs Database,
published in 1983, contained data collected from 1970 to 1980 and was created under a previous
EPA contract. In updating this database, data published prior to 1980 were not specifically sought,
but were included in the 1987 database when discovered.
Data were sought by sending surveys to numerous individuals and by contacting researchers
by telephone. In addition, a computerized literature search was conducted using the Chemical
Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN) database accessed through the DIALOG Information
Retrieval Service; this yielded 3,000 references. The titles of these references were reviewed and
rejected if they indicated: (1) a study of emissions or sources; (2) a solely health-related study; (3)
a laboratory or modeling study; or (4) an industrial workplace study. Thus of the original 3,000
references, 710 were determined to be potentially eligible for inclusion in the update. As many of
these references as possible were located and reviewed. The database compilers actively sought
only the 151 VOCs targeted in the 1980 database. However, data about other eligible VOCs that
were sampled with the 151 targeted chemicals were also extracted. This increased the number of
chemicals to 320. Chemicals that were eligible for inclusion were non-pesticides with vapor
pressures greater than 10-6 Torr at 20°C known to exist predominantly in the gas phase, not the
particle phase.
Data were collected primarily in the United States. (A very limited amount of data from
Canadian sites were included in the 1980 database.) Data were sought from both indoor and
outdoor environments; indoor concentrations were limited to either residential or office spaces,
while outdoor spaces were limited to the fenceline and beyond. The vast majority of the data are
surface measurements of ambient VOCs. The database includes some aircraft samples taken from
the troposphere, but not from the stratosphere (10 to 50 1cm). When more than one sample was
taken per day, daily average concentrations were calculated through a weighting scheme in which
weights were assigned in proportion to the length of the sampling periods.
Within the database, the data are ranked and rated. In the 1980 VOCs database, a one-digit
quality code was assigned as follows: 1 for excellent, 2 for good, 3 for acceptable, 4 for
questionable, and Z when a quality code could not be assigned. However, the assignment of these
quality codes was subjective. The authors integrated the available published and unpublished
information with their personal knowledge and experience to arrive at quality codes for the data.
In the updated database, these codes were left intact for the existing records. For new records,
however, a new and more objective ranking/rating system using composite scores was developed in
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which scores of 2.0 to 23, 23 to 2.9, 3.0 to 3.6, and more than 3.6 to 5.0 indicate satisfactory,
average, good, and very good data quality, respectively. A score of less than 2 indicates that a
quality code could not be assigned.
Users should consult the original references to obtain more detailed information and to
assess the applicability of the rating and ranking scheme to their requirements before using the
ranking and rating scores.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National; Canada (limited data for Canada only for 1970-1980)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the city and monitor site; street address; city,
municipality, or township; county/parish; state; Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric
Data (SAROAD) number when available
Time Coverage: 1970-1984
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Variable; depends on particular source of data
Regularity of sample collection: This is a compilation of data reported in the literature; no
standard sampling regimen
Source information: No
Dispersion information: Not applicable
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples poole± Depends on specific investigator, all of the values reported by the original
investigator are included
Standard procedures used: Depends on specific investigator; sampling and analysis
procedures are included for each chemical at each site for each reference
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Depends on specific investigator;
this information, if provided, is included in the VOC method database file for each
concentration reported
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Unknown;
varies among different studies
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Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: When the 1980 database was updated, data records
from 28 randomly selected references (20 percent of the references from which data were
extracted) were examined and checked for data extraction and input errors; virtually none
were found. To ensure accuracy in the ently of new data, the following quality assurance
procedures were used: only experienced data ently personnel were used; they worked short
periods of time each day to avoid errors induced by fatigue and boredom; much of the data
were transferred into the database directly from diskettes or magnetic tape (data were
checked to ensure accurate transfer); error-checking routines were included in the dBase
111+ software package; all data entries were checked independently to identi1 ’ errors;
scatterplots and other graphic display techniques were used to identify “outliers” or
potentially erroneous data; data outliers were rechecked to ensure that the information was
correct; and a number of EPA staff members and scientists reviewed the project for
accuracy and consistency of data evaluation and reporting.
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Indoor homes and public buildings; outdoor urban, remote, suburban, source-
dominated, and rural; personal; workplace/office: VOCs
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name assigned by CAS; synonyms; database-specific codes; chemical formula
written following CAS conventions
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual samples are entered into the database; individual
data entries are available on specific agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data
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Form: Hard copy — Agency reports, Diskette (ASCII); the database is available on
microcomputer (IBM PC-compatible) diskettes for use with dBASE 111+; a utility
program written in dBase 111+ is also available for entering new data into one of
five VOC databases and/or extracting pertinent data based on a set of user
identifiable filters.
Reports: None
Reference Documents: US. EPA Project Report: National Ambient Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) Database Update February 1988. Atmospheric Sciences
Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711. EPA/60013-88/O1O(a).
Brodinsky, R. and H.B. Singh. 1983. Volatile Organic Chemicals in the Atmosphere.
An Assessment of Available Data. Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory,
U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC. EPA -600/3 -83 -027(A).
Shah, JJ. and H.B. Singh. 1988. Distribution of volatile organic chemicals in
outdoor and indoor air. Environmental Science and Technology. 2 22(12):1381-1388.
Data/Reports Available From: Dr. Jitendra Shah, President, G2 Environmental, Inc., 304
S.W. Hamilton Street, Portland, OR 97201, (503) 228-2335; National Technical
Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-
4650
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NATIONAL WATER INFORMATION SYSTEM H
Acronym: NWIS-II
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resources Division
Contact Person: John Briggs, USGS, National Center, MS437, Reston, VA 22092, (703) 648-5624
Objectives and Coverage:
The National Water Information System II is the new name of the National Water Data
Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE). The USGS is presently in the process of designing
this new system which will include a broader range of environmental data than the current
WATSTORE database (see separate entry for WATSTORE in this Inventory). Although the
design of the program will change, all of the information from the current WATSTORE database
will be transfered to the new system and available to users. The new system will be phased in
during 1993 and 1994.
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NATIONAL WATER QUALITY NETWORKS PROGRAM
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Dept. of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resources
Division (WRD)
Contact Person: Timothy Miller, USGS, WRD, MS-412, National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley
Drive, Reston, VA, 22092, (703) 648-6868
Objectives and Coverage:
USGS’s National Water Quality Networks include the National Stream Quality Accounting
Network (NASQUAN), the National Hydrologic Benchmark Network, the Radiochemical
Surveillance Network, and the Tritium Network. The primary objective of NASQUAN, the largest
of these networks, is to detect water quality conditions and trends over time in surface waters, and
when possible to relate trends to upstream land and water use. A secondary objective is the
estimation of constituent loads from the continent to coastal areas and the Great Lakes. In
addition, information on the transport of constituents by rivers to the ocean is available through
NASQUAN. Users can generate maps containing information of interest. Each NASQUAN
station represents an integration of upstream water quality conditions, and therefore may not
identify specific water quality conditions in other areas of the watershed.
The Radiochemical Surveillance Network operates at selected sites within NASQUAN;
samples are taken for gross radiochemical data for several isotopes. NASQUAN data are used by
state agencies to write federally mandated reports and by other government and private
organizations for research.
The Benchmark Network monitors natural streamfiow and water quality of small river basins
known to be relatively unaffected by human activity. The objectives of the Benchmark Network are
to document natural changes in hydrologic characteristics and to provide a comparative base for
studying the effects of human activity on the hydrologic environment. Data from the Benchmark
Network are used to detect water quality trends and to describe water quality conditions.
The Tritium Network monitors tritium concentrations in precipitation and streamfiow at
network stations. Detectable levels of tritium in the environment are used as a tracer to study the
movement and mixing of water in the hydrosphere. Data from this network are used to study
deposition and outflow of tritium for the continental United States and to approximate average
residence times of water within river basins. Tritium data is best used to study processes that occur
on a timescale of 10 to 100 years.
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds; microorganisms; physical and chemical indicators of
water quality; ions (including fluoride) (NASQUAN and Benchmark Networks);
radiochemicals (Radiochemical and Tntium Networks)
Type of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents at specific locations; some
summaries of data are available
Estimation versus observational data:
NASQUAN and Benchmark Networks: All observational data
Tritium Network: Observational and estimated data
Sample Design and Analysis:
NASQUAN and Benchmark Network monitoring stations cover the entire United States
(NASQUAN covers the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico; Benchmark
includes the same except for Puerto Rico). NASQUAN currently includes 410 sites. These are
generally selected near the downstream end of hydrologic units known as accounting units
(established by the Water Resource Council) or at representative sites along coastal areas and the
Great Lakes. (Accounting units are part of a standardized system to identii ’ locations of water
bodies based on hydrologic features, similar to the river reach system.) NASQUAN site selection
allows for sampling of large rivers and major tributary streams for physical and chemical
characteristics, and covers more than 90 percent of the surface water volume in the United States.
Currently there are approximately 525 accounting units that range in size from 200 to 600 square
miles. Sampling is conducted at a fixed location on a fixed schedule for each site. Hydrologic units
include urban, suburban, and ruraVagricultural areas.
The Radiochemical Network consists of 46 sampling sites within NASQUAN. The
Benchmark Network consists of 58 sampling sites generally located in national or state forests, other
reserve areas, or on private land. The Tritium Network includes 30 sampling sites (14 stream flow
and 16 atmospheric precipitation sites) in approximately 11 states (previously, the Tritium Network
was nationwide; data are available for these inactive sites). For years when no data were available
at a given station, tritium deposition was estimated based on available data from other locations
(e.g., Canadian and other sites operated worldwide by the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA)). Accuracy of most tritium samples are within 3 percent.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark Networks: National
Tritium Network: 11 states (although data are available for nationwide inactive
sites)
Identifiers:
NASQUAN and Radiochemical Networks: Latitude/Longitude of each monitor site;
assigned codes for counties and monitoring sites; name of county/parish;
state; hydrologic unit codes; station identification number and name;
identification is made uniquely using sample location, date, and time
Benchmark Network: Latitude/Longitude of county, monitor site; name of county,
state; hydrologic code; downstream order number
Tritium Network: Latitude/Longitude of the monitor site; name of county, state
Time Coverage:
NASQUAN and Radiochemical Networks: 1973-present
Benchmark Network: 1964-present
Tritium Network: Early 1960s-present (tritium deposition estimates available from
1953)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency, varies by site and chemical type, and
network
NASQUAN: Originally, all sites were sampled monthly; now 60 percent of sites are
sampled six times per year, 40 percent are sampled quarterly (dissolved trace
elements are sampled quarterly; nutrients, major ions, field parameters, and
bacteria are measured at each visit)
Radiochemical: Twice a year
Benchmarlc 73 percent of the sites are sampled quarterly, 23 percent bimonthly, and
4 percent monthly
Tritium: Monthly composite precipitation samples (3-month composites at some
stations) taken at Tritium Network stations, with monthly streamfiow grab
samples taken from selected Tritium Network locations
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Regularity of sample collection:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: Samples are collected about the same
time within each period; however, variance is allowed for weather conditions
and workloads; variation may be plus or minus a few weeks
Tritium: Within the same week each month
Source and dispersion information: Not available through the USGS National Water
Quality Networks (may be available through other databases, such as the EPA
Needs Survey; Resources for the Future’s Environmental Data Inventory; USDA
1982 National Resource Inventory; U.S. Census of Agriculture; Ethyl Corporation’s
U.S. Gasoline Consumption Report; the Salt Institute’s U.S. Road Salt Application
Report; the Department of Energy’s Trends in Motor Gasoline (1942-81))
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: Methods for collection, preservation,
and analysis are all USGS approved methods, such as: Techniques of
Water-Resource Investigations (ThRI), Book 5, Ch. A4, Methods for Collection
and Analysis ofAquatic, Biological, and Microbiological Samples; TWRI, Book
5, Ch. Al, Methods for Determination of Inorganic Substances in Water and
Fluvial Sediments; USGS Open File, Report 90-140, Methods for Collection
of Surface Water and Bed-sediment Samples for Physical and Chemical
Analyses
Tritium: Variation of the National Bureau of Standards Method 492
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis:
NASQUAN, Radiochernical, and Benchmark: For nutrients, approximately 2
weeks; for ions and trace elements, approximately 1 month
Tritium: 1-2 years
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: Approximately 2 months
Tritium: Varies according to USGS District Offices; generally every few years
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Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: Laboratory blanks; external laboratory
analyses; data entry audits; standard water reference samples; blind analyses of
samples of known concentration
Tritium: Lab blanks; some blind samples; the IAEA performs external lab analyses every
10 years
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: NASQUAN and Benchmark: Dissolved inorganics, major ions (including
fluoride), trace elements, dissolved and total nutrients, bacteria, physical and
chemical indicators of water quality
Radiochemical: Gross radiochemicals (alpha-radioactivity -- natural urani urn;
beta-radioactivity -- cesium-137, strontium-90i rttrium-9O equilibrium mixture;
uranium; radium-226)
Tritium: Tritium
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HTJMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical or mixture name; STORET parameter codes and
descriptions
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Analytical results are stored as discrete data; individual data entries are
available on specific agents; some summaries of data have been made and data analysis and
interpretations published
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
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Data for the NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark Networks are stored in the USGS
Water Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) and in the EPA’s Storage and
Retrieval of Water Quality Information (STORET) database and can be accessed
through either system (see separate entries for each of these systems elsewhere in
this inventory); data can also be accessed through the USGS National Water Data
Exchange (NAWDEX)
Some Tritium Network data (pre-1981) is stored in WATSTORE
Form: NASQUAN and Benchmark:
Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency reports (annual report by state)
Machine readable -- Tape; On-line (ASCII); CD-ROM available through US West,
Inc., Denver, CO
Tritium: Machine readable (on-line)
Reports:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: Agency reports (compilation of flow and
water quality data by state); Water Resources Division Information Guide (overviews
of programs, locations of USGS water regions and districts, contact persons); journal
articles (e.g., on water quality trends, lead concentration, pesticides, acid
precipitation, and fecal coliform in U.S. rivers)
Tritium: Some published reports -- Residence Times in River Basins as Determined byAnalysis
of Long-Tenn Trizium Records; Tritium Deposition in the Continental United States,
1953-83
Reference Documents: USGS Open File Report 83-533 (statistical summary of data from the USGS
National Water Quality Networks)
Data Reports Available From:
NASQUAN, Radiochemical, and Benchmark: On-line registered users of STORET or
WATSTORE (can be accessed directly or through the USGS National Water Data
Exchange — NAWDEX); on-line through USDS district offices and some federal and state
agencies that have cooperative agreements with NAWD X, (703) 648-5664; hard copy (call
NAWDEX); for Information Guide, call USGS Chief Hydrologist for Operations, (703) 648-
5031; for journal articles, call USGS Office of Water Quality’s National Networks
Coordinator, Bob(703) 648-6861
Tritium: On-line and some hard copy data available; call USGS District Offices, or Robert
Michel, (703) 648-5968
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NORTHEAST REGIONAL OXIDANT STUDY
Acronym: NEROS
Sponsoring Agency. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development, Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL)
Contact Person: John Clarke, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, AREAL, MD-80,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, (919) 541-3660
Objectives and Coverage:
The objective of the Northeast Regional Oxidant Study (NEROS) was to develop a database
for the evaluation of an EPA regional model of ozone formation, transport, and removal and to
obtain data for the study of oxidant formation and transport in urban plumes and on a regional
scale. NEROS was a special-research field study conducted over one-month periods during the
summers of 1979 and 1980. The 1979 study focused on the measurement of regional ozone and
precursor patterns and development of data used to evaluate the performance of the model. The
1980 study focused on measurements to understand physical and chemical processes of ozone
formation and transport, including urban plume studies in Columbus, Ohio, and Baltimore,
Maryland; regional plume dispersion and chemical studies; and ozone dry deposition and boundary
layer structure measurements over forests and crop lands. NEROS included the northeastern
portion of the United States, encompassing the area east of about 84° longitude and north of 38°
latitude. NEROS was coordinated with a separate but related project called Persistent Elevated
Pollution Episodes (PEPE). An extensive database was generated, called the General Distribution
Database (GDDB) of PEPE-NEROS.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Criteria pollutants (NO 1 , CO,0 3 , SO 2 ), VOCs (hydrocarbons), ions
(including sulfate, nitrate, ammonium), index of fine particles (scattering coefficient)
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
NEROS was a large field measurements program sponsored by the EPA Atmospheric
Sciences Research Laboratory, other federal agencies (NASA, the Department of Energy, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Aviation Agency, the Tennessee
Valley Authority, and the National Science Foundation), industry, and universities in 1979 and 1980.
Chemical, optical, and meteorological measurements were made from stationary and mobile
platforms and included airborne and ground-based sampling and both in-situ and remote-sensing
sampling. A Lagrangian sampling mode was used (i.e., an initial specified volume of air was
sampled at several forecast positions as it was being transported over the study area). The sampling
design provided three-dimensional validation data for a regional air model extending from eastern
Ohio to the East Coast, and from northern Virginia to southern Maine.
In August, 1979, a regional-scale aircraft sampling program was conducted using three
aircraft to obtain: continuous measurements of ozone, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide; grab
samples to be analyzed later for hydrocarbon species; scattering coefficient by nephelometer; and
meteorological data. Aircraft flew alternately within the mixing layer and above it. Meteorological
data were used to establish the orientation and spacing of the flight tracks. Surface deposition rates
and cloud venting of boundary-layer ozone were also studied near Lancaster, PA.
The 1980 field program was conducted jointly with the Persistent Elevated Pollution
Episodes (PEPE) program, which studied regional haze episodes. For the Columbus, Ohio,
component of the 1980 NEROS study, three principal chemical sampling aircraft were used which
were equipped to make continuous measurements of trace gases (03, NO/NOV and SO 2 ) and to
sample for aerosols (e.g., particulate sulfur, sulfuric acid) and meterological and navigational
parameters. Each aircraft also collected integrated filter samples, which were analyzed for sulfate,
nitrate, and other species. In addition, whole air grab sample canisters were taken for detailed
hydrocarbon speciation. Other aircraft were used for fast-response and regional-scale
measurements (e.g., remote-sensing in long-range flights, both outside the mixing layer and looking
down into the mixing layer, vertical ozone profiles; and aerosol and ozone spatial distribution. The
regional-scale transport data were conducted primarily over forests and croplands because these
areas composed most of the study area and also to obtain uniformity of terrain offered by rural
areas (urban areas have many confounding factors) and to study removal of pollutants by forests
and croplands. The Canadian Atmospheric Environment Service also took aircraft measurements,
filter samples at three sites, and meteorological soundings along the United States-Ontario border.
