NATIONAL AIR TOXICS INFORMATION
CLEARINGHOUSE NEWSLETTER
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Volume 4 Number 5
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 November 1987
c/EPA
n /An
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
U State and Territorial Air Pollution F'rogram Administrators
IN THIS ISSUE:
ANNUAL CLEARINGHOUSE DATA COLLECTION TO BEGIN SOON 1
STATE/LOCAL AGENCY SPOTLIGHTS SOUTH DAKOTA EVALUATES
NEED FOR TOXIC AIR POLLUTION PROGRAM 3
RESIDENTIAL WOOD SMOKE ANALYZED FOR MUTAGENICITY IN JUNEAU, ALASKA 3
EPA EXAMINES AIR TOXICS AND THE POST-1987 OZONE ATTAINMENT POLICY 4
EPA ASSESSES HOSPITAL INCINERATOR EMISSIONS IN NEW DRAFT REPORT 5
REGION V INVENTORIES AIR TOXICS EMISSIONS IN SOUTHEAST CHICAGO 6
CHLORINATED SOLVENTS WORK GROUP ADDRESSING RISK OF SOLVENT EXPOSURE 7
DIOXIN STUDY RELEASED 8
OAOPS PUBLISHES TWO NEW TOXIC AIR EMISSIONS DOCUMENTS, PREPARES A THIRD 8
NESCAUM ANNOUNCES NEW QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER 9
STAPPA/ALAPCO CONDUCT NONCANCER SURVEY 10
ANNUAL CLEARINGHOUSE DATA
COLLECTION TO BEGIN SOON
Changes to Information Request
Forms Highlighted
In early 1988, STAPPA/ALAPCO will distribute data
collection forms for the National Air Toxics Information
Clearinghouse to the director of each State and local air
pollution control agency. The responses to these forms
will be used to update and expand information submit-
ted to the Clearinghouse in previous years. This year's
forms will be modified to reflect current needs of State
and local agencies involved in air toxics activities.
Changes include: (1) additions to the contact list to in-
clude compliance/enforcement, dispersion/exposure
modeling, and risk communication areas, (2) expansion
of the ongoing research and regulatory development
projects report to include information on State and local
activities, and (3) additional questions on the status of
air toxics regulatory programs.
As with last year's data collection efforts, each agen-
cy will receive a copy of their data currently contained
in the on-line data base, NATICH, for review. New and
updated information may be submitted for inclusion in
NATICH by: (1) marking corrections on the forms contain-
ing current data and returning them to the Clearing-
house, (2) directly entering/editing data in NATICH files
using on-line data entry programs, and/or (3) supplying
data on computer tape to the Clearinghouse staff. Direct
entry of data by State and local agencies is strongly en-
couraged to ensure NATICH contains current, accurate
information.
Clearinghouse Work Group
Members Identified
STAPPA/ALAPCO has recently named five
representatives to the National Air Toxics Information
Clearinghouse Work Group. In addition, two EPA
Regional Air Toxics Contacts have been appointed to the
Work Group. The Clearinghouse staff will work closely
with these persons to ensure that State, local and EPA
needs are effectively addressed. The Work Group
members or Clearinghouse staff may be contacted to
provide any input into Clearinghouse projects. The Work
Group members are:
- JoAnn Held, New Jersey Department of Environ-
mental Protection* (609) 633-1108;
- Dale Fentress, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air
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Pollution Control Bureau, (615) 867-4321;
- Linda Furlough, Toledo Environmental Services
Agency, (419) 693-0350;
- John Glunn, Florida Department of Environmen-
tal Regulation, (904) 488-1344;
- Beth Lockwood, South Dakota Department of
Water and Natural Resources, (605) 773-3153;
- Wayne Kaiser, EPA Region VII, (913) 236-2893 or
(FTS) 757-2893; and
- Jill Lyons, EPA Region VI, (214) 655-7208 or (FTS)
255-7208.
