United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Research And
Development
(RD-672)
600-N-92-010
July 1992
&ERA Science Notes
Oysters: Pollution Markers
On the Half-Shell?
Scientists at EPA's Office of Research and Devel-
opment (ORD) laboratory in Gulf Breeze, FL, are
evaluating the potential of oysters as early-warning
indicators of environmental problems in coastal
waters
The research is based on the fact that oysters, in
the routine course of feeding, will ingest and accumu-
late pollutants from the water around them By
examining the mollusks, researchers may be able to
identify these contaminants and determine if the
substances pose any risk to the local ecosystem
As a first step in their research, the scientists are
trying to decide which physiological tests would best
indicate adverse effects. In a preliminary study, the
researchers conducted 22 assays on 82 oysters from
six sites in Tampa Bay, Fla., to assess (1) the speci-
mens' physical and metabolic condition, (2) the
presence of parasites and microbes in their systems,
(3) genetic abnormalities in their cells, and (4) the
status of their immune systems.
Some of the tests found physiological differences
among oysters collected at different sites in the bay
(such as differing parasite levels and variations in the
condition of the digestive glands) This was important
for judging the general precision of the tests, even
though the preliminary analysis did not attempt to
determine whether the differences were due to
contaminants at any of the sites, the scientists noted.
Two factors made it difficult to assess some of the
results clearly, the study found The researchers said
these factors should be considered in any future
studies
•	Salinity The salinity of the water differed at the
various sites. Water's salt content may affect some
metabolic functions in oysters that influence
physiological and immunological responses.
Therefore, studies should look at oysters from
both polluted and unpolluted sites having the
same salinity.
•	Reproductive cycles: Some differences between
oysters may be due to the fact that the oysters are
at different stages of the reproductive cycle
Researchers should collect oysters at different
times of the year so that different reproductive
stages are represented
(Contact Raymond G. Wilhour, Acting Director,
ORD Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf
Breeze, FL 32561; (904) 934-9213.)
Minimizing Waste:
Case Studies
ORD has published a collection of case studies
from four programs that help companies and federal
agencies find ways to prevent pollution by minimiz-
ing hazardous waste from manufacturing processes
and other operations.
The programs are funded by ORD's Risk Reduc-
tion Engineering Laboratory and provide technical
assistance, demonstration projects, and technology
transfer through universities, state and local govern-
ments, and federal scientists. They are
•	The Waste Reduction Innovative Technology Evalu-
ation Program, conducted with the states of
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, New
Jersey, and Washington, and Erie County, NY