In addition to aircraft measurements, ground measurements in the 1980 Columbus, Ohio,
study were taken at fixed sites for air quality parameters, such as ozone, NO/NOV hydrocarbon
species, aldehydes, and meterological data. Vertical ozone profiles above the ground were
measured by a tethered balloon. Two mobile ground platforms also measured a variety of air
quality parameters (gaseous and aerosol, including detailed aerosol size distribution); other mobile
units made meterological measurements.
The 1980 NEROS study also included the Baltimore, Maryland area for which in-situ
pollutant and meterological measurements were made using three aircraft and a mobile van on 22
days from July to August. Other pollutant measurements were made from ground stations and a
tethered balloon system; meterological data were obtained from pilot balloons, radiosondes, and
acoustic sounders.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTCS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (Northeast, from eastern Ohio to the East Coast and northern Virginia
to southern Maine, with urban plume studies at Columbus, OH, and Baltimore,
MD)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site
Time Coverage: 1979-1980
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Samples collected twice, once in 1979 and once in 1980,
each time over a one-month period in the summer of each year
Regularity of sample collection: Sampling conducted on specific days during the field study,
only during favorable meterological conditions
Source information: Not available
Dispersion information: The 1980 study obtained data to analyze plumes from area and
point sources, including the spread of the plume as it moved away from the source
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Both routine and new methods were employed; few procedures
were standardized as EPA methods at the time of this study (1979-1980); state-of-
the art instrumentation was used
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varied — immediate for real
time samples (for ozone, oxides of nitrogen, SO 2 ); one week for canisters (for
hydrocarbons); several months for filter packs (for sulfate, nitrate, etc.)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 6 months to 1 year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates;
external laboratory analysis; data entry audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor urban and rural: Criteria pollutants (NOr, CO, 03, SO 2 ), VOCs
(hydrocarbons), ions (including sulfate, nitrate, ammoniurn), index of fine
particle pollution (nephelometer scattering coefficient)
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi& Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics (grouped by day of
measurement) are available on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Reports; journal publications
Machine readable — Tape (ASCII)
Reports: Project PErE-NEROS (1980): Measurements and Data Base --An Over4ew (NTIS PB 88-
238472); NEROS Baltimore Plume Study (various volumes covering topics such as database
format description, quality assurance, mission and description, and vertical wind profiles)
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for PEPE-NEROS Overview only); John
Clarke, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, AREAL, MD-80, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, (919) 541-3660 (for all other reports, journal articles,
and data)
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OCEAN DATA EVALUATION SYSTEM
Acronym: ODES
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water
Contact Person: Bob King, U.S. EPA (WH 556F), 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460, (202)
260-7050
Objectives and Coverage:
The Ocean Data Evaluation System (ODES) was developed for the EPA 301(h) sewage
discharge program and is used for regulatory and monitoring purposes. ODES contains a variety
of data on the marine environment, including pollutant loadings and concentrations, environmental
conditions, quality of receiving water, effluent data, bioaccumulation information, fish pathology,
trawl sampling, benthic surveys, sediment chemistry and grain size, bioassays, and permit
requirements.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (primarily near sewage discharge outfalls), soil (marine sediments), human food
sources (fish/shellfish)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, serni-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, asbestos, microorganisms, ions (including fluoride),
physical and chemical indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries or summary statistics on specific agents, depending
on the type of information. In general, data is raw,” and requires some manipulation and
summarizing for analysis, which can be done through ODES.
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Certain municipalities, national estualy programs, ocean dumping programs, and other
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders are required to submit
various types of marine monitoring data as part of their permits. Sampling strategy is typically
based on the characterization of a point source of pollution (e.g., sewage treatment plant). If
certain effluent limitations are not met by a wastewater treatment facility, additional monitoring
could be required. ODES can store and analyze data. Information in ODES is accessed through
a series of analytical tools that performs retrieval or analysis (e.g., scatterplots, bar charts, maps,
or reports). ODES includes over 2 million entries with the majority of the data being from
southern California.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the city, point source, and monitor site; name of city,
municipality, or township; state
Time Coverage: 1979-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency, varies by facility. Most data are
collected quarterly, but different facilities are required to measure different types
of data as frequently as daily and as infrequently as annually.
Regularity of sample collection: Permits do not specify at what time of day, month, etc.,
samples should be collected.
Source information: Yes, based on sampling strategy
Dispersion information: Yes, ODES dispersion models available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Some data are pooled (e.g., bioaccumulation data). Composite samples
are often created from several grab samples of sediment or as many as 60 different
fish specimens. Other data are analyzed and entered into the database individually
(e.g., water quality, benthic data).
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Standard procedures used: A wide range of methods are used, most of which are approved
by EPA for 301(h) monitoring projects. Some examples include: EPA 206.2 (for
heavy metals); Battelle SOP 5-202-02 (for PAHs); EPA Method 8010 (for
halogenated organic compounds).
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1 week
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 6 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analyses, data entry audits; users can access QA/QC
reports
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface (primarily water near sewage discharge outfalls): Inorganic compounds,
VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans,
radionuclides, asbestos, microorganisms, ions (including fluoride), physical
and chemiôal indicators of water quality
SOIL
Sediment (marine): Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
microorganisms
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Fish/Shellfish: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxinlfurans, radionuclides, asbestos
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif i Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes (National Oceanographic Data Center
(NODC) codes)
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DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Some data are pooled; some are entered into the database individually;
a wide range of on-line tools are available to manipulate the data
Availability: Any requester can obtain data through a modem; a user-friendly, menu-driven
interface allows the user to develop graphical representations, descriptive statistics, and
maps, and to evaluate dispersion models
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports
Machine readable — Tape, diskette, on-line (ASCII, SAS, Fortran)
Reports: Published irregularly (generally for evaluation of NPDES permit compliance)
Reference Documents: ODES User Guide; ODES Tool Description Manual; ODES Data SubmLssion
Manual
Data/Reports Available From: A user ID and password are available from: Kim Stahlmari (703)
841-6005; for other information, call Bob King, U.S. EPA, (202) 260-7050 or Tad Deshfer,
TetraTech, (206) 822-9596
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PERMIT COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
Acronym: PCS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water Enforcement
and Permits
Contact Person: Dela Ng, Office of Water Enforcement and Permits (EN-338), U.S. EPA, 401 M
St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460 (202-475-8323) (For information on sampling design:
George Gray, 202-475-8313)
Objectives and Coverage:
PCS is a computerized information system for tracking the permit, compliance, and
enforcement status of perrnittees under the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) program. The primaiy objectives of PCS are regulation and
monitoring of discharge sources. Information in the database is compiled on major permittees only
(approximately 7,100 Out of 63,000 permittees nationwide).
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Effluent discharges, both municipal and private
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, PCBs, ions
(including fluoride), dioxins/furans, radionuclides, microorganisms, physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Summary statistics on specific agents. The specific summary statistics
describe a single monitoring location for a specific period in time (usually a month or a
quarter). Monthly or quarterly sample results are grouped and reported as monthly and
daily maximums.
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The sampling strategy is specified in the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit and is based on Effluent Guidelines developed by the EPA Office of Water
Regulations and Standards (OWRS). The Guidelines provide general guidance (e.g., required
effluent concentration levels of pollutants based on type of industry), but the actual specifications
are developed by the permit writer, which is the state, if EPA-approved, or the EPA Regional
Office. Permits are site-specific in determining effluent concentration limits, monitoring and
reporting requirements. Changes in sampling protocol are determined by the NPDES permit
requirements.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the point source; name of city, municipality, or township;
state; river reach number
Time Coverage: 1986-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency; site-specific, based on the NPDES
permit requirements; varies by chemical
Regularity of sample collection: Regular, sample collection is based on NPDES permit
requirements
Source information: Data collected at source
Dispersion information: Not available through PCS
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Procedures determined by NPDES permit requirements, based
on analytical methods in 40 CFR, Part 136; if none stated in Rule for a specific
agent, permit writer must specify methods in permit. General guidance provided by
Effluent Guidelines developed by EPA OWRS.
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: If on-site — 8 hours; if
laboratory analysis -- 48 hours
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Approximate time between sample analysis and data entiy to database: Approximately 60
days
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: EPA Regions and states have their own QAJQC
methodologies; data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER (Effluent discharges)
Municipal and private: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs,
pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, microorganisms, ions
(including fluoride), physical and chemical indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
R Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: STORET (Storage and Retrieval System) parameter codes.
STORET codes are cross-referenced to Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number
(CASRN) numbers, but database can only be searched through STORET codes.
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics on specific agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — computer printouts
Reports: On an ad-hoc request basis
Reference Documents: FCS Executive Summary
Data/Reports Available From: U.S. EPA Library, Washington, DC; Freedom of Information
requests; or, contact George Gray (202) 475-8313
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PESTICIDE INFORMATION NETWORK
Acronym: PIN
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs
Contact Person: Constance A. Hoheisel, (H7507C), 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460,
(703) 557-5455
Objectives and Coverage:
PIN enables pesticide monitoring data generated by a variety of sources to be routinely
identified, obtained, and utilized. PIN also provides federal, state, and local agencies with a means
of sharing information and expertise on pesticides. In addition, information in PIN is used to
enhance the accuracy of pesticide risk assessments and risklbeneflt regulatory decisions regarding
exposure and effects of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA). PIN is composed of three tiles:
1) The Pesticide Monitoring Inventory (PMI) is a nationwide compilation of synopses of
pesticide monitoring projects conducted by federal, state, and local governments as well as private
groups. PM! includes the location of the monitoring project, the pesticide(s) involved, an abstract
of the project, and the name and address of a contact person. PM! does not contain hard data or
results; these can be obtained from individual contact persons for each project.
2) The Restricted Use Products (RUP) File is a regulatory file that serves as an
information resource for states. Information provided includes pesticide active ingredients, dates
of restriction, reasons for restriction, and all products that contain the restricted active ingredients.
3) The Coordination File is a cross-referencing chemical index of all synonyms for the
active ingredients listed in the PM! and RUP files.
In addition, by 1992, PIN will include a database containing monitoring data from the late
1970s to the present for pesticides in ground water. PIN will also include a file on the
environmental fate of pesticides, including chemical and physical parameters (e.g., solubility, soil
conditions, pH, half-life, etc); computerized fact sheets on pesticides; and certification and training
data for pesticides.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water; soil; air; food sources; non-food sources (plants, animals); human samples; bulk
chemicals
Classes of compounds: Pesticides (some studies also contain information required for drinking
water testing on inorganic compounds, VOCs, dioxins/furans, aesthetic)
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Type of data available: Descriptions of monitoring projects (individual data entries for
groundwater projects will soon be available)
Estimation versus observational data All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
Projects for inclusion in PIN are solicited from users of the network and through notices
in the Federal Register, brochures, newsletters, and presentations at meetings. All project managers
are contacted annually to update information. The PMI is a collection of projects, each with its
own specific design. The database was not designed with any specific population in mind.
DATABASE CHARAC ER1STICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National -
Identifiers: Street address; zip codes; county/parish; state; latitude/longitude of the monitor
site (occasionally available)
Time Coverage: 1970-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Irregular; each project has its own sampling frequency
Regularity of sample collection: Varies by source
Source and dispersion information: Not provided in database
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Depends on source of data
Standard procedures used: Managers of the various projects are requested to provide
references for methods and standard procedures when they submit project data
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Unknown
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Unknown
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface; ground water leachate; municipal; private: Pesticides (also some
information on inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, dioxins/furans,
aesthetic)
SOIL
Residential; industrial (farm/agriculture); sediment; dust: Pesticides
AIR
Indoor homes and public facilities; outdoor urban and rural; personal monitor:
Pesticides
FOOD SOURCES
Gamebirds; mammals (domesticated and nondomesticated); plants; fish/shellfish:
Pesticides
HUMAN SAMPLES
Pesticides
BULK CHEMICALS
Pesticides
OTHER
Plants (non-consumable): Pesticides
Animals (non-consumable): Pesticides
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN),
chemical name, EPA Register number (RUP file only), EPA PC code (formerly the
Shawnessy code, assigned to active ingredients when data submitted to the Office of
Pesticide Programs — RUF file only)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Depends on source of data
Availability Any on-line requester can obtain data through modem; free service; monitoring data
not currently available in PIN — can be obtained from individual project managers listed in
PM! file; in the future, monitoring data for pesticides in ground water will be available in
PIN
Form: Machine readable — On-line (ASCII); diskette (for RUP file only)
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Reports: On-line, generated by user
Reference Documents: On-line manuals
Data/Reports Available From: (703) 557-7499 (user support); Constance Hoheisel, (H7507C), 401
M Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, (703) 557-5455
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RADIOACTWE MATERIALS RELEASED FROM NUCLEAR POWER P lANTS
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Contact Person: Joyce L Tichler, (516) 282-3801, or Herbert Bernstein, (516) 282-2261,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Scientific Information Systems Group, ASD/DAS,
Building 051, Upton, New York, 11973
Objectives and Coverage:
Atmospheric, effluent, and solid waste releases of radioactive materials from nuclear power
plants (planned, existing, or closed) are governed by 10 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 50 and by limits
established in site-specific technical specifications (NRC-approved) for each facility. Through the
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) maintains a
record of radioactive releases from licensed nuclear reactors to ensure that they are within
regulatory requirements. This database contains data from licensed nuclear power plants that were
declared by the utilities to be in commercial operation from 1978 onward, and includes facilities
which are permanently or indefinitely shut down or are not yet in commercial operation.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (liquid effluent); air (emissions); soil (solid waste)
Classes of compounds: Radionuclides
Type of data available: Individual samples are entered into the database; annual summary
statistics are available in published reports
Estimation versus observational data: Observational data for operating facilities; estimated
data for closed or pre-operational facilities
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The sampling strategy is based on radioactive releases reported by licensed nuclear power
facilities as of December 31st for each year. Data consist of activity in Curies (both total and by
nuclide, airborne, liquid, and solid) reported quarterly, semiannually, or annually and presented in
written reports as annual releases. Generally, quarterly, semiannual, and annual data are all
contained in the database, although licensed facilities are only required to report annual releases.
The database only covers planned releases, which result from normal operation or from anticipated
operational occurrences. Major unplanned releases — such as accidents — are not included; however,
unplanned releases or radioactive materials from miscellaneous actions such as equipment failure,
operator error, or procedure error that are not of such consequence as to be considered accidents
are included in this database. The release information is used for modeling population dose by the
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, which combines meteorological and population information with
release data for a specified area around each plant.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the point source (facility location); Street address (if
known); city; zip code; state; distance and direction of the plant form a known
municipality or population center (e.g., “50 miles northeast of...”)