NATICH User Reminder
If you are currently accessing NATICH, note that
your password needs to be changed once every 3
months. The reason for this is that the National Com-
puter Center automatically invalidates passwords for in-
active users. To change your password, follow the log on
procedures listed in the brochure "Using the NATICH
Data Base,"** typing a new password under your cur-
rent password as directed. Each new password should
be four to eight characters long and should not have
been used in conjunction with your user ID before. For
more information on accessing NATICH, call the Clear-
inghouse staff at (919) 541-0850 or (FTS) 629-0850.
*STAPPA/ALAPCO Chair
"Distributed with September 1987 Newsletter
Publication Price List Revised
The September 1987 Newsletter announced the
availability of and ordering procedures for Clearing-
house reports. While reports are free to government and
nonprofit organizations, members of the private sector
may purchase copies from the National Technical Infor-
mation Service (NTIS), (703) 487-4650, or from Radian
Corporation by sending a written request (with advance
payment) to Barbara Maxey, Radian Corporation, Post
Office Box 201088, Austin, Texas 78720-1088. The
September Newsletter gave inaccurate prices for order-
ing the reports from Radian Corporation (NTIS prices
were correct). The correct prices are as follows:
Title/EPA Number3
Publication
Date
NTIS
Report
Price
Radian
Report
Priceb
Rationale for Air Toxics Control
in Seven State and Local Agencies,
E PA-450/5-86-005
NTIS: PB86 181179/AS
How The Clearinghouse Can Help to
Answer Your Air Toxics Questions
E PA-450/5-86-009
Methods for Pollutant Selection
and Prioritization
E PA-450/5-86-010
NTIS: PB87 124079/AS
Ongoing Research and Regulatory
Development Projects
EPA-450/5-87-004
NTIS: PB88 113196/AS
Qualitative and Quantitative
Carcinogenic Risk Assessment
EPA-450/5-87-003
NTIS: PB88 113188/AS
Bibliography of Selected Reports
and Federal Register Notices
Related to Air Toxics (Vols. 1 and 2)
EPA-450/5-87-005
NATICH Data Base Report on State,
Local and EPA Air Toxics Activities
EPA-450/5-87-006
NTIS: PB88 113428/AS
August 1985
July 1986
July 1986
June 1987
June 1987
July 1987
July 1987
$18.95
$13.95
$18.95
$18.95
$30.95
$16.50
$16.00
$9.50
$18.00
$22.00
$66.00
$33.00
aAll titles begin with "National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse:"
bprice reflects U.S. distribution only. Contact Radian for foreign prices.
2
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STATE/LOCAL AGENCY SPC
SOUTH DAKOTA EVALUAT
TOXIC AIR POLLUTION PRi
by Beth Lockwood, South Dakota Department
of Water and Natural Resources
In 1985, in the wake of the Bhopal incident and other
accidental chemical releases, the citizens of South
Dakota petitioned the State's Board of Minerals and En-
vironment requesting the Board consider regulating tox-
ic air pollutants. This request was referred to the State's
Department of Water and Natural Resources, Office of
Air Quality and Solid Waste.
A committee was then formed to assist the Depart-
ment in developing a strategy to address toxic air pollu-
tion and to prepare a recommended framework for draft-
ing regulations. Committee members represented the
South Dakota Resources Coalition, the Board of
Minerals and Environment, Industry and Commerce of
South Dakota, the Pennington County Air Quality Review
Board, the South Dakota Municipal League, and the
Dacotah Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Emission Inventory The First Step
To begin the strategy development process, in the
spring of 1986, the Department conducted a preliminary
Statewide emissions inventory to determine if pollutants
that might be considered toxic were being emitted into
the air. The survey was conducted by mail using a ques-
tionnaire. Questionnaires were sent to all major point
sources, along with all sources classified as hazardous
waste generators, other sources identified through the
South Dakota directory of manufacturers and pro-
cessors, and all dry cleaners. Eighty-six percent of the
sources responded to this information request. Results
showed that there were enough emissions to warrant
proceeding with the development of a control strategy.
The committee met four times in 1986. The
members received information on Federal and State
laws, methods for controlling air pollution, effects of toxic
air pollutants, types of pollutants found in South Dakota,
and programs in other States. The National Air Toxics In-
formation Clearinghouse data base was used to obtain
>TLIGHTt
ES NEED FOR
OGRAM
information on State and local air toxics control