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Science Notes
2
•	The Waste Minimization Assessments Program,
conducted under a cooperative agreement with
the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection and the New Jersey Institute of Tech-
nology
•	The Uruversity-Based Assessments Program for
small businesses, conducted with the University
City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA.
•	The Waste Reduction Evaluations at Federal Sites
Program, a cooperative program involving EPA,
the Department of Defense, the Department of
Energy, and other federal agencies.
Projects discussed in the case studies include
these
•	A small chemical manufacturer was looking for
ways to reduce chemical wastes from the produc-
tion of acrylic emulsions and other specialty
mixtures. Researchers suggested that the company
upgrade some of the sensing and control devices
on its reactor lines, and install a gas-fired dry-off
oven to reduce the volume of sludge hauled off-
site.
•	A manufacturer of aluminum parts sought advice
on reducing toluene wastes from a solvent-based
painting process Researchers suggested that the
company convert to an electrostatic-powder
painting system.
•	Researchers assisting an ice-machine manufacturer
found that the company discharged 5 million
gallons of waste water per year from rinsing steel
sheets. Researchers recommended that the compa-
ny recycle the rinse water instead of discharging
it.
In each instance, long-term savings would offset
a one-time investment cost for taking the suggested
action, the case studies indicate. For example, switch-
ing to an electrostatic painting process would cost the
aluminum company $147,580, but the change would
net $1 million in annual savings from elimination of
solvent wastes and the lower cost of powder coatings.
(For further information on the programs, contaci
Harry Freeman, Risk Reduction Engineering Labora-
tory, (513) 569-7529 "Pollution Prevention Case
Studies Compendium" (EPA/600/R-92/046) is avail-
able from the EPA Center for Environmental Research
Information, Cincinnati, OH 45268; (513) 569-7562.)
EPA Outlines Framework
For Ecological Risk Assessment
EPA has taken a first step in a long-term effort to
develop agency-wide risk assessment guidelines for
ecological effects.
The agency recently issued "Framework for
Ecological Risk Assessment" (EPA/630/R-92/001), a
new report that outlines a simple, flexible approach
for conducting and assessing ecological risk assess-
ments. The non-mandatory document is intended to
foster consistent approaches to ecological risk assess-
ments, identify key issues, and provide a foundation
for development of future guidelines.
The report recommends a three-phase approach
•	Problem Formulation. A planning process to estab-
lish the goals, breadth, and focus of the risk
assessment.
•	Analysis. Using scientific information to develop
profiles of environmental exposures and adverse
ecological effects.
•	Risk Characterization- Integrating exposure and
effects data to describe the expected risk.
The recommendations, which were developed by
EPA's Risk Assessment Forum, reflect input from
numerous ecologists and ecotoxicologists from EPA,
other Federal and state agencies, academia, and
industry, including scientists who met in two peer
review workshops.
Copies of the document are available from the
EPA Center for Environmental Research Information,
telephone (513) 569-7562. Also available are two
related documents, "Peer Review Workshop on a
Framework for Ecological Risk Assessmer
(EPA/625/3-91/022) and "Report on the Ecological
Risk Assessment Guidelines Strategic Planning
Workshop" (EPA/630/R-92/002).

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Science Notes
3
Upcoming Meetings
Workshop Series on Statistical Analysis of Ground-
Water Monitoring Data — July 7-8, Seattle, WA,
July 28-29, San Francisco, CA Contact. Denise
Gaffey, Eastern Research Group Inc, PO Box
1281, Arlington, MA 02174; 617 641-5317
Integrated Solid Waste Management Planning for
Rural, County, and Local Governments — July
13-14, Buffalo, NY; July 16-17, Pittsburgh, PA
Contact: EA Environmental Technology Group,
P.O Box 296, Dept 12, Knoxville, TN 37901;
615 584-9171.
EPA Workshop: Removal, Recovery, Treatment, and
Disposal of Arsenic and Mercury — Aug 17-20,
Alexandria, VA Contact: SAIC, Technology
Transfer Department, 501 Office Center Drive,
Suite 420, Fort Washington, PA 19034, 1-800 783-
3870 or 215 628-9317.
Fourth Forum on Innovative Hazardous Waste
Treatment Technologies: Domestic and Interna-
tional — Nov. 17-19, 1992, San Francisco, CA.
Contact. SAIC, Technology Transfer Dept., 501
Office Center Dr., Suite 420, Ft. Washington, PA
19034, 215 542-1200, or FAX 215 542-8567.
New Publications
Environmental Research Laboratory-Athens, GA.1991
Highlights (600-R-92-016) Contact: Robert Ryans,
Athens ERL, College Station Rd., Athens, GA
30613-0801, 706 546-3306.
The following publications are available from the EPA
Center for Environmental Research Information,
Cincinnati, OH 45268, 513 569-7562.
Reclamation and Development of Contaminated
Land: Volume II, European Case Studies (600-R-
92-031).
Technical Demonstration Summary: DuPont/Oberlin
Microfiltration System, Palmerton, PA (540-S5-90-
007).
In-Situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Ground
Water (540-S-92-003).
Greenhouse Gases from Small-Scale Combustion in
Developing Countries: A Pilot Study in Manila
(600-SR-92-005).
Characterizing Heterogeneous Wastes: Methods and
Recommendations (600-R-92-033)
ORD Publications Announcement, November 1991-
March 1992 (600-N-92-004).
BioTrol Soil Washing System for Treatment of a
Wood Preserving Site (540-A5-91-003).

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