Time Coverage: 1978-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency, varies by facility; the data may be
provided on a quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis, depending on the licensee;
written reports publish only annual data
Regularity of sample collection: Varies by facility
Source information: Emissions from specific plants
Dispersion information: The database itself does not include the necessary data to evaluate
dispersion; however, Pacific Northwest Laboratory has performed model runs that
combine these release data with meteorological and other data obtained from plant
operators and NRC to estimate population dose due to radioactive releases from
nuclear power plant sites
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Pooled for annual reports; individual samples available in database
Standard procedures used: Different analytical methods are used by different licensees
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies by facility
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Varies; usually a
few months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures: Data entiy audits — the processed data is returned
to the plants for review; the annual data is reviewed by the sponsoring agency (NRC), and
inter-year comparisons are done and corrections made
ENVIROWMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Liquid effluent: Radionuclides
SOIL
Solid waste: Radionuclides
AIR
Stack Emissions: Radionucl ides
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identi& Agents: Individual nuclides (chemical mixtures formed by the
released elements are not identified)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: The reports from the plants are reduced to a common report format;
individual quarterly data, when reported, are retained in the computerized record, but the
written report gives annual data
Availability: Any requestor can obtain reports; special reports may be arranged
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Form: Hard copy — Annual reports
Machine readable -- Not currently available; may be available in future
Reports: Annual reports — Radioactive Materials Released from Nuclear Power Plants
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Office of Information Resources Management, (301) 492.7585; Joyce
Tichier, Brookhaven National Laboratory, (516) 282-3801 (for special reports)
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RECALL DATABASE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation
Contact Person: Stuart Romanow, U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Mobile
Sources, Manufacturers Operations Division, Recall Branch, (EN -340F), 401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-6511
Objectives and Coverage:
The Recall Database includes vehicle emissions results generated specifically for
enforcement purposes. Selected in-use motor vehicles are subjected to emissions testing to
determine if they comply with federal emissions standards. These data are used in investigations
which may result in a recall of a class of vehicles to correct an emissions nonconformity. The
testing is conducted at selected sites to be representative of the national population.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (vehicle emissions)
Classes of compounds: VOCs (evaporative hydrocarbons); criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides)
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The Recall Branch of EPA selects a vehicle class (an engine family, with a subset of similar
vehicles sometimes included) for emissions testing based on previous performance and information
obtained from manufacturers and other sources. Emissions testing is done at the Motor Vehicles
Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan or the Virginia Testing Laboratory in Washington, DC. A
certain percentage (dependant upon resources) of the selected vehicles are also tested at the
Department of Health, Denver, Colorado, to determine if vehicles comply at high altitudes. Testing
at these sites is considered by the Recall Branch to be representative of the national population,
since there is no significant bias in selection. A randomized list of vehicles in the selected vehicle
class and geographical area(s) is obtained from the state(s) motor vehicle registration office. Based
on a telephone questionnaire administered to owners, a sample of vehicles which have been
properly maintained and used are selected for testing from this list. Emissions testing following the
Federal test procedure described in 40 CFR 86 includes measurements of total exhaust
hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen in grams per mile; evaporative hydrocarbon
emission measurements are expressed in grams per test. If an initial surveillance program indicates
possible noncompliance, a confirmatory testing program of the vehicle class is generally
implemented, which consists of additional emissions testing of properly maintained vehicles. This
testing procedure employs more stnngent vehicle screening criteria. The vehicle class is investigated
whenever elevated emissions are detected, which results in a recall of the affected vehicles if a
problem is found.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics;
Coverage: Region of state (Washington, DC, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan, and
the Denver, Colorado areas)
Identifiers: Name of test site
Time Coverage: 1977-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies from site to site
Regularity of sample collection: Varies, depending upon program needs and
resources
Source information: All data collected at the source
Dispersion information: None available
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Vehicle emissions testing procedures described in 40 CFR 86
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 10 minutes
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 4 weeks following
the completion of testing for a class of vehicles
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Duplicates and external laboratory analysis are
done as part of a three component (gases, vehicles, equipment) Correlation Program; gas
cylinders named by a reference laboratory are analyzed by the database laboratories for
concentrations of a particular pollutant; vehicles tested at one laboratory are subjected to
repeat testing at other database laboratories; inspection of equipment to determine
conformance with 40 CFR 86, Subpart B; other procedures include an extensive check of the
translation from raw data to the processed form (to look for any errors during testing); and
“test monitoring”, in which the testing procedures are viewed by another person; these
procedures are included in the Vi,ginia Testing Laboratory Quality Control Procedures
Manual, the Motor Vehicles Laboratory Quality Control Procedures Manual, and the Colorado
Department of Health Quality Control Procedures Manual
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Vehicle Emissions: Criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides); VOCs
(total exhaust hydrocarbons, evaporative hydrocarbons)
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentitS ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
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DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics (mean emission levels
and failure rates by vehicle class) are available on specific agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data; individual data are available on-line through the
Michigan Terminal System (MTS) for requesters who have a Wayne State University MTS
account; hard copy only, if requester doesn’t have an MTS account at Wayne State
University
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; files or log books
Machine readable — on-line (MTS in MICRO)
Reports: Summary reports (in a computer printout format), which contain mean emission levels
and failure rates for each vehicle class, are prepared for internal use at the completion of
vehicle testing
Reference Documents: 40 CFR 86; Vi ginia Testing Laboratory Quality Control Procedures Manual;
Motor Vehitles Laboratory Quality Control Procedures Manual; Colorado Depanment of Health
Quality Control Procedures Manual
Data/Reports Available From: Public Information Reference Unit, EPA Headquarters Library, 401
M Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-5926 (for examination and reproduction
of computer printouts); Stuart Romanow, U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, Office
of Mobile Sources, Manufacturers Operations Division, Recall Branch, 401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-6511, to request access to the MTS at Wayne State
University; once request is granted, a commercial account and identification number must
be obtained by contacting Claire Jackman, Computing and Information Technology, Wayne
State University, 5925 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, (313) 577-1962; the
account and identification numbers must then be given to Stuart Romanow
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RECORDS OF DECISION SYSTEM
Acronym: RODS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response and Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Contact Person: Mike Cullen, U.S. EPA, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, 401 M St.,
SW, Washington, DC, 20460, (202) 475-9369
RODS was established to track site clean-ups under the Superfund program and to justify
the type of treatment chosen at each site. RODS stores information on: technologies used to clean
up sites and justification for their use; site history and characteristics; community participation;
enforcement activities; and scope of response action. Information is obtained from EPA Regional
Offices on an ongoing basis. RODS is available on EPA’s mainframe computer, as well as in tape
format. In addition, the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) maintains hard copies of
RODS as well as abstracts. Information on on-line access, reports, and user manuals are available
from Thomas Batts, (202) 245-3770.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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REGIONAL AiR POLLUTION STUDY
Acronym: RAPS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development
Contact Person: Joan Novak, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Atmospheric
Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory, MD-80, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711, (919) 541-4545
Objectives and Coverage:
The Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS), conducted from 1974 to 1977, served as a
comprehensive study of an urban area for which all interrelated processes affecting air pollution
emissions, dispersion, composition, and atmospheric effects could be studied concurrently. RAPS
was established with three main objectives: to develop, evaluate, and validate air quality simulation
models on a regional scale, covering urban and rural stationary and mobile sources; to develop,
evaluate, and validate models of local-scale phenomena that complement regional-scale models; and
to create a comprehensive, accurate, and readily retrievable database based on field investigations
for all criteria pollutants and selected non-criteria pollutants that describe atmospheric effects on
pollutant dispersion and composition. This database was then used to evaluate air quality
simulation models. Because of the availability of extensive monitoring data associated with RAPS,
additional independent research projects were conducted by various groups in the same
geographical area during the same time period.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air
Classes of compounds: Criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, ozone), total hydrocarbons, methane, index of fine particles (scattering coefficient)
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
RAPS was designed to quantify the effects of air emissions on air quality at the level of an
Air Quality Control Region (AQCR). Criteria for selection of a specific AQCR included: a
geographic area isolated enough so that inflows of emissions into the area were not a confounding
factor, an area with heterogeneous types of emissions; an area in which existing pollution control
programs were in place to meet air quality standards; and an area in which climatic conditions were
relatively stable (e.g., free of the effects of sea breeze, no severe terrain). The St. Louis,
Missouri/Illinois area was selected for RAPS from a group of 33 Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas with populations greater than 400,000.
The RAPS field measurement program consisted of continuous measurements from 25
stations in a Regional Air Monitoring System (RAMS), which provided an extensive database for
model evaluation and development; an emissions data inventory (which included both point and
area source emissions); and meteorological measurements (radiosondes and pibals). RAMS was
designed to provide continuous, surface-based aerometric measurements; stations were located in
concentric circles with average radii from a central urban station of 5, 11, 20, and 44 kilometers.
Stations were concentrated at the center of the network because a criterion for site locations
required minimum spacing where concentrations and gradients were highest. Four rural sites were
spaced approximately 90’ azimuth and were located to provide background measurements regardless
of wind direction. Concentrations of gaseous pollutants are available as minute average values and
as hourly average values. Hourly emissions data combined several categories of point and area
source emissions: river vessels, fugitive dust, highways, railroads, stationary residential and
commercial sources, off-highway mobile sources, stationary industrial sources, and airports.
Instrumentation used included: real-time pollutant.analyzers to measure ozone, nitrogen oxides,
sulfur gases, and carbon compounds; meterological sensors; high volume samplers for particulates;
nephelometer and dichotonious samplers; and test/control systems.
RAPS data were collected prior to issuance of EPA monitoring guidelines for State and
Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) (see separate entry), but many of the concepts in SLAMS
guidelines were tested in RAPS.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Region of two states (St. Louis, Missouri and St. Louis, Illinois — St. Louis Air
Quality Control Region)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; universal transmercator coordinates of
the point source and monitor site; Street address; zip code; city, municipality, or
township; county/parish; state
Time Coverage: 1974-1977
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Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Mixed frequency: continuous (24 hours a day) for RAMS
data (average minute values, based on 120 1 /2-second data readings); daily for
particulates; emissions data collected on an hourly basis; 6-hour intervals for
meterological radiosondes; 1-hour intervals for meteorological pibals
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: Data were collected at the sources and surrounding areas; the purpose
of the study was to collect necessary information to evaluate air quality models
which relate data to sources
Dispersion information: Local and regional meteorological and air quality monitoring data
were collected to predict the transport and dispersion of pollutants from the source
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Both routine and new methods were employed; few procedures
were standardized as EPA methods at the time of this study (1974-1977); state-of-
the-art instrumentation was used; National Aerosol Sampling Network (NASN)
protocols were used for high volume filter samples
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Immediate for the majority of
data — collection was real-time (continuous); one week for canister and grab samples
for hydrocarbons
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 1 week to I month
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Daily span and drift checks were
performed on gaseous analyzers, and additional visual and algorithmic checks were also
made
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Outdoor Urban and Rural: Criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide, particulates, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone), total hydrocarbons, methane
Stack Emissions: Criteria pollutants (sulfur dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides) total hydrocarbons
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FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: EPA’s National Emissions Data System (NEDS) codes
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents; summary
statistics as hourly averages are available for each parameter at each Site
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy -- Agency reports
Machine readable — Tape (IBM Binary; ASCII for radiosonde and pibal data only)
Reports: RegionalAirPollution Study (RAPS) Emission Inventory Summarization (NTIS No. PB-293
107/OBE); Documentation of the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) and Related
Investigations in the St. Louis Air Quality Control Region (NTIS No. PB8O-138241); Regional
Air Pollution Study (RAPS) Final Report
Reference Documents: Evaluation of Emission inventory Methodologies for the RAPS Program;
History, Implementation and Operation of the Regional Air Monitoring System: St. Louis,
Missouri 1974-1977; Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) Emission Inventory Handbook
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Rd., Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650; Joan Novak, U.S. EPA, AREAI, MD-80,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-4545
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION RECOVERY INFORMATION SYSTEM
Acronym: RCRIS
Sponsoring Agenc U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Contact Person: Kevin Phelps, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, 401 M
Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-4697
Objectives and Coverage:
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), generators, transporters,
treaters, storers, and disposers of hazardous waste, as defined by the federally recognized hazardous
waste codes, are required to provide information concerning their activities to state environmental
agencies, who in turn provide the information to regional and national U.S. EPA offices. The
information is used to ensure compliance with federal regulations under RCRA. The primary
objectives of RCRIS (formerly the Hazardous Waste Data Management System -- HWDMS) are
to monitor and regulate notification, permit, compliance, and corrective action activities conducted
by hazardous waste facilities across the nation. HWDMS provided this information on a facility
level; by January 1, 1992, all states will shift over to the RCRIS program, which provides unit level
data and integrated corrective action information. At that time, HWDMS, for which facility data
only was available, will be archived and will become obsolete; the data will be incorporated into
RCRIS in a new format. The database was not designed to provide exposure information;
quantitative monitoring data are not included. RCRIS provides qualitative information on
hazardous waste facilities that have applied for permits.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water, soil, bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Hazardous waste codes as defined in 40 CFR, Part 261, subpart D,
including inorganic compounds; pesticides; VOCs; semi-VOCs; ignitable,
corrosive, and reactive wastes
Type of data available: Both individual data entries and statistical summaries are available;
information is provided for specific sites and types of facilities
Estimation versus observational data All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
A hazardous waste facility applies for a permit to store, treat, generate, transport, or dispose
of hazardous waste by notifying the environmental agency in that state. The state receives and
reviews the permit applications (including conducting on-site inspections), enters the data into the
RCRIS system, and transfers the information to the regional U.S. EPA office. The regional office
conducts its own on-site inspections, compares information with state-supplied data, and resolves
any discrepancies in information. The data is then transferred to U.S. EPA’s Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response, which integrates the data into the RCRIS system. After a permit for
a hazardous waste handler has been approved, the U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response verifies and updates permit application information by reviewing biannual reports
submitted by facilities and possibly through on-site inspections of selected facilities, particularly if
information has changed for a permit.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude (of hazardous waste facilities); street address; zip cdde; city,
municipality, or township; county/parish; state; congressional district; river basin
code (U.S. Geological Survey); EPA regional codes
Time Coverage: 1980-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Data are collected through permit applications; additional
information is collected by the RCRA program staff through inspections and/or
other actions at a facility; monitoring data are not included in the database
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable
Source information: Source is always known as part of the permitting process
Dispersion information: If a release occurs, a facility may be subject to corrective action,
and therefore information on the TM spread” may be found in the corrective action
descriptive information in RCRIS
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: None
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: Not applicable
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; regional EPA offices and states
crosscheck information and resolve discrepancies before sending information to the EPA
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzedby Media:
WATER
Surface water and ground water Some information on discharged wastes to surface
water, groundwater, and leachate
SOIL
Sediment: Some information on hazardous waste industrial sediments and sludge
discharges
AIE Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Lab packs
Conventions Used to Identi& Agents: Federally recognized hazardous waste codes as identified in
40 CFR Part 261, subpart D
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Permit information is provided by specific sites/facilities; individual site
information and statistical summaries by types of facilities are available
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; requester must fill out a Freedom of Information Act
application
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts
Machine readable -- Tape (ASCII) available at National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650
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Reports: Biennial reports that follow up on original permit application information; sometimes
monitoring data in water, air, or soil are included
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: Liza Hearns, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-4697
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SAMPLE TRACKING AND DATA MANAGEME1 ( SYSTEM
Acronym: STDMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nuclear Radiation Assessment
Division
Contact Person: Charles Costa, EPA, Nuclear Radiation Assessment Division, P.O. Box 93478, Las
Vegas, Nevada 89193-3478, (702) 798-2305
Objectives and Coverage:
STDMS contains noble gas or radionuclide measurements in air, water, animal tissue, and
plants in areas surrounding the Nevada test site (Nevada, Utah, and California locations).
Measurements include gamma spectrometly, tritium, strontium, and plutonium in surface and
ground water, gross beta, tritium, noble gases (kxypton, and xenon), and gamma emitters in outdoor
air; and cesium, strontium, and plutonium in blood, bone, and tissue of animals. Sampling of plants
for radionuclides is occasionally done. These data are used as supporting data for the Internal
Radiation DosimetTy System (see separate entry in this Inventory) which documents human
radionuclide exposure of families residing in this area. Results from both databases are used to
evaluate the total radiological dose to the region from the Nevada test site.
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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STATE AND LOCAL AIR MONITORING STATIONS
Acronym: SLAMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS); U.S. EPA Regions; states
Contact Person: David Lutz, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-
5476
SLAMS were established to meet the Clean Air Act requirement that every state create a
network of air monitoring stations for criteria pollutants, using criteria set by OAQPS for their
location and operation. States are required to provide OAQPS with annual summaries of
monitoring results at SLAMS sites, although most states supply this information more frequently
(monthly or quarterly). National Air Monitoring (NAMS) sites, part of the SLAMS network, are
located in areas of high population and high pollution concentration; other SLAMS sites may be
located in other areas. Also, NAMS sites remain at the same location over time; this may not be
true for other SLAMS sites. All SLAMS monitoring sites meet uniform criteria and follow standard
procedures established by OAQPS for analytical methodology and quality assurance. SLAMS data
comprise most of the data found in the Air Quality Subsystem (AQS) of the Aeronietric
Information Retrieval System (AIRS) (see separate entries for AQS in Part I and AIRS in Part II
for further information).
Detailed information was not available at the time of publication.
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STATE/EPA RESIDENTIAL RADON SURVEY
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation Programs
Contact Person: Jeffrey Phillips, U.S. EPA, Office of Radiation Programs, 401 M St. SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-4114
Objectives and Coverage:
The State/EPA Residential Radon Survey is a cooperative effort between regional U.S. EPA
offices and state health departments in an attempt to characterize the extent and magnitude of the
indoor radon ( 2 Rn) problem. The U.S. EPA provides assistance to the 34 currently participating
states in the selection and testing of a probability-based sample of houses. Short-term radon
measurements are taken in the lowest liveable area during the heating season for all participating
homes, and during the other three seasons in ten percent of the sample homes for long-term
monitoring. Through the program, individual states are able to characterize the radon distribution
on a statewide basis and for regions within their state. Consequently, states are able to prioritize
the allocation of resources toward radon programs based on a sound assessment of the radon
problem in the state. Individual homeowners are also provided a basis for determining whether
additional measurements are needed for making mitigation decisions. U.S. EPA recommends that
homeowners perform different types of follow-up measurements for screening readings between 4
pCiil (picocuries per liter) and 20 pCi/I and for readings above 20 pCi/I.
The state radon surveys provide direct estimates of how many houses in the target
population are affected by these action levels. States not included as of 1991: New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Arkansas,
Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Oregon. Currently, there is no relationship
between this survey and EPA’s National Residential Radon Survey (NRRS) (see separate entry).
The database results should not be used directly to assess annual averages or health risks because
they represent screening measurements and may overstate annual average concentrations in living
areas.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Indoor air
Classes of compounds: Radon
Type of data available: Radon concentration distributions for a given state
Estimation versus observational data: Observational data from actual samples
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Sample Design and Analysis:
The survey utilizes short-term, charcoal canister measurement devices that are analyzed at
the U.S. EPA laboratory in Montgomeiy, Alabama. In addition, long-term screening devices
designed to measure annual average indoor radon concentrations are placed in a 10 percent
subsample of houses. Screening measurements have been made in over 46,000 randomly selected
houses representing a population of more than 25 million houses. Measurements are made in the
lowest livable area during the heating season in closed-house conditions. For the long-term
screening subsamples, measurements are also taken in the other three seasons. The target
population consists of owner-occupied, private or main residences with: a) a listed telephone
number, b) a permanent foundation, and c) at least one floor at or below grade level. This target
population excludes most mobile homes, high rise apartments, renters, businesses, and seasonal
homes.
For each state, a probability sample of listed residential telephone numbers was selected
from a sampling frame constructed from telephone directories for all communities in the state.
Counties suspected of having elevated indoor radon levels and/or having low population density
were sampled more heavily to ensure good coverage of all geographic areas in the state and to
enhance the chance of finding areas with elevated radon concentrations. Statistical analyses of the
measurements provide statistically valid results and projections for states and regions within states.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: 34 states
Identifiers: Zip code; county; state
Time Coverage: 1986-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Each year, different states are sampled; each home is
sampled only once
Regularity of sample collection: Short-term sample taken during the heating season; 10
percent subsample of homes also have year.long detectors
Source information: Measurements taken at lower levels close to radon source from soil
Dispersion information: Not available
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: U.S. EPA Radon Measurement Protocol
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1 week for initial raw data; 2-5
months for data to be weighted (statistical adjustment carried out by the contractor)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data ently to database: 5 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
AIR
Indoor Homes: Radon
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions used to identif ’ agents: Radon identified as radon Rn
DATABASE AVAILABILiTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Any requester can obtain short-term radon measurement data; long-term
measurement data are provided to states only; data available on-line (direct VAX access
through EPA’s Office of Radiation Programs) by contacting Jeffrey Phillips, (202) 260-4114
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable -- Tape, diskette, on-line (direct VAX access)
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Reports: Press release kit in October of every year, distributed by U.S. EPA External Affairs Office
Reference Documents: A Cumulative Examination of the StarefEPA Radon Swvey
Data/Reports Available From: Jeffrey Phillips, U.S. EPA Office of Radiation Programs,
(202) 260-4114
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STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF WATER QUALITY DATA
Acronym: STORET
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water
Contact Person: Thomas Pandolfi, U.S. EPA, (PM-218-B), 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC
20460, (202) 260-7030
Objectives and Coverage:
STORET was developed as a uniform data collection and reporting system for chemical,
physical, and biological water quality data in the United States, U.S. Territories, and parts of
Canada. STORET can be used to store, retrieve, and analyze data (including trends) for both
surface water (including effluent) and ground water, and is particularly useful for areas near
discharge sources. Used in conjunction with the Reach Pollutant Assessment file (see separate
entry), STORET forms the basis for many other water information systems. The majority of the
data in STORET is from non-EPA sources, including states and other federal agencies (e.g., U.S.
Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and
the Tennessee Valley Authority). EPA maintains the database for its users. STORET is accessible
to anyone who wishes to obtain information. In addition to its monitoring objectives, STORET is
used for regulatory purposes; for example, EPA uses STORET for its national water quality analysis
program. The primary component systems within STORET include the Water Quality System, the
Biological System, the Daily Flow System, and the Fish Kill File.
The Water Quality System (WQS) is composed of physical and chemical data obtained during
monitoring of waterways. WQS contains data on sampling collection sites (stations) and on the
samples collected, including information on where, when, and how samples were collected; the
aquifler in which or above which the site is located; parameters tested for; and test results.
Ambient water quality and effluent chemistry information is included. Some data on fish tissue and
sediment are also included. WQS can be linked to other water databases, such as BIOS and the
Permit Compliance System (see separate entry).
The Biological System (BIOS) contains biological data on aquatic organisms, including
distribution, abundance, physical condition, and habitat descriptions. BIOS can incorporate
statistical methodologies for biological analysis. Information in BIOS includes site (station)
collection data (including location identifiers, hydrology, site description, and time of sample
collection);- a complete record of observed biota (e.g., taxonomic identity, species counts); and
possibly sampling environment data (e.g., rneterology, physical and chemical water conditions).
BIOS can be linked to STORET’s Water Quality File and to EPA’s Permit Compliance System
(PCS).
STORET’s Daily Flow System contains daily observations at U.S. Geological Survey gaging
stations, primarily of stream flow. It also includes some water quality parameters, such as
temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and chloride. This information can be used for analyzing waste
load allocations and for other regulatory analyses.
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The Fish Kill File, for which data collection began in 1960 and was discontinued in 1990,
tracks fish kills in the United States caused by pollution resulting from a variety of human activities
(i.e., industrial, municipal, agricultural, transportation). The purpose of this File is to obtain
information on the effects on fish of pollutants discharged to surface waters, and to allow EPA and
states to determine causes of fish kills. Data in the File include location, circumstances, total
number of fish killed, and number of each species killed. Other information in the File includes
primary land use surrounding the kill site, causes of the kill, pollutants identified at the site, and
sources of pollutants. Reporting is voluntary, and therefore it is probable that numerous fish kills
go unreported.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Water (surface water, ground water); soil (sediment); food sources (fish)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalomethanes, semi-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entnes and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis:
STORET includes 150 million water sample observations from 800,000 sampling sites in all
50 states from virtually all rivers and waters contiguous to the United States and in U.S. Territories
(Guam and Puerto Rico) and portions of Canada. Because the data is collected from different
organizations, STORET does not have an overall sampling strategy. The primary source of data
is monitoring information provided by states; the largest single contributor of data is the U.S.
Geological Survey, which transfers data from its WATSTORE system to STORET (USGS water
quality data is transferred monthly; daily values data is transferred every six months; see separate
entry for WATSTORE). Monitoring strategies (e.g., sampling frequency, constituents sampled) are
established by the collecting agency. General EPA guidelines for water quality monitoring exist and
may be followed by some of the states and other agencies submitting data to STORET, but
information on individual agency monitoring practices is not readily available. (Examples of some
EPA monitoring guidelines include: Technical Guidance Manual for Performing Waste Load
Allocations; Technical Support Document for Water Quality-Based Toxics Control; Guidelines for the
Preparation of State Waler Quality Assessment (305(b)) Reports; and Assessing Biological Integrity in
Running Waters: A Method and Its Rationale.) Participating groups are identified with unique codes,
and some information regarding individual sampling strategy for specified locations can be retrieved
upon request. New information is submitted daily by users; updates of data files are conducted
weekly. Information is checked for reasonableness (e.g., that results for tests fall within the possible
range) when added to the system, but users are largely free to define the information they submit.
EPA guidelines exist for data definition and quality; these are optional but strongly encouraged by
EPA for STORET users.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National; U.S. Territories; portions of Canada
Identifiers: Latitude/Longitude of the point source and monitor site; state; hydrologic unit
code; river reach number; county; basin; (some data may also be identified by street
address; zip codes; census tract; name of city, municipality, or township; and/or
county/parish)
Time Coverage: 1950s (some data from 1910s)-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies by organization
Regularity of sample collection: Depends on organization and purpose
Source information: Not available, but the Industrial Facilities Discharge File and the
Environmental Display Manager (see separate entries) may be useful in identifying
sources in the vicinity
Dispersion information: None available
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Varies by organization
Standard procedures used: Usually, EPA or state methods; EPA guidelines exist for data
definition and quality; these are optional but strongly encouraged by EPA for
STORET users
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Varies by organization
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Varies; STORETs
Water Quality System and Biological System are updated weekly; the Daily Flow
System is updated twice each year
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
data entry audits; QA/QC procedures for states as specified in Section 106 of the Clean
Water Act
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface water and ground water: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, trihalornethanes,
semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, radionuclides, microorganisms,
ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical indicators of water quality,
asbestos
SOIL
Sediment: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxins/furans, radionuclides, asbestos
R Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Fish: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, pesticides, PCBs
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to IdentifS’ Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN);
database-specific codes (“parameter” codes which identi ’ the constituent, media, and unit);
cross-referenced to Chemical Abstracts Service Registry (CASRN) numbers if possible
DATABASE AVAILABIUTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries or summary statistics; the database can also plot
the data on 3-D graphs and maps by ranges of values and can perform any statistics
available through SAS, to which the system is linked
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts
Machine readable — Tape, Diskette (ASCII, SAS)
Reports: Generally, users retrieve own data and can generate reports (text and graphics)
Reference Documents: STORET User Handbook; (also training seminars and conferences and
regional contact people)
Data/Reports Available From: Data may be obtained either by direct access through the EPA
National Computer Center IBM-3090 computer (can be accessed through most personal
computers with modems), or by requesting data of interest; states or Regional EPA offices
have direct access to STORET and can use it free of charge; private groups can access
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STORET for a fee through National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; anyone can call their EPA Regional
Office and receive information (hard copy or on-line) on parameters (constituents) -- a fee
may be charged, depending on the individual request; for the Fish Kill File, data collected
since 1986 is available in hard copy only
To set up a STORET account: Call (800) 424-9067 or (703) 883-8861
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SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS, UNITED STATES PRODUCTION AND SALES
Acronym: Annual Soc Report
Sponsoring Agency: International Trade Commission
Contact Person: James A. Emanuel, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, (202) 252-1367
Objectives and Coverage:
The Synthetic Organic Chemicals, United States Production and Sales Database consists of
information collected annually by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) on the
production and sales of each synthetic organic chemical produced in the United States. Originally
requested by the House Ways and Means Committee in 1916, this information is a legal
requirement of companies and is compiled into annual ITC reports that list summaiy statistics
within 15 specified groups of organic chemicals. Statistical comparisons with previous years are
included. These published reports are provided to various federal agencies and are available to the
general public upon request.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Synthetic organic chemicals (including VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins/furans, acids, bases)
Type of data available: Summary statistics are available on a large number of organic chemicals
Estimation versus observational data All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
An annual questionnaire of total output is sent to all known producers of approximately
6000 synthetic organic chemicals in the United States by the International Trade Commission.
Producers are legally required (under the Tariff Act of 1930) to complete the questionnaire and
return it to the Commission. The questionnaire separates organic chemicals into 15 classifications:
coal tar, tar crudes and pitches; primary products from petroleum and natural gas for chemical
conversion; cyclic intermediates; dyes; organic pigments; medicinal chemicals; flavor and perfume
materials; plastics and resin materials; rubber-processing chemicals; elastomers; plasticizers; surface-
active agents; pesticides and related products; miscellaneous end-use chemicals and chemical
products; and miscellaneous cyclic and acyclic chemicals.
Within each classification, the ITC specifies a minimum reportable quantity based on the
volume of production or sales or value of sales. Data are published so as not to reveal individual
company operations. A disclosure of confidentiality can also be requested by companies so that
company names will not be identified.
DATABASE CHARAOERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: No geographic indicators used
Time Coverage: 1916-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Not applicable — no samples collected; data on total
output submitted annually by companies who fill out a questionnaire
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable — no samples collected
Source information: All data collected at the source
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Chemical specific production and sales are aggregated using data supplied
from approximately 700 primary manufacturers of chemicals
Standard procedures used: Not applicable -- no samples analyzed
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Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable — no samples
collected or analyzed
Approximate time between receipt of questionnaire and data entry to database: 1 month
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; comparison of current data to
previous years and to data supplied by other domestic producers; phone calls to reporting
companies by agency staff; no independent verification of original data used by the
manufacturers
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
ffi Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Synthetic organic chemicals (including VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
dioxins/furans, acids and bases)
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; chemical abstracts service
registry number (the Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN) for most
chemicals is shown in the questionnaire but not in the report)
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Summary statistics are available on specific agents by manufacturer
Availability: Any requester can obtain summary data; summary data are available in an annual
published report which is provided to various federal agencies and available to other federal,
state, or local government agencies, as well as to the general public
Form: Hard copy — Agency reports
Machine readable — Bulletin board (quarterly reports only)
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Reports: Annual reports: Synthetic Organic Chemicals United States Production and Sales, provides
the following data within each of the 15 groups of organic chemicals: a summary of
statistical data; statistics on products in as great detail as is possible without revealing the
operations of individual producers; data identifiable by manufacturers’ codes; and a
directory of manufacturers. Appendices include corporate telephone numbers and office
addresses of manufacturers; synonymous names for cyclic intermediates; data aggregated
in the format of the Harmonized System (for comparability with Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) format); and an alphabetical index of all the products within the edition
of the report
Quarterly Reports: Preliminary Report on Production of Selected Synthetic Organic Chemicals
(including .rynthe:ic plastics and resin materials)
Reference Documents: Colour Index, published jointly by the Society of Dyes and Colourists and
the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists; Chemical Abstract Sert zce
Registry Numbers and SOCMA Handboolc Commercial Organic Chemical Names, published
by the Chemical Abstracts Service of the American Chemical Society
Data/Reports Available From: the Office of the Secretary, ITC, 500 E Street S.W., Washington,
DC 20436, (202) 205-1807 (for copies of Agency reports) or call (202) 205-1809 and leave
a recorded request; requests may also be faxed to (202) 252-2186; quarterly reports on
electronic bulletin board may be accessed by calling (202) 205-1948 (a password will be
given; the ID. will be the requester’s name)
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TOTAL DIET STUDY
Acronym: TDS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DFLHS), Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Division of Contaminants Chemistry
Contact Person: Ellis L Gunderson, U.S. FDA, 200 C St., SW, (HFF -420), Washington, DC 20204,
(202) 245-1152
Objectives and Coverage:
Since 1961, the Total Diet Study (TDS), also known as the Market Basket Study, provides
yearly estimates of dietary intakes of selected pesticides, industrial chemicals, radionuclides, and
elements or nutrients for the U.S. population. These intakes are then compared with established
safe or recommended dietary intake levels. TDS also allows FDA to: identify dietary trends over
time; observe potential public health problems; follow up on isolated contamination incidents; check
the effectiveness of U.S. regulations regarding chemical levels in foods; and guide other FDA food
monitoring programs.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Drinking water, human food sources
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, radionuclides
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents --
Estimation versus observational data: Estimates based on observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
In the Total Diet Study, typically consumed foods are purchased at the retail level, prepared
for consumption, and analyzed for residue and dietary intake levels. The TDS was established in
1961 to determine dietary intake of radionuclides resulting from atmospheric testing of nuclear
weapons; analyses for selected nutrients and pesticides were also performed. Over the years,
additional analytes have been added (currently, testing is done for over 200 analytes, of which
approximately 51 are usuaUy detected annually). From 1961 to 1982, the number and types of
foods, population groups, collection sites, and analytical methods varied. Food was collected at one
location before 1982 (Washington, DC) four times a year, and a composite sample approach” was
used -- individually prepared food group items were composited by weight. Prior to 1982, food
items and diets were based on the 1955 and 1965 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Household Food Consumption Surveys.
The TDS was redesigned in 1982, based on updated analysis of individual foods and new
dietary information from two surveys (the USDA 1977-1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey
and the National Center for Health Statistic’s Second National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (Ni-LANES) of 1976-1980) (see separate entry for this database), allowing for assessment of
dietary intakes for a greater number of population (age-sex) groups. Since 1982, food collections
(known as “market baskets”) have been performed by FDA district office inspectors four times each
year, once from each of four geographical regions of the United States (East, West, South, and
Central), representing the total diet of the U.S. population. Each market basket has consisted of
234 identical foods purchased in grocery stores in three cities within each geographical area; after
food preparation according to specific instructions, the three subsamples of each food are combined
to form a sample for analysis. Individual analyses of 234 food items depicting eight population
groups (ranging from infants to elderly adults) have been performed for over 200 analytes annually.
Most of the analyses use multiresidue analytical methods. Separate analyses are performed for
radionuclides (for which monitoring was discontinued from 1967-1972, and resumed in 1973).
Total Diet Study analyses are performed for prepared, rather than raw, foods; therefore,
because food preparation may reduce levels of chemical residues, analytical procedures in the TDS
are modified from those used in other FDA regulatory programs to permit measurement at levels
5 to 10 times lower than measurements used in those programs; generally, residues present at or
above 1 ppb can be measured in the TDS.
Results prior to and after 1982 are not directly comparable because of the substantial
redesign of the Total Diet Study in 1982 (e.g., design of diets, analysis of individual foods versus
composites, expanded coverage of population (age-sex) groups, and use of different or additional
analytical methods. Beginning in the fall of 1991, the Total Diet Study has expanded its food
collection and analysis to 265 food items, and will be expanding the number of age-sex population
groups.
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DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: City, municipality, or township; Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area
(SMSA); state
Time Coverage: 1961-present
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Quarterly
Regularity of sample collection: Variable collections; quarterly on average; collections are
spread over a 4-5 week period so laboratory can accommodate sample preparation
workload
Source information: None
Dispersion information: Qualitative information through regional estimates of dietary
uptake of residues from food
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Each collection consists of the purchase of identical foods from grocery
stores in 3 cities within a geographical area; the 3 subsamples of each food (from
the 3 cities) are combined to form a sample for analysis; these samples are then
analyzed individually
Standard procedures used: FDA Pesticide Analytical Manual (1968 and revisions) and
numerous other analytical methodologies for elements, dioxins, pesticides, PCBs,
etc.); Association of Official Analytical Chemists’ Official Methods of Analysis;
American Public Health Association Standard Methods for the Examination of
Water and Wastewater
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Several weeks
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 3 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, duplicates, spikes, data entry
audits
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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Municipal: Inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, radionuclides
SOIL Not applicable
41E Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES
Domesticated mammals (dairy products and meat); plants (vegetables and fruit);
fish/shellfish: Inorganic compounds, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
radionuclides
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical name or mixture; database-specific codes
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data; computerized database is available from 1982-present;
hard copies of articles summarizing data are available for 1961-1981
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Reports: History of the Food and Dn4gAdminislra:ion’s Total Diet Study — 1961 to 1987; FDA Total
Diet Study, April 1982-April 1984, Dietary Intakes of Pesticides, Selected Elements, and Other
Chemicals; Residues in Foods 1990; numerous other reports and journal articles
Reference Documents: Documentation for the revised Total Diet Study: Food List and diets;
numerous methods for analysis of specific chemicals
Data/Reports Available From: State Departments of Food and Agriculture and Departments of
Health; FDA District Offices; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; USDA; National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; limited reference documents available through
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650; Ellis L Gunderson, FDA, (202) 245-1152
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TOXIC RELEASE INVENTORY
Acronym: TRI
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Toxic Substances
Contact Person: Steve Newburg-Rinn, U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances, 401 M Street SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 382-3757
Objectives and Coverage:
TRI contains data on annual estimated releases of over 300 toxic chemicals to air, water, and
land by the manufacturing industry. (Releases to land include: landfills; land treatment/application
farming; and surface impoundments, such as topographic depressions, man-made excavations, or diked
areas.) Industrial facilities provide the information, which includes: the location of the facility where
chemicals are manufactured, processed, or otherwise used; amounts of chemicals stored on-site;
estimated quantities of chemicals released; on-site source reduction and recycling practices; and
estimated amounts of chemicals transferred to treatment, recycling, or waste facilities. The Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 and the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990
mandated that EPA collect this information and make it available to the public in a computerized
database.
Communities use TRI to obtain information about chemical releases in their area and for
emergency response planning for chemical accidents. TRI data is also used by government agencies
for regulatory purposes, such as permitting, inspection, and compliance reviews of facilities. TRI is
often used in conjunction with other EPA databases to provide support for major environmental laws,
such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), the
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Safe Drinking Water Act. In addition, TRI data are
used for research purposes by federal, state, and local governments and private groups to study human
health problems, particularly as a tool for risk screening to assess potential environmental and health
risks. More recently, TRI has been used to encourage and assist in implementation of pollution
prevention (including source reduction) programs at industrial facilities.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Air (point and non-point source emissions), water, soil or sediment, bulk chemicals, ions
(including fluoride), underground injection, off-site transfers (including transfers to publicly
owned treatment works, or POTWs)
Classes of compounds Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, asbestos, acids/acid
aerosols, bases
Types of data available: Individual entries and summary statistics are available on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: Most data are estimated; observational data are used if available;
methods of estimation may change from year to year, causing apparent changes in values
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 requires facilities in
the manufacturing sector (Standard Industrial Classification codes 20-39) to report releases of over 300
specified chemicals in over 20 chemical categories to local and federal agencies. Only those facilities
that have 10 or more full-time employees and either manufacture or process more than 25,000 lbs. or
use more than 10,000 lbs. of chemicals per year must comply. These facilities must report annual
releases to their state and to EPA on July 1 following each calendar year of coverage.
The TRI data for chemical releases to land are limited to releases within the boundary of a
facility. Releases to land include: landfills; land treatment/application farming; and surface
impoundments, such as topographic depressions, man-made excavations, or diked areas. Air releases
are identified as either point source releases or as non-point (i.e., fugitive) releases, such as those
occurring from vents, ducts, pipes, or any confined air stream. Surface water releases include
discharges to rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water. In addition, the database covers releases
to underground injection wells (where chemicals are injected into the groundwater) and offsite transfers
of chemicals to either publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) or any other disposal, treatment,
storage, or recycling facility.
Release quantities are expressed as total annual amount, and the database does not indicate
whether peak releases or accidents occurred during the year. In addition, accuracy of data can vary
greatly. Estimates based on amount of chemical used during a year or on weight of drums can be fairly
accurate. Where monitoring of waste streams has not been done, release estimates may be within 20
percent of the actual amount released, although infrequent nonrepresentative sampling may lead to
much less accuracy. Estimates of fugitive air emissions and complex wastewaters for which monitoring
data are not available may be off by one or even two orders of magnitude. Overall, 1987 total annual
releases appear to have been underestimated by 2 percent. For non-zero release estimates, more than
three-quarters were within a factor of 2 of EPA’s best estimate. About 15 percent were in error by an
order of magnitude or more. Finally, estimating exposure based on release quantities requires an
analysis of chemical and site-specific characteristics; there is no simple conversion of release quantity
to concentration in the environment or dose received by individuals.
DATABASE CHARACFERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the zip code centroid and of the faciitT, street address; zip
code; name of city, municipality, or township; county/parish; state
Time Coverage: 1987-present
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Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Annual
Regularity of sample collection: Regular (for 1987, approximately 66 percent of facilities were
in compliance with reporting requirements)
Source information: Data are collected at the source, by the industrial facilities themselves
Dispersion information: Generally not available, but off-site transfers are included
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: Vary by facility; EPA analytical methods are available for 146 of the
308 chemicals in TRI (available from EPA’s Office of Water Regulations and
Standards, Office of Solid Waste, and Office of Research and Development);
development of standardized methods for the other 162 chemicals is being considered,
to be based on determinations of which chemicals should be regulated next; a Guidance
Manual for facility inspectors is available to determine whether facilities hav identified
all reportable chemicals and have calculated thresholds properly
Approximate time between sample collection and data entry to database: 9 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Data entry audits; Toxic Release Inventory Data
Quality Program, which includes detailed reporting instructions, 18 industry-specific guidance
documents, and accuracy evaluations; site visits
EN RONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, asbestos, ions (including
fluoride)
Groundwater Inorganic compounds, VOCs, ions (including fluoride)
SOIL
Industrial: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, asbestos
AIR
Outdoor urban and rural: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
asbestos, acids/acid aerosols
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Aggregate stack emissions: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs,
asbestos, acids/acid aerosols
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, asbestos, acids, bases
OTHER
Also includes underground injection wells and off-site transfers to POTWs, recycling
facilities, treatment facilities, etc.
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN); chemical
or mixture name
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents for each reporting facility
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; on-line if registered to use the National Library of
Medicine’s (NLM) Toxicolo ’ Data Network (TOXNET) computer services, 24 hours/day by
direct dialing or through TELENET, TYMNET, or COMPUSERVE; NLM is also available
at over 4,000 libraries nationwide
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency reports , Microfilm
Machine readable -- On-line (ASCII); tape; diskette; CD-ROM
Reports: Routinely available annually: distributed through the National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650, state offices, federal
offices, and regional libraries of the National Library of Medicine; special reports can be
developed through appropriate software; examples of reports include: The Toxic Release
Inventory: National Reporl for 1989 Data; Chemicals in Your Community: A Guide to the
Emeigency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; Risk Screening Guide
Reference Documents: User manuals for various systems (e.g., EPA IBM system; public access through
TOXNET)
DatafReports Available From: National Library of Medicine’s TOXNET system, (301) 496-6531;
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Hotline (to develop reports), (800) 535-
0202; Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Reporting Center (for hard copy),
(202) 488-1501; National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650, or Government Printing Office (for magnetic tapes),
(202) 783-3238; T.RI US, (for on-line user support and search assistance), (202) 382-3531
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TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT TEST SUBMISSIONS
Acronym: TSCATS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances
Contact Person: Geraldine D. Nowak, U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances, 401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-2320
Objectives and Coverage:
TSCATS is an index of unpublished, nonconfidential studies covering chemical testing
results and adverse effects of chemicals on health and ecological systems. The studies are submitted
by United States industry to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The
majority of these studies include laboratory studies conducted on chemicals. There are few
epidemiological studies and chemical spill studies included in the database, however, the emphasis
is on laboratory studies. Documents in the database include: TSCA chemical test results; health
and safety studies; notices of substantial risk of injury to health or the environment; and
informational submissions that contain data on exposure, epidemiology, environmental fate, and
monitoring.
A TSCATS record includes the chemical name, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry
Number (CASRN), TSCA section, title, public file document number, microfiche number,
submitting organization, performing organization, study purpose, chemical effect, organism tested,
route of administration, and keywords and abstracts for a select number of studies. Submitted
documents are available on microfiche within the TSCATS system.
TSCATS contains information that is pertinent to the risk assessment and hazard evaluation
processes. The information can be used in conjunction with published material and is a valuable
source in the absence of published data. The data are used by federal and state agencies,
researchers, toxicologists, risk assessors, and trade and professional associations.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Bulk chemicals
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans,
radionuclides, asbestos, acids, bases, all other substances covered under TSCA
Types of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: Mostly observational data; some estimated data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
Each study within TSCATS contains its own sample design and analysis. The submitted data
are reviewed by EPA representatives to determine: if additional information is needed, the safety
and use of the chemical, and if the data was submitted under the right section of TSCA. Data are
used for chemical regulation and are made available to the public under Section 10 of TSCA: The
Research, Development, Collection, Dissemination, and Utilization of Data. New documents are added
to the database quarterly.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Name of submitting organization and contractor (laboratoiy where research was
done)
Time Coverage: 1985-present
Sample Characteristics: Each study within TSCATS contains its own sampling protocols
Freqàency of sample collection: Not applicable (see above)
Regularity of sample collection: Not applicable (see above)
Source information: None
Dispersion information: Most studies do not contain dispersion information, except for
some ecological studies submitted under Section 4: Testing of TSCA
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Not applicable (see above)
Standard procedures used: Procedures for compiling and submitting information depend
upon the applicable section of TSCA; most documents are submitted under Section
4: Testinr, Section 6: Regulation of Hazardous Chemical Substances; or Section 8:
Health and Safety Studies; also, Section 10: The Research, Development, Collection,
Dissemination, and Utilization of Data, specifies procedures for making the studies
available to the public
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Not applicable; no samples
analyzed
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Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Not applicable; no
samples analyzed; approximate time between information received by EPA and data
entered into the database is 3 to 6 months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Each study has its own quality assurance/quality
control procedures; none required under TSCA
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER Not applicable
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS
Inorganic compounds, VOCs, semi-VOCs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans,
radionuclides, asbestos, acids, bases, any other substance covered under
TSCA
Conventions Used to Identify Agents: CASRN; chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents for each reporting facility
Availability: Any requester can obtain data; on-line from the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
(TSCATS are also contained in the TSCATS, TOXLINE, TOXUST, HSDB, and RTECS
files); compact disc (CD-ROM) from SilverPlatter Information, Inc., Wellesley, MA; once
references of the document or submission are found on-line or on CD-ROM, the complete
submission or document can be obtained on microfiche through Chemical Information
Systems, Inc., or the National Technical Information Service (NTIS); hard copies of
TSCATS Source Documents may be reviewed and copied at the EPA, Office of Toxic
Substances, Public Docket Room, and the Office of Toxic Substances Chemical Library
Form: Hard copy -- Computer printouts; microfiche (of the submitted documents)
Machine readable -- on-line; diskette (CD-ROM); magnetic tape
Reports: Health and safety studies and studies of substantial risk submitted under Section 8 of
TSCA are irregularly distributed in report form to the National Technical Information
Service (NTIS) and the TOSCA Hotline Office
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Reference Documents: Each study contains its own reference documents; the Toxic Substances
Control Act is used as a reference document for the database
Data/Reports Available From: National Library of Medicine, On-line Access, 8600 Rockville Pike,
Bethesda, MD 20894, (301) 496-6193 (for a password and user code); SilverPlatter
Information, Inc., 37 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02181, (617) 235-1715 (for
compact disc in CD-ROM); Chemical Information Systems, Inc., 7215 York Road,
Baltimore, MD 21212, (301) 321-8440 or 1-800-CIS-USER or the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650
(for documents on microfiche; orders must include the microfiche number); NTIS or the
TOSCA Hotline Office, 1-800-424-9065 or (202) 554-1404 (for reports); U.S. EPA, Office
of Toxic Substances Public Docket Room, 401 M Street, SW, Room G-004 Northeast Mall,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7099, or U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances Chemical
Library, 401 M Street, SW, Room B-002 Northeast Mall, Washington, DC 20460, (202)
260-3944 (to review and copy hard copies of TSCATS Source Documents)
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WATER DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
Acronym: WATSTORE
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water
Resources Division
Contact Person: John Briggs, USGS, National Center, MS437, Reston, VA 22092, (703) 648-5624
Objectives and Coverage:
The USGS, through its Water Resources Division, investigates the occurrence, quantity,
quality, distribution, and movement of surface water and groundwater in the United States.
WATSTORE is the USGS’s repository for all of its water data, grouped into seven files stored by
common characteristics. The Water Quality File contains analytical results of water samples that
describe the chemical, physical, biological, and radiochemical characteristics of both surface and
ground waters. The Groundwater Size Inventory File contains inventory data on wells, springs, and
other sources of groundwater, and includes site location and identification, geohydrologic
characteristics, well construction history, and one-time field measurements (such as water
temperature). The Daily Values File includes parameters measured or observed on a daily or a
continuous basis, such as streamfiow, river stages, reservoir contents, water temperatures,.specific
conductance, sediment concentrations and discharges, and groundwater levels. The Unit Values File
contains information on water parameters measured on a schedule more frequent than daily such
as rainfall, stream discharge, and temperature data. The Peak Flow File contains peak observations
for annual maximum streamfiow and gage height values at surface water sites. The Water Use File
contains summary data on water use throughout the United States. The Station Header File is an
index of sites from three other WATSTORE files (the Daily Values, Peak Flow, and Water Quality
files), and includes information such as identification, location, and physical description of sites.
The hydrologic data contained in WATSTORE are used by government agencies and private
organizations to determine the adequacy of water supplies; design dams, bridges, and flood control
projects; allocate irrigation waters; locate sources of pollution; plan for energy development; and
predict the potential effect of radioactive waste disposal on water supplies. In addition to its data
processing, storage, and retrieval capabilities, WATSTORE can provide a variety of products,
ranging from simple data tables to complex statistical analyses.
The USGS is presently in the process of designing a new system which will replace
WATSTORE. This new system will be called the National Water Information System II and will
include a broader range of environmental data than the current WATSTORE database (e.g., when
and where samples were collected). Although the design of the program will change, all of the
information from the current WATSTORE database will be transferred to the new system and will
be available to users. The new system will be phased in during 1993 and 1994.
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Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water, ground water; leachate; municipal and private water, precipitation; soil and
sediment
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds; VOCs; trihalomethanes; semi-VOCs; pesticides;
PCBs; dioxins/furans; radionuclides; asbestos; microorganisms; physical and chemical
indicators of water quality; ions (including fluoride and chloride)
Types of data available: Individual data entries on specific agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
Sample Design and Analysis: -
The USGS collects data at stream gaging stations, lakes, reservoirs, surface water quality
stations, sediment stations, water level observation wells, and ground water quality wells.
Monitoring sites are selected based on the specific purpose of the individual project (e.g., long term
trend analysis; determination of the general characteristics of an area; a specific, identified
problem). Each year many water data collection sites are added and others are discontinued.
As of 1981, the Station Header File included information on nearly 263,000 sites; the Groundwater
Site Inventory File contained data for nearly 700,000 sties; the Water Quality File had results of
more than 1.8 million analyses for 185 different constitutents; and the Daily Values file contained
more than 200 million daily values.
Digital recorders are used at many field locations to record values for parameters such as
river stages, conductivity, water temperature, turbidity, wind direction, fluorides, and chlondes.
Data are recorded and transmitted to the central computer facilities of the USGS at its National
Center. Samples requiring laboratory analysis are analyzed at one of two laboratories of the Water
Resources Division and results are transmitted to the central computer facilities.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: National
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the county, point source, and monitor site; name of county
and state; USGS hydrologic unit codes
Time Coverage: 1880-present
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Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Varies by parameter; Daily Values File: daily or continuous
measurements, including daily mean values and daily maximum and minimum values;
Unit Values File: more frequent than daily (e.g., observations every 5, 15 minutes,
etc.); Peak Flow File: annually; Ground-Water Site-In ventoly File: one-time basis for
field measurements (e.g., water temperature); Water Quality File: weekly, monthly,
and quarterly
Regularity of sample collection: Depends upon measurement (see sample frequency above)
Source information: None
Dispersion information: None
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: USGS procedures listed in Regional Analyses of Streamfiow
Characteristics; Methods for Collection and Analysis of Aquatic Biological and
Microbiological Samples; and Methods of Measuring Water Levels in Deep Wells;
EPA and USGS procedures listed in Methods for Determination of Inorganic
Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments; Methods for the Determination of
Organic Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments; and Methods for
Determination of Radioactive Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: Immediate for continuous
measurements; vanes according to constituent for other measurements (hours to
several months)
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Less than 1 week
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks; field blanks; duplicates; spikes;
external laboratory analysis
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface water, ground water, leachate, municipal, private, precipitation: Inorganic
compounds; VOCs; trihalomethanes; semi-VOCs; pesticides; PCBs;
dioxins/furans; radionuclides; asbestos; microorganisms; physical andchemical
indicators of water quality; ions (including fluoride and chloride)
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SOIL
Sediment, Superfund sites: Inorganic compounds; VOCs; semi-VOCs; pesticides;
PCBs; dioxins/furans; radionuclides; asbestos; microorganisms
Not applicab2le
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: EPA STORET codes
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries on specific agents
Availability Any requester can obtain data; a variety of formats is available; users most often
request data in the form of tables that contain lists of data, or condensed indexes that
indicate the availability of data stored in the files; computer-printed graphs (bar graphs, line
graphs and plots, frequency distribution curves, X-Y point plots, site-location map plots,
hydrographs, contour plots, and three-dimensional plots) are also available; WATSTORE
interfaces with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to provide extensive analyses of data
such as variance, transformations, and correlations
Form: Hardcopy -- Computer printouts; Agency reports
Machine readable -- Magnetic tape; diskette (ASCII; other data formats are available; the
format is dependent upon the report); CD-ROM
Reports: Annual reports, Water Resources Data for (State and year), generated for each state, and
reports generated by ad-hoc request are distnl,uted to the National Technical Information
Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650, EPA, all state
environmental protection offices, Army Corp of Engineers, regional libraries of the National
Libraries of Medicine and other libraries that have requested copies, and local government
offices; examples of reports generated by ad-hoc request include Guidelines for Collection
and Field Anai ysis of Groundwater Samples for Selected Unstable Constituents; Application of
Surface Geophysics to Groundwater Investigations
Reference Documents: Several; primary documents used include: National Handbook of
Recommended Methods for Water Data Acquisition; American Standards for Testing and
Mate, als; Techniques of Water Resources Investigations of the USGS
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for reports); National Water Data Exchange
(NAWDEX), USGS, 421 National Center, Reston, VA 22092, (703) 648-5676 (for on-line
data retrieval)
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WESTERN LAKE SURVEY
Acronym: WLS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development; National Acid Precipitation Program (NAPAP)
Contact Person: Alan Herlihy, U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 WE 35th
Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 757-4442
Objectives and Coverage:
The Western Lake Survey, Phase I, was conducted in 1985 as part of the National Surface
Water Survey, which also included the Eastern Lake Survey and the National Stream Survey (see
entries on these databases elsewhere in this Inventory). The purpose of the National Surface Water
Survey was to assess through monitoring the effects of acidic deposition on surface waters. The
primary objectives of the WLS were to determine in potentially sensitive areas of the western
United States 1) the percentage and location of lakes that were acidic; 2) the percentage and
location of lakes that had low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC); and 3) the chemical characteristics
of lakes, providing a database for selecting lakes for future studies.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water (lakes)
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
A statistical procedure was applied in selecting a subset of lakes in the western United
States as a probability sample to estimate the physical and chemical charateristics of a target
population of lakes from the results of the chosen sample with a known degree of confidence. A
total of 719 lakes were sampled, representing an estimated 10,393 lakes in the target lake
population. In addition, 32 special interest lakes were sampled. A majority of the lakes sampled
were expected to exhibit low alkalinity. A single sample was collected from each lake in the fall;
thus, results are applicable to the fall season only; representation of other periods during the year
(e.g., levels in the spring of 1985) in western lakes is unknown.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Regional (mountainous western United States)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; name of county/parish; state
Time Coverage: 1985
Sample Characteristics
Frequency of sample collection: One time only
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source and dispersion information: Acidic deposition typically originates from nonpoint
source pollution and impacts of various pollutants; specific sources are not
determined in this database
Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: No
Standard procedures used: EPA Methods for Chemical Analyses for Water and Wastes
(modified for acidic deposition); Handbook of Methods forAcid Deposition Studies,
Laboratory Analysis for Surface Water Chemisby; Handbook of Methods for Acid
Deposition Studies, Field Operations for Surface Water Chemistry (all published by the
EPA Office of Research and Development)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 1-28 days, varies by analyte
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: 3-6 months
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Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates, spikes,
external laboratory analyses, data entry audits, field and laboratory audits, methods
comparability study
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface: Inorganic compounds, ions (including fluoride), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
ME Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HUMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to Identif ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific agents; summary
statistics are also available on specific agents, as cumulative distribution functions of
regional lake acid-base status
Availability: Any requester can obtain data
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts, Agency reports, journal publications
Machine readable — Tape, diskette (ASCII, SAS)
Reports: National Surface Water Survey, Western Lake Survey, Phase I—Field Operations Report
Quality Assurance Plan; Quality Assurance Report
Reference Documents: National Surface Water Survey: Western Lake Survey—Phase I, Database
Dictionary; Analytical Methods Manual
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 (for data or report copies); Susan Christie,
(503) 757-4645 (for information on reports available)
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WISCONSIN FISHERIES DATABASE
Acronym: FISH.WIS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and
Development (OR&D)
Contact Person: Kenneth E.F. Hokanson, PhD, EPA, OR&D, Environmental Research
Laboratory, 6201 Congdon Blvd. Duluth, MN 55804, (218) 720-5757
Objectives and Coverage:
The Wisconsin Fisheries Database (FISH.WIS), a merger of a biological and a chemical
database, covers over 400 lakes in northern Wisconsin. FISH.WIS was originally created to assess
acid rain impacts on lake biota (e.g., fish health in relation to water quality) by adding fisheries
records to chemical data about the lakes studied. Information on the presence of metals in lakes
was also included. Data in FISH.WIS include lake chemistry and composition, drainage (e.g.,
agricultural or natural areas), inlet and outlet information, water source, flow information, a
pollution index (indicating absence or presence of pollution), and information on the presence of
fish species with codes of relative abundance. FISH.WIS is designed to assess rural areas having
minimal human disturbance. Completed in 1984, this database is currently not funded. It has not
been used to examine the effects of water quality on fish or to study ecological relationships.
Summary of Environmental Data:
Media: Surface water
Classes of compounds: Inorganic compounds, ions (including nitrate, sulfate, phosphorous,
ammonia, magnesium, calcium, iron), physical and chemical indicators of water quality
Type of data available: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Estimation versus observational data: All observational data
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Sample Design and Analysis:
For chemical analysis, lakes representative of the aquatic (recreational) resources in the
region were sampled to assess factors that might make the lakes susceptible to acidification. The
study area encompassed lakes within the Upper Wisconsin River Basin, bounded by the coordinates
46°07’N, 89°09’W to the north and 45°11’N, 89°41’W to the south. Approximately 90% of the land
was forested, with a relatively low population density (9.3 persons/lan 2 ). Lake selection was
intentionally biased to include most lakes in the study area with surface area greater than 100
hectares (ranging to as small as 3.9 hectares) for which no recent water quality data were available.
Direct sampling was done for physical and chemical characteristics. Both in-lake and watershed
measures were obtained. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed using alkalinity, color, and
chlorophyll a data, which resulted in three clusters of lake types: lakes dominated by surface runoff;
lakes dominated by groundwater; and those dominated by precipitation. Further analysis of factors
that may contribute to lake susceptibility to acid precipitation was conducted through discrimination
analysis of 18 watershed characteristics across the three lake clusters. Records obtained from the
Wisconsin Fisheries Department indicating the presence of fish species were then added to the
chemical database. The measurements showed that the potentially sensitive low alkalinity lakes in
northcentral Wisconsin lack surface inlets or outlets, and that their chemistry is associated with
precipitation chemistry.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
Geographic Characteristics:
Coverage: Region of state (northern Wisconsin lakes)
Identifiers: Latitude/longitude of the monitor site; name of city, municipality, or township;
state; hydrologic unit codes
Time Coverage: 1979-1983 (biological data on fish are available from 1940 to the present)
Sample Characteristics:
Frequency of sample collection: Usually in early spring and late fall; occasionally in summer
and winter
Regularity of sample collection: Regular
Source information: None
Dispersion information: None
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Methods of Sample Analysis:
Samples pooled: Data is available individually or by category (e.g., fish, metals, field
measurements)
Standard procedures used: American Public Health Association Standard methods for the
examination of water and wastewater (1975); EPA methods for chemical analysis of
water and wastes (1979)
Approximate time between sample collection and analysis: 24-48 hours
Approximate time between sample analysis and data entry to database: Immediate-2
months
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: Laboratory blanks, field blanks, duplicates
(laboratory and field), spikes, external laboratory analyses, data entry audits
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -
Classes of Compounds Analyzed by Media:
WATER
Surface water (lakes): Inorganic compounds, ions (including nitrate, sulfate,
phosphorous, ammonia, magnesium, calcium, iron), physical and chemical
indicators of water quality
SOIL Not applicable
Not applicable
FOOD SOURCES Not applicable
HTJMAN SAMPLES Not applicable
BULK CHEMICALS Not applicable
Conventions Used to !dentif ’ Agents: Chemical name or mixture
DATABASE AVATLABIUTY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents
Availability: Database is currently unfunded; however, data files are available to requesters
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Reports: Eilers, J.M. et al., NHydrologic Control of Lake Susceptibility to Acidification, Canadian
Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Vol. 40, 1983
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: Gary Glass, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development,
Environmental Research Laboratory, 6201 ’Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, (218) 720-
5526
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PART I!: DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
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ACID DEPOSiTION DATA NETWORK
Acronym: ADDNET
Sponsoring Agency Multiagency under the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program
(NAPAP)(includes U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Contact Person: Richard J. Olson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831,
(615) 574-7819
For descriptions of exposurerelated data included in this data handling system, see also in Part
I of this Inventory
Acid Deposition System (ADS)
Acidification Chemistry Information Database (ACID)
Alkalinity, Lake Area, and Deposition for New England States
Ambient Ozone Concentrations
Fish Information Network (FIN)
Monthly Emissions Inventory for Sulfur Dioxide
National Acid Precipitation Program (NAPAP)
Description
The Acid Deposition Data Network was established in 1978 to provide reliable data to
support assessments and policy analysis for the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program
(NAPAP) and to facilitate timely exchange of accurate, usable data among NAPAP and other data
sources. This database provides national geographic coverage from 1970 through 1988. ADDNET
lost funding in 1988, but the information is archived. The component databases were divided into
various subject areas: agriculture, geographic base data (e.g., U.S. Census county codes), climate,
vegetation, forestry, air quality, land use/land cover, population, water quality, and terrain.
Pollutant source information is available, and dispersion information is available for air but not for
water. When the program was fully funded, researchers from state and federal agencies could
request specific reports and data link-ups.
DATA SOURCES
ADDNE1’ contains 55 data sets that have been certified to ensure consistency across all
areas of assessment. The objective was to link approximately 50 independent state and federal
agency databases (over 30 additional data sets were being edited for addition to ADDNET when
the program lost funding; these additional data sets were never included). Each component data
set was responsible for designing and implementing its own sampling strategy and collection. Ten
of the 55 integrated databases are related to atmospheric and water chemistry. These databases
contain measurements in each of the media for criteria pollutants, VOCs, particulates, and physical
and chemical indicators of water quality (e.g., pH, total alkalinity, dissolved calcium, organic carbon,
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magnesium, sulfate, and nitrate). In preparing each of the component databases for inclusion in
ADDNET, QA/QC spot-checks were conducted to verify information, but, in general, QAJQC
procedures were prepared by each of the individual data sources. ADDNET spot-checked
individual values and traced the values back to the data entiy of the component database.
DATA PRESENTATION
The ADDNET program put the individual databases into a common format, converted all
units to metric units, and established consistent codes for missing fields and values. Individual
entries, summazy statistics, and cross-referenced data are available. Observational data provide the
basis for county-level estimates. ADDNET data can be identified by latitude/longitude of the
county centroid, point source and monitor site, and physical description of the point source, monitor
site, county, and state. Samples were collected monthly or annually (when aggregated).
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual samples are entered into the database
Availability: May be available to government agencies if funding provided; data not routinely
available
Form: Machine readable form — Tape (SAS)
Reports: No
Reference Documents: ADDNET Notebook Documentation of the Acid Deposition Data Network
(ADDNET) Database Supporting the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program
(1987)
Data Reports Available From: Richard I. Olson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee 37831, (615) 574-7819
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ACIDIFICATION CHEMISTRY INFORMATION DATABASE
Acronym: ACID
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratoiy
Contact Person: George R. Hendrey, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Division, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Building 318, Upton, NY 11973, (516) 282-3262
Description
ACID was established to analyze the effect of acid deposition on surface waters of the
United States by examining historical trends at regional and national scales. ACID is a
comprehensive database that combines data from existing computerized databases (e.g., STORET)
with other data sets from a variety of sources (e.g., state agencies). Approximately 75 percent of
the sampling stations come from STORET. ACID currently contains data for the 48 contiguous
United States from 48,692 water quality sampling stations and 819,002 sampling dates. Data in
ACID include hydrology, acidity, water chemistry, limited lake and stream morphometry, and
station information divided into 10 regions: Northeast, South, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina,
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Northwest, and West. See also the separate entry for the Acid
Deposition Data Network (ADDNET).
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AEROMETRIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
Acronym: AIRS
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards
Contact Person: John Bosch, Chief, National Air Data Branch, MD-14, Research Triangle Park,
NC 27711, (919) 541-5583
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see the following summaries
in Part I of this Inventory
National Emissions Data System (NEDS)
Compliance Data System (CDS)
National Park Service Environmental Database Management System (NPSEDMS)
Air Quality Subsystem (AQS) of AIRS
Air Facility Subsystem (AFS) of AIRS
National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS)
State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS)
Description
AIRS is a national repository for data on airborne pollution in the United States. AIRS
includes compliance data for airborne criteria pollutants—lead, CO, SO 2 , NO,, ozone, reactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (either total suspended particulates
(TSP) or particulate matter less than 10 microns in size (PM 10 ))—for which National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) have been set. In addition, AIRS contains information on air quality,
point source emissions, and areaJmobile source data on a wide variety of other pollutants. AIRS
can be used to generate reports on air quality and emissions for various pollutants for specific time
periods and geographic areas. Maps showing the monitoring sites can also be generated.
AIRS was established in 1987 and replaced the Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data
(SAROAD), National Emissions Data System (NEDS), Compliance Data System (CDS), National
Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) Management Information Systems, Comprehensive Data Handling
System (CDHS), Air Quality Data Handling System (AQDHS-U), and the Emission Inventory
System/Point Source and Area Source (EIS/PS and EIS/AS). AIRS also contains summary data,
but not raw data, from the National Park Service Environmental Database Management System
(NPSEDMS) and from the Precision and Accuracy Reporting System (PARS), which includes data
on instrumentation, measurements, and calibration. AIRS contains some, but not extensive,
meteorological data from some air quality monitoring sites.
AIRS does not include information on toxic waste sites (CERCUS), or information from
the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) or the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
(NATICH), among other data systems.
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EPA uses AIRS data for regulatory, monitoring, and research purposes, such as assessing
the nation’s air quality, setting national ambient air quality regulations, identifying localities where
improvements in air quality are needed, estimating national air emissions and trends, and preparing
reports mandated by the Clean Air Act. States use AIRS information to develop State
Implementation Plans. In addition, many states store a wide variety of data on other pollutants and
variables in AIRS (e.g., through the State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) system).
AIRS data have been used for exposure assessment and in the development of EPA Criteria
Pollutant Documents.
DATA SOURCES
As of 1989, AIRS contained approximately 500 million air pollution measurements, primarily
in heavily populated, urban areas. AIRS consists of four subsystems: air quality subsystem, facility
subsystem, area/mobile source subsystem, and geo-common subsystem. The geo-common subsystem
contains reference information on codes and code descriptions to identify places, pollutants,
processes, geo-political entities, numerical values, etc. The other three systems contain data
contributed by states under several federal regulations, as well as additional data that states may
choose to store in this system.
Air Quality Subsystem
The Air Quality Subsystem (see database description in Part I of this Inventory) contains
measurements of ambient concentrations of air pollutants and associated meteorological data. The
data are reported by states under U.S. EPA regulations on a quarterly basis.
Air Facility Subsystem
The Air Facility Subsystem (see the description of this database in Part I of this Inventory)
contains aerometric emissions and regulatory compliance data on air pollution point sources tracked
by the U.S. EPA, state, and local air regulatory agencies. Data from states are reported on a yearly
basis.
AreafMobile Source Subsystem
The Area and Mobile Source Subsystem is scheduled for production in mid-1992. This
subsystem will contain emission inventories from small stationary and mobile sources, forest fires,
fugitive transport, and natural sources of air pollution. Data will be stored for all counties
nationwide beginning with data from 1990; for nonattainment areas, data will be available on the
county, city, or zone level.
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DATA PRESENTATION
AIRS uses the Adaptable Database (ADABAS) database management system. NATURAL
and VS-COBOL are used to update and access data from AIRS.
AIRS provides the user with a variety of standardized report formats. These include
quarterly or yearly maximum values or averages for individual monitors by pollutant; the 10 highest
values recorded at a monitor presented by quarter or year with time/date notation; all raw data
values for a specific time period; box plots for individual monitors by pollutants; and monitor and
monitor site characteristics. Data can be selected for analysis based on measurement frequency or
other air quality parameters, such as maximum daily temperature. Data can be averaged over
monitors (e.g., over geographic areas), and over time periods. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)
can be presented for urban area trends.
In addition, the user can Ise NATURAL to write new formats for reports. Alternatively,
work files can be created from AIRS that can then be accessed by other software packages (e.g.,
FORTRAN, COBOL, BMDP, IMSL, SAS, or DISPLAA), to generate new reports.
DATA AVAILABILITY
•Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents; summary statistics are computed for calendar quarter and year for individual
monitor parameters
Availability: Any requester can obtain data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA);
some data are confidential, but most are public information; federal, state, or local
governmental agencies may obtain data directly on-line; federal offices and contractors may
receive data free of charge through interagency agreements and computer accounts or by
calling the EPA National Air Data Branch (NADB); all others must submit FOJA requests
in writing and pay search costs
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts; Agency reports; microfilm (some data)
Machine readable — On-line tape, diskette (ASCII, EBCDIC)
Reports: Trends Report published annually and nationally distributed; custom reports and
retrievals for requesters are published on an ad hoc basis; approximately 25 on-line routine
reports available; — users may select variables such as geographic region, measurement
frequency, pollutant, industrial process, stack emissions, etc.; on-line users can generate their
own reports using ADABAS (NATURAL), FORTRAN or COBOL, or analytical and/or
graphics packages (e.g., BMDP, IMSL, SAS, DISPLAA).
Except for the Trends Report, AIRS reports present results of direct air pollution
measurements at air monitoring sites nationwide or estimates for point source emissions but
do not offer analyses of conclusions. The Trends Report includes trend analysis,
interpretation, and conclusions and presents estimates of air pollution.
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Reference Documents: Na:ionalAi r Quality and Eissions Trends Report (trends over past 10 years);
other reports are on-line only, and include: AIRS Quick Look (quarterly or yearly maximum
values for individual monitors by pollutant;AJRS Standards Report (presents raw data values
and flags values exceeding regulatory standards); Emissions by SIC; Disrrthution of Emissions;
Plant Emission Inventory; AIRS Ad Hoc (can create custom reports)
Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; state environmental agencies
To retrieve AIRS data directly: Users must be registered to access the IBM 3090S
computer system at the EPA National Computer Center; have an IBM 3270 computer
terminal or equivalent and a PC with a serial port or at least a 1,200-baud modem (or
preferably a 2,400- or 9,600-baud modem, a PC with an IRMA board, or a PC compatible
with a 9,600-baud controller); must use CICS and ADABAS; onsite training available
Nondirect users may request AIRS data through FOIA from NADB staff
To register or for information, contact the appropriate AIRS administrator
AIR Quality Subsystem: Jacob Summers (919) 541-5695
AIRS Facility Subsystem: Chuck Isbell (919) 541-5448
Area/Mobile Source Subsystem: Andrea Kelsey (919) 541-5549
Data Retrieval requests: Tom Link (919) 541-5456
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COAL TECHNOLOGY DATA SYSTEM
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center
(PETC)
Contact Person: Richard DeSantis, DOE, PETC, Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, (412) 892-4761
Description:
PETC, which specializes in coal research, collects data from approximately 100 sources and
includes it in the Coal Technology Data System, a data handling system on energy information from
U.S. power plants. The Coal Technology Data System includes information on emissions sources;
utilization of coal, with limited information on oil, gas, and nuclear energy; trace element toxicity;
raw coal characteristics; coal shipment data; boiler characteristics (size, manufacturer, firing type,
etc.); washability (potential for cleaning coals); and the relationship between certain emissions (e.g.,
oxides of nitrogen) and boiler characteristics. Data are organized into approximately 100 databases,
four of which are available in the personal computer (PC) version; these four include: Reserves,
Shipment, USGS, and Washability. Other databases in this system include: Advanced Combustion
Technology, Alternative Fuels, Clean Coal Technology, Coal Preparation, Flue Gas Clean-up,
Liquefaction, anda bibliographic database, which catalogues nearly 1000,000 DOEIPETC. .sponsored
research reports and items of historical significance in the field of coal utilization technology. Users
of the system can calculate air emissions (oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon monoxide,
particulates, and trace elements) from given data on feed and burn stock and clean-up equipment,
using models provided in the system. The Coal Technology Data System is used for a variety of
purposes specific to individual needs, e.g., to determine engineering and administrative controls for
the purpose of reducing pollution and energy costs.
DATA SOURCES
The Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center obtains, processes, and updates existing data from
other sources for the Coal Technology Data System. Coal shipment data are obtained from the
Federal Energy Regulatozy Commission (FERC) Form 423: Monthly Report of Cost and Quality of
Fuels for Electric Plants (data on monthly deliveries of fuels to plants and on fuel quality); other
information on coal is obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Boiler characteristics
are obtained from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) Form 767: Steam-Electric Plant Operation
and Design Report (fuel consumption data for individual boilers) and from commercial sources.
Data used to calculate emissions are also obtained from EIA Form 767. The relationship between
oxides of nitrogen and boiler characteristics are obtained from research literature.
The Reserves Database includes the results of fifteen parameters measured in 1,431 samples
of U.S. coal. The measured parameters include: percentages of moisture, dry volatile matter, fixed
dry carbon, dry ash, dry sulfur, dry hydrogen, dry carbon, dry nitrogen and dry oxygen; dry heating
value; ash-softening temperature; free-swelling index; hardgrove grindability index; underground
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tons; and strip tons. These data were primarily obtained from state agencies which participated in
a 1974 survey of U.S. coal mines.
The Shipment Database includes five parameters in yearly averages describing coal
shipments from approximately 2,000 mines to 405 power plants. Parameters include: quantity
shipped from mines or received by power plants; heating value (BTUIIb); percentages of sulfur and
ash; and cost/million BTU. Megawatts are included for all types of power plants.
The USGS Database includes the results of 4,043 coal samples covering 92 parameters,
including major, minor, and trace element analyses. These samples were collected by USGS from
approximately 100 points in the United States, and results were forwarded to PETC. This
information is occasionally updated. Also included is geological information on U.S. coal seams,
including items such as coal seam thickness and depth.
The Washability Database, which describes the potential for cleaning coals, is determined
by PETC. This database includes 312 parameters describing 975 samples of U.S. coals.
DATA PRESENTATION
PETC staff can manipulate each of these databases to present pertinent information in a
variety of formats, e.g., a U.S. map of fixed carbon in coal or a sulfur dioxide emissions profile of
pre-1980 electric utility boilers.
DATA AVAJL4BILIIY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics (yearly averages) are
available for data in the four PC version databases (Reserves, Shipment, USGS,
Washability); individual data entries are available for all other databases
Availability: Any requester can obtain hard copy data; customized reports are obtained by sending
a letter (see address below) listing the requester’s name, affiliation, return address, the
requested information, the intended use of the information, the desired completion date of
the information request, and the requester’s telephone number; on-line access of the four
PC version databases is limited to authorized individuals only
Form: Hard copy — Computer printouts
Machine-readable — On-line (limited to authorized individuals)
Reports: PETC staff customizes databased on needs of the requester, e.g., NOx Emissions; Mercury
Concentrations in Coal
Reference Documents: Pittsbu,gh Enei y Technology Center Technology Database: General
Capabilities and Development Activities, Volume 1
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Data/Reports Available From: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal
Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650; James Lacey, U.S. DOE, PETC, P.O. Box
10940, MS 58-M217, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, (412) 892-6144 (letters of request for
customized data); Sun W. Chun, U.S. DOE, PETC, P.O. Box 10940, Building 58, Room 225,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236, (412) 892-6122 (to request on-line access)
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COMPREHENSIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC DATA RESOURCE
Acronym: CEDR
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Epidemiology and Health
Surveillance (OEHS)
Contact Person: Barbara Brooks, DOE, OEHS, EH-42, GTN, Washington DC 20585, (301) 353-
5926
Description
CEDR is being developed as one of the components of the Department of Energy’s (DOE)
Epidemiology and Health Surveillance Program. The objective of CEDR is to collect and organize
data arising from epidemiologic studies of DOE workers and other populations, such as those living
in the vicinity of DOE facilities. These studies will include DOE-sponsored research as well as
other data made available to DOE for inclusion in the data system. The purpose of this data
system is to encourage research that evaluates health effects of exposure to low levels of radiation
in these populations. The data will be organized so that a wide range of users will have access to
the data for further analyses or meta-analyses. (During the development of the system, however,
access to the data is limited.) Broad scientific use of these data and the associated diversity of
analyses and conclusions should provide support to improve methods of data collection and
analyses.
DATA SOURCES
CEDR is compiling data from existing studies, and is not designing these studies. The data
that will be included are largely DOE-supported studies to assess the health and mortality
experience of DOE contractor employees and to evaluate the health effects of exposure to low
levels of radiation in these employees. Other types of data being considered for inclusion are
ecologic and community studies.
Data elements included in the system include unique ID numbers, demographic and socio-
economic information, employment and work history, exposure, and health data. Exposure data
are based on both observational measurements, (e.g., personal monitors), and estimated exposures.
The extent of information and method of exposure determination vary between studies.
The initial studies included cover approximately 100,000 workers at various DOE sites,
including Hanford, Oak Ridge, and Rocky Flats. The extent of studies included in CEDR may
change as the system evolves. Other types of data, such as employment in non-energy-related
occupations in which radiation exposure is possible, have also been discussed.
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DATA PRESENTATION
The CEDR data management system is being developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories.
The capabilities include storage, documentation, retrieval of descriptive information, and specially
developed browsing capabili ties. Using a specially developed X-windows-based browsing/query
system, the browsing capabilities allow the user to examine and explore the contents of all databases
in the system, mark desired data for selection, and extract that data into a new data set.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries
Availability: Any requester can obtain data after submitting confidentiality statements and
completing procedures to establish an account at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; the
data may be accessed through various computer networks, such as Internet or 1Y v1NET
Form: Machine readable -- Tape, diskette, on-line
Reports: Not yet available
Reference Documents: Not yet available
Data/Reports Available From: General information about CEDR is available from Barbara Brooks,
DOE, OEHS, EH-42, GTN, Washington DC 20585, (301) 353-5926 or FAX # (301) 233-
5926
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ENVIRONMENTAL DISPLAY MANAGER
Acronym: EDM
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water
Contact Person: Thomas Pandolfi, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division, 401 M Street,
SW, Washington DC 20460, (202) 260-7030
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see also in Part I of this
Inventory:
Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality File (STORED
Permit Compliance System (PCS)
Description
EDM ties together national on-line databases that contain spatial and attribute information
on industrial and municipal dischargers, drinking water supplies, stream flow, water quality
monitoring stations, discharge permit compliance reports, and hydrologic maps. EDM provides easy
access to these data; automated environmental analyses, reports, and data; graphics; images; text;
and documents that can be used by numerous output devices, software packages, and computers.
EDM can be used to generate reports on multiple individual pollutant and water quality
measurements at specific locations. With maps, the user can look at the rivers in any state, can
zoom in on a small pond, and can overlay and identif ’ particular features. Maps showing locations
of discharge permitted facilities, surface water supplies (including utilities, intakes, and sources),
and population centers can also be generated. Maps also display roads, rivers, and lakes. The
detail of the map is flexible.
EPA uses EDM for regulatory, monitoring, and research purposes such as assessment of the
nation’s water quality, environmental planning, developing and promoting environmental laws, and
environmental enforcement. Reports from EDM can be used for education and public awareness.
DATA SOURCES
The mapping component of EDM works with an electronic version of the 54,000 base maps
of the U.S. Geological Survey, also known as the 7.5-minute quadrangle maps. These maps portray
features at the 1:100,000 scale. The hydrologic data from these maps are stored separately as the
River Reach file. This file includes over 100 million records containing the latitude and longitude
coordinates of streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and shorelines in the United States. Also
included in the mapping component of EDM are the latitude/longitude, stream reach cross
references, and population of cities in the United States.
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Information on water comes from two sources: the Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality
File (STOREI) and the Permit Compliance System (PCS). Detailed information about these data
systems can be found in Part I of this Inventoiy.
STORET contains geographic and other descriptive data about the sites where water quality
data have been collected. Data include physical characteristics and chemical constituents of the
water, fish tissue, or sediment sampled. This file contains over 200 million water sampling
observations. (Information about the flow in the stream is stored in the Stream Gage File.)
The PCS database is the national invento!y for EPA permit issuance and
compliance/enforcement data. The database consists of more than 5 million records on over 75,000
active water discharge permits. (Information about the facilities is stored in the Industrial Facilities
Discharge File. This file does not contain measurements but does contain information as to
indirect dischargers to sewage treatment plants, standard industrial classification codes, receiving
stream, and categorization of industrial process.)
DATA PRESENTATION
EDM provides the user with a variety of report, graph, and map formats. EDM can access
data for any geographic region in the continental United States. Data can be accessed either
through EPA discharge permit numbers, latitude/longitude, water body, city, county or state name,
river reach or water quality station, or pointing to states on a U.S. map and then successively
narrowing down the regions. Report formats include data inventories for selected sampling sites;
lists of facilities, cities, and water quality stations within a designated area; data summanes for
specific parameters and time periods at selected sampling sites; and water supplies downstream of
designated facilities (size of population served is also included). Graph formats include line graphs
and histogram presentations of specific measurements or summary measurements of one or multiple
parameters. Maps can be generated at a variety of levels of detail and the overlay information is
user specified. Further, routing of the streams can be displayed.
EDM is available through the EPA National Computer Center and communications
network. EDM uses IBM’s Graphics and Data Management System and UNIRAS graphics. The
user interface is interactive with the menu specifying the functions that can be selected at each step.
Lists are also available for many of the more detailed and numerous data. For instance, if the user
is unfamiliar with the 7.5-minute quadrangle maps in the area of interest, a list of maps for the area
can be displayed.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
agents at specific sites; sumznasy statistics are computed for time periods designated by the
user
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Availability: Any EPA National Computer Center user (EDM can be accessed through federal,
state, academic, and private communications networks, including SNA Backbone, X.25
Backbone, and Tymnet)
Form: Depends on the graphical and data production capabilities of the user’s facility
Reports: On-line users can generate own reports
Reference Documents: The Environmental Displ ry Manager (presents overview of the data system)
Data/Reports Available From: To retrieve EDM data directly: Users must be registered to access
the IBM 3090S computer system at the EPA National Computer Center, and have an IBM
3270 computer terminal or equivalent and a PC with a serial port or at least a 1,200-baud
modem (or preferably a 2,400- or 9,600-baud modem, a PC with an IRMA board, or a PC
compatible with a 9,600-baud controller)
To register or for information, contact Thomas Pandolfi (202) 260-7030
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GRAPHICAL EXPOSURE MODELING SYSTEM
Acronym: GEMS
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Toxic Substances
Contact Person: Cathy Turner or Sondra Hollister, Office of Toxic Substances, Mailstop TS-798,
401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-3929 or (202) 260-3390
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see also in Part I of this
Inventory:
National Emissions Data System (NEDS)
Permit Compliance System (PCS)
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
Description
GEMS is an interactive information management system designed to allow the rapid analysis
of environmental problems. The system allows the user to estimate chemical properties of
pollutants, assess the fate of chemicals in theoretical and in geographically specific environments,
model the resulting chemical concentrations, determine the number of people potentially exposed,
and estimate the resultant human exposure and risk. GEMS has modeling capabilities for the
atmosphere, surface water, unsaturated land (soil), saturated zones (ground water), and multimedia.
GEMS contains a variety of models for each media.
GEMS contains a range of data sets that help the user determine the environmental
characteristics of the specific area. These include data on the population (including demographic
characteristics as well as location of cities), atmospheric, water, and soil characteristics (e.g.,
climatic, soil property, and stream flow data), ecosystem characteristics, and water supply
information. GEMS also includes data sets that identif ,’ and characterize potential chemical release
sites as well as monitoring stations. These data sets include information on publicly owned
wastewater treatment works (POTWs), and industrial facilities, identified through the Permit
Compliance System (PCS), the National Emissions Data System (NEDS), and the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). In general, the user provides information on
the pollutant discharged such as amount, concentration, or source. However, data are also directly
accessible from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Data sets are also available that provide
information on chemicals and their properties.
GEMS was originally designed in 1981 for EPA scientists and modelers who needed a tool
to provide comprehensive policy planning support to EPA administrators. The system facilitates
both exposure and risk assessments. GEMS is now available to any requester through the EPA
VAX cluster or by purchase of the PC version.
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DATA SOURCES
GEMS has a flexible geodata handling system. The user may specify the location using the
zip code, universal transverse mercator coordinates, latitude and longitude, or Federal Information
Processing Standard (FIPS) codes for a state or county. Locations of water systems can be
identified through hydrologic unit codes or river reach numbers. Then, using a cross-referencing
program, the system can access any of the data sets through the geographic codes of the data set.
Information on potential chemcial release sites comes from several sources. Sites include
POTWs, industrial sites, and underground storage tanks.
POTWs are identified in the NEEDS86 file, the 1986 Needs Survey Report to Congress,
Assessment of Needed Publicly Owned Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the United States. This
provides information on the location, unit treatment process, influent and effluent descriptors, flow
rates, and population served. The file does not contain measurements of pollutants in influent or
effluent.
Industrial facilities are listed in the Industrial Facilities Discharge File. This file was
assembled from three databases that contain information on direct and indirect dischargers (from
the Permit Compliance System (PCS)). The PCS database is the national inventory for EPA permit
issuance and compliance/enforcement data. GEMS includes information on over 28,000 permits
for dischargers. Detailed information on PCS can be found in the first section of this Inventory.
GEMS also includes information on over 12,000 industrial facilities that discharge waste through
other facilities, usually POTWs. The Industrial Facilities Discharge File of GEMS does not include
measurements, but it does contain Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, categorization of
the industrial process, receiving water systems, and other pipe-related data.
The Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) survey is used to provide information on
underground tanks. The file includes site location, climate, soil, ground water, and geologic data.
No measurements are available on the amount and type of pollutant that might be leaking from the
tanks.
Information on estimated industrial facilities discharges comes from the Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI). TRI contains data on annual estimated releases of over 300 toxic chemicals to
air, water, and land by manufacturing industries. Information includes amounts of chemicals stored
on site, estimated quantities of chemicals released, onsite source reduction and recycling practices,
and estimated amounts of chemicals transferred to treatment, recycling, or waste facilities. Detailed
information about this data system can be found in the first section of this Inventory.
The amount of information available on potential polluters and environmental characteristics
varies with geographic location. For instance, although TRI is available for all 3,078 counties in
the United States, the soils data set is available for only 2,571 counties, the climatic data comes
from 3,225 stations throughout the United States, and ground-water data come from 14 cities in the
contiguous United States.
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DATA PRESENTATION
GEMS provides the user with a variety of graphical displays. Statistical analyses on the
numeric variables are generated using library routines from the International Mathematical and
Statistical Library (IMSL) and the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results can be presented
through line graphs, histograms, scattergrams, 3-dimensional isopleth graphs, and circular graphic
representation (Rose procedure).
GEMS also has mapping capabilities that allow the user to speci ’ the area to be mapped
either by listing the block group (or census enumeration district), county or state, or hydrologic
units, or by specif ring the radium of a circle centered on a location identified by the user. Maps
can be produced that display the location of important sites such as industrial sites or monitoring
sites, that use dot-density to display geographic distribution of data, or that use shading to indicate
various levels of estimated values.
GEMS is available through the EPA National Computer Center and the communications
network. A PC version of GEMS (PCGEMS) is also available with air, surface water, and ground-
water models and associated environmental and 1980 population data for most of the United States.
The user interface is interactive with a question/response format. The User’s Guide lists the
modules available. Additional detailed information on the models used in the system is also
available.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries are available on specific sites; summary statistics
are computed for geographic areas designated by the user
Availability Any EPA National Computer Center user (GEMS can be accessed through federal,
state, academic, and private communications networks, including Tymnet); the PC version
requires an IBM AT or compatible, math coprocessor, 640K RAM, 20 Mb dedicated disk
space or bernoulli cartridge (available through General Sciences Corporation, John Thomas,
(301) 953-2700)
Form: Depends on the graphical and data production capabilities of the user’s facility
Reports: On-line users can generate own reports
Reference Documents: Graphical Exposure Modeling System: GEMS User’s Guide presents overview
and detailed instructions on the use of the system; separate reference documents containing
details of the models used to calculate the fate of chemicals are available
Data/Reports Available From: To retrieve GEMS data directly: Users must be registered to access
the VAX cluster at the EPA National Computer Center
To register or for information, contact Cathy Turner (202) 260-3929. For questions about
modeling in specific media, contact (atmosphere) Annett Nold (202) 260-3930, (surface
water) Sondra Holister (202) 260-3390, and (soil and ground water) Annett Nold (202) 260-
3930
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INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES DISCHARGE FILE
Acronym: None
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water
Contact Person: Thomas Pandolfi, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division, 401 M Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7030
The Industrial Facilities Discharge File is assembled from files that contain information on
permits to industrial facilities (e.g., the Permit Compliance System described in Part I of this
Inventory). The file contains information on facilities’ industrial processes and receiving water
systems. It is only accessible as part of the Graphic Exposure Modeling System (GEMS) or the
Reach Pollutant Assessment (see separate entries in Part II for details on these systems).
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NATIONAL BIOMONITORING SPECIMEN BANK
Acronym: NBSB
Sponsoring Agencies: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), and Minerals Management Service; U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), Office of Health Effects Research; National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Contact Person: Stephen A. Wise, NIST, Building 222, Room B-158, Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
(301) 975-3112
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see the following summaries
in Part I of this Inventory
National Environmental Specimen Bank
National Status and Trendi for Marine Environmental Quality (NS&T)
The Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project
The National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank
Description:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology began its specimen banking activities
in 1979 as a pilot program to investigate the feasibility of long-term storage of environmental
samples. Specimens are collected and archived to provide well preserved and documented samples
for retrospective analysis as analytical techniques improve or as concerns about previously
unidentified pollutants arise. Since storage space in a long-term archive is limited, tissues that tend
to concentrate the analytes of interest are selected. Therefore, human liver specimens were selected
as the first sample type to be included. Environmental specimen bank activities at NIST have
expanded beyond the pilot program to include samples from the marine environment (sediments,
oysters, mussels, and fish tissue) and marine mammal tissues. Each of these banking projects are
supported by various government agencies in conjunction with NIST. Over 10 years of practical
experience in specimen banking within the NBSB has demonstrated that the concept of long-term
storage of environmental specimens is feasible. Although the total scientific value of the banked
samples is not fully known at this time, the current uses of the banked samples and the
implementation of the concept has already contributed to major monitoring programs in the U.S.
and abroad. Even through the types of specimens and the number of samples collected are limited,
the NBSB can serve as a valuable resource for the assessment of long-term trends of pollutants
affecting human and environmental health.
DATA SOURCES
In conjunction with other government agencies, NEST maintains four specimen bank
projects: the National Environmental Specimen Bank, the National Status and Trends Specimen
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Bank, the Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project, and the National Marine Mammal
Tissue Bank.
The National Environmental Specimen Bank is supported by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in conjunction with NIST. Human livers are archived in this bank at NIST of which
approximately twenty percent are analyzed for selected organic and inorganic constituents.
Approximately 600 liver specimens have been collected since 1980. Research related to specimen
banking is also done. See the database description in Part I of this Inventory for a full description
of the program.
The National Status and Trends (NS&T) for Marine Environmental Quality is a monitoring
program sponsored by NOAA designed to determine the environmental quality of U.S. estuarine
and coastal waters. In this program, sediment, fish tissues (muscle and liver), and bivalve molluscs
(muscles and oysters) are collected from 50.150 U.S. coastal sites. In 1985, NOAA, in conjunction
with NIST, incorporated specimen banking into their NS&T program. Approximately 10 percent
of these marine samples are stored at NIST for specimen banking purposes. See the database
description in Part I of this Inventory for a full description of the program.
The Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project was initiated in 1987 by NOAA; the
U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service; and NIST to establish a
representative collection of tissues from Alaskan marine mammals for future contaminant analyses
and documentation of long-term trends in environmental quality. See the database description in
Part I of this Inventory for a full description of the program.
The National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank was initiated in 1990 by NOAA, in conjunction
with NIST. This program is similar to the Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project except
that it focuses on the 48 contiguous states of the U.S. See the database description in Part I of this
Inventory for a full description of the program.
DATA PRESENTATION
Activities of the National Environmental Specimen Bank component of NBSB to date are
described in four journal publications (see separate entry for National Environmental Specimen
Bank; Reports section). Data presented include sampling and storage protocols developed by NIST
for archived specimens, effects of various storage conditions, analytical procedures used to detect
selected contaminants, and analytical results. Bar and line graphs are used to illustrate sampling,
analytical, and storage parameters. Tables are used to present analytical results.
NS&T data are contained in over 200 publications, reports, presentations, and technical
memoranda; at least one of which describes the NS&T specimen banking activities.
Analytical results of the Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project are included in
two NEST protocol documents which are presently in press and will be included in Science of the
Total Environment. Tables and graphs are used to illustrate analytical results in these documents.
Specimen bank activities of the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank are described in a
publication which is presently in press and will be included in Science of the Total Environment.
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DATA AVAILABILITY
See entries for the National Environmental Specimen Bank and the National Status and
Trends for Marine Environmental Quality in Part I of this Inventory. For information on the data
availability of the Alaskan Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project and the National Marine
Mammal Tissue Bank, contact Steven Wise.
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NATIONAL ESTUARINE INVENTORY
Acronym: NEI
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Contact Person: John Klein, NOAA, Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment
(ORCA), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Division, Physical Environments
Characterization Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 220, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-
8843
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see also in Part I of this
Inventory:
National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Inventory (NCPDI)
National Status and Trends for Marine Environmental Quality (NS&T)
National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine Waters (Register)
Description
The NEI was initiated in 1983 to develop a national estuarine database as part of NOAA’s
program of strategic assessments of the Nation’s coastal and oceanic resources. A spatial
framework was created for NEI so the database could be used in several related NOAA projects.
The estuarine drainage area (EDA), defined by NOAA as that portion of a watershed that most
directly affects an estuary and is delineated by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cataloging units and
by the head of the tide, is the spatial unit used in all NEI projects. NOAA’s NCPDI, NS&T, and
Register programs use the NEI framework, as do other NOAA projects on eutrophication, marine
organisms, and wetlands. Together, these data provide NOAA with a national estuarine assessment
capability.
NEI includes physical and hydrologic characteristics (estuarine and fluvial drainage areas,
water surface area, volume, tidal range, salinity regime, and freshwater inflow) and land use and
population growth data for each EDA. The physical and hydrologic characteristics help define the
ecological processes and habitats within an estuary and determine how human activities affect an
estuary’s overall condition. The type and extent of certain land uses and the pattern of population
growth are partial indicators of the pollutants entering estuarine waters and the extent to which the
environment of the surrounding drainage basin is altered.
The physical and hydrologic characteristics of each estuary were used by NOAA to develop
a classification index to approximate the ability of an estuary to retain pollutants. The index has
been used with estimates of nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from the NCPDI to identify estuaries
that may be most sensitive to changes in nutrient inputs.
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DATA SOURCES
In most cases, EDAs coincide with hydrologic cataloging units of the USGS. An EDA
includes all or part of the cataloging unit containing the most upstream extent of tidal influence.
Depending on the complexity of coastal drainage patterns, certain cataloging units were modified
to eliminate the portion of the drainage area not draining directly to estuarine waters. Fluvial
drainage areas (FDAs), the land and freshwater portions of watersheds upstream of EDAs, always
coincide with hydrologic cataloging units of the USGS. Estuarine water surface area is
approximated at mean tide level; this information is needed to estimate an estuary’s volume,
flushing rate, and pollutant susceptibility. The volume of an estuary and freshwater inflow help
determine its ability to dilute pollutants. Freshwater inflow statistics were estimated for gaged and
ungaged areas of an estuary’s watershed. For gaged areas, data were compiled from USGS
streamfiow gage records and from records of significant flow diversions not accounted for in USGS
data. For ungaged areas, NOAA precipitation data were used to estimate freshwater runoff and
direct precipitation to an estuar). Population growth data was obtained from the USGS (USGS
obtains population data from the U.S. Census Bureau). Land use data was primarily obtained from
the Land Use Data Analysis (LUDA) program of the USGS (see entry for NCPDI), which compiles
data for 40 different types of land use in the United States. Other sources, such as the National
Resources Inventory of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service; the Bureau of the Census; the Census
of Agriculture; and state, regional, and city planning agencies were also used. The result was a set
of consistent land use estimates in acres that are used in NEl and other NOAA databases.
DATA PRESENTATION
The cornerstone of the NE! is the National Estuarine fnvento y Data Atlas, Volume 1, which
identifies 92 of the most important estuaries and subestuaries of the contiguous United States and
presents the physical and hydrologic characteristics of each estuary through maps and tables.
Volume 2 presents area estimates for seven categories and 24 subcategories of land use as well as
1970 and 1980 population estimates in tables. Land use data are compiled for three spatial units:
the EDA, USGS hydrologic catalog units, and counties that intersect EDAs. Population estimates
are compiled for EDAs only. Other volumes in the atlas series include information on wetlands
and outdoor public recreation facilities in EDAs.
Numerous technical reports about the Nation’s estuaries have been produced. These include
a Supplement Series, which identi ’ estuaries in addition to those in Volume I of the Atlas Series
and indicate the methodolo ’ used to further refine salinity zones. Tables, graphs, and maps are
used to present some of the data in these reports.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available on specific
estuaries; NE! data aggregation is consistent with other NOAA databases which use the
NE! framework
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Availability: Information not available at time of publication; contact John Klein for further
information
Form: Hard copy --Computer printouts
Machine readable — Information not available at time of publication; contact John Klein
for further information
Reports: National Estuanne Inventory: Data Atlas, Volume 1: Physical and Hydrologic
Characte,istic.s; Volume 2: Land Use Characteristics; Volume 3: Coastal Wetlands-New
England Region; Volume 4: Public Recreation Facilities in Coastal Areas; numerous technical
reports, e.g., Estuaries of the United States, Vital Statistics of a National Resource Base, and
the Supplement Series
Reference Documents: None
Data/Reports Available From: John Klein, NOAA, ORCA, SEA Division, Physical Environments
Characterization Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd., Room 220, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-
8843
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REACH POLLUTANT ASSESSMENT
Acronym: RPA
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water
Contact Person: Thomas Pandolfi, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division, 401 M Street
SW, Washington DC 20460, (202) 260-7030
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see also in Part I of this
Inventory:
Permit Compliance System (PCS)
Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality Data (STORET)
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
Description -
RPA software links the following national data files: the file of Section 304(1) short list
information, the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), the Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality Data
(STORET), the River Reach File, and the Industrial Facilities Discharge File. RPA allows the user
to readily access these multiple data systems and produce a variety of reports and listings comparing
facility discharges, water quality stations, and regulatory criteria. No effort is made to calculate in-
stream concentrations or to determine whether violations of state/EPA criteria have occurred.
Listings allow the user to determine the geographic relationship of discharge facilities and water
quality stations.
RPA is designed to address the requirements under Criteria 7 of Section 304(1) of the Clean
Water Act: identification of the state’s waters with likely presence of 307(a) priority toxic
pollutants. This data system allows users to generate reports needed for the triennial review
requirements associated with standards setting. RPA may help to establish a permanent link
between the monitoring and standards programs and enable state toxics control programs to build
upon new monitoring information and new EPA criteria recommendations as they become
available.
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DATA SOURCES
Information on the geographic relationship of the various components of RPA are based
on an electronic version of the 54,000 base maps of the U.S. Geological Survey, also known as the
73-minute quadrangle maps. These maps portray features at the 1:100,000 scale. The hydrologic
data from these maps are stored separately as the River Reach File. This file includes over 100
million records containing the latitude and longitude coordinates of streams, lakes, reservoirs,
estuaries, and shorelines in the United States. The latitude/longitude, stream reach cross
references, and population of cities in the United States. are also included in the mapping
component of RPA.
Information on water comes from two sources: the Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality
File (STORET) and the Permit Compliance System (PCS). Detailed information about these data
systems can be found in the first section of this Inventory.
STORET contains geographic and other descriptive data about the sites where water quality
data have been collected. Data include physical characteristics and chemical constituents of the
water, fish tissue, or sediment sampled. This file contains over 200 million water sampling
observations. (Information about the flow in the stream is stored in the Stream Gage File.)
The PCS database is the national inventory for EPA permit issuance and compliance/
enforcement data. The database consists of more than 5 million records on over 75,000 active water
discharge permits. Information about the facilities is stored in the Industrial Facilities Discharge
File. This file does not contain measurements, but it does contain information on indirect
dischargers to sewage treatment plants, standard industrial classification codes, receiving stream,
and categorization of industrial process.
Information on estimated industrial facility discharges to water comes from the Toxic
Release Inventory (TRI). TRI contains data on annual estimated releases of over 300 toxic
chemicals to air, water, and land by the manufacturing industry. Information includes amounts of
chemicals stored on site, estimated quantities of chemicals released, onsite source reduction and
recycling practices, and estimated amounts of chemicals transferred to treatment, recycling, or waste
facilities. Detailed information about this data system can be found in Part I of this Inventory.
DATA PRESENTATION
RPA provides the user with a variety of listings and reports. RPA can be used to identify
the number of water quality stations, industrial facilities, and publicly owned treatment facilities in
an area, as well as the probable chemicals of concern for this area based on the TRI estimated
discharge data. Further, it can be noted whether the EPA and the state have existing criteria to
cover the potential pollutants. Based on the TRI and on the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued to facilities in the area, a list of predicted pollutants
by river segment can be generated. No effort is made, however, to calculate in-stream
concentrations or to determine whether violations of state/EPA criteria have occurred. Detailed
reports of measurements by pollutant by water quality site for given periods of time, sediment
analyses, and fish tissue samples can be generated.
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RPA can also be used to produce a map of the locations of water quality stations, direct
industrial dischargers, and municipal sewage treatment plants in a given area.
RPA is available through the EPA National Computer Center and communications network.
The user interface is interactive with a question/response format. The User’s Guide lists example
programs used to generate a variety of output formats.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summaiy statistics are available on specific
agents at specific sites or by specific facility; summary statistics are computed for time
periods designated by the user
Availability Any EPA National Computer Center user (RPA can be accessed through federal,
state, academic, and private communications networks, including SNA Backbone, X.25
Backbone, and Tymnet)
Form: Depends on the graphical and data production capabilities of the user’s facility
Reports: On-line users can generate their own reports
Reference Documents: The Reach Pollutant Assessment User’s Guide (presents overview of the
data system)
Data/Reports Available From: To retrieve RPA data directly: Users must be registered to access
the IBM 3090S computer system at the EPA National Computer Center and have an IBM
3270 computer terminal or equivalent and a PC with a serial port or at least a 1,200-baud
modem (or preferably a 2,400- or 9,600-baud modem, a PC with an IRMA board, or a PC
compatible with a 9,600-baud controller)
To register or for information, contact Thomas Pandolfi (202) 260-7030
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SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
Acronym: SEEDIS
Sponsoring Agency U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Labor
Contact Person: Deane W. Merrill, Computer Science and Mathematics Department,
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, (415) 486-
5063
For descriptions of the data included in this data handling system, see also:
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) (in Part II of this Inventory)
National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) (in Part I of this Inventory)
Description
SEEDIS is a research and development project at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory,
supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Labor, and others. Policy
formulation, implementation, and management depend on accurate, timely informati9n. The
SEEDIS Project addresses these information needs by providing a unified framework for data
management, information retrieval, statistical analysis, and graphic display of data from a collection
of databases for various geographic levels and time periods, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. SEEDIS contains information on census, energy, environment, geography, health,
population characteristics, and socio-economic status. SEEDIS allows the user to produce graphical
and map presentations of analyses of combinations of these data for a variety of geographic levels
and scope.
SEEDIS was initiated in 1972 by the Department of Labor as a demonstration project to
link data from multiple sources. Since that time, the project has been expanded. The Departments
of Labor and of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers
have used the system for a variety of needs. SEEDIS is currently available through computer
systems of the Department of Labor, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency.
DATA SOURCES
SEEDIS contains information from a wide range of data systems — over 200 systems with
over 7 billion data values. The amount of information differs between geographic levels due to the
characteristics of the source data system. In general, data are available at the county level as well
as state and national levels. Some data are available at the level of Census tracts and Standardized
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). The list that follows contains only some of the values
available through SEEDIS. (The environmental exposure information is derived from air
monitoring station data available through AIRS.)
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CENSUS INFORMATION
SEEDIS includes data on population size by major racial and ethnic groupings for 1970 and
1980. These data are variously available at the national, state, county, city, and census tract level.
ENERGY INFORMATION
SEEDIS contains information on electrical generating capacity for 1960 through 1995.
These data are available at the national, county, and standardized metropolitan statistical area
(SMSA) level. The data system also contains 1970 residential housing data, and heating energy
requirements in 1970, and biomass resources for 1976 and 2025 at the county geographic level.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Data on air quality measurements for criteria pollutants are available for 1974 through 1976
at the census tract level. The data are derived from the AIRS data system (formerly SAROAD).
Assessments include total suspended particulates (TSP), sulfur and nitrogen dioxides, photochemical
oxidants, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfates, and total and nonmethane hydrocarbons. For each
pollutant, county estimates of pollutant concentration (at the position of the county population
centroid) were calculated as the weighted geometric means of measurements from nearby stations,
including stations in nearby counties. The location of the air quality monitoring stations is also
available from the National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) data system.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Data on the centroids of the 1970 household populations are available for a variety of
geographic levels. The areas, centroids, and boundaries of census tracts and counties are also
included.
HEALTH INFORMATION
Data on age-, sex-, and race-specific total mortality are available for geographic levels as
small as counties for the years 1969 through 1984. In addition, total annual leukemia mortality is
available. Cancer incidence for 1973 through 1981 from the Surveillance, Epidemiologic, and End
Results (SEER) registers is included for the states that participate in the program.
POPULATION INFORMATION
Age-, race-, and sex-specific population counts (from the 1980 Census) and estimates for
the years 1950 to 1987 are available for vaTying geographic levels. Estimates are available from a
variety of sources.
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SOCIO-ECONOMJC INFORMATION
Labor force, employment by industry, income, education, fertility, and the Census of
Agriculture are a few of the many county- and state-specific data available through SEEDIS.
DATA PRESENTATION
SEEDIS is available through several computer systems at the U.S. Departments of Energy
and of Labor, and through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It uses an interactive, user-
friendly format to guide the user through selecting geographic level and scope, extracting or
transforming data, and displaying the results. Users can extract data and export these data to other
computers, or load data from external sources.
Numerous mapping and other display options are available. Maps can display one or two
variables and be generated at all geographic levels. In addition, special symbol maps can be
generated where symbols of varying size indicate the information specific to given locations. Charts
include bar, pie, and line charts. Some special charts available include fuzzy bar charts (that use
fuzzy set theory to combine several imprecisely specified parameters), overlayed line charts, two-
dimensional bar charts, and tables with variable sized symbols to impart relative value information.
The ability to print these displays depends on the equipment available at the user’s computer
facility.
DATA AVAILABILITY
Level of’ Data Aggregation: Individual data entries and summary statistics are available
Availability. Data are available to individuals and institutions upon request; also available through
several data networks (call for general information, listed below)
Form: Hard copy -- Specialized data extraction services at cost
Machine readable — Tape copies of selected data files (DEC VAX compatible)
Reference Documents: SEEDIS: The Soclo-Economic-Environmental Demographic Information
System
Data/Reports Available From: (for reports and computer files) National Technical Information
Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 487-4650; (for
computer files) National Energy Software Center, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South
Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439 (312) 972-7250; (for specialized reports) Data Librarian,
SDP/SRC, 2538 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 (415) 642-
6571; (for general information) SEEDIS Project, Computer Science and Mathematics
Department, Building 50B, Room 3288, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of
California, Berkeley, CA 94720 (415) 486-5181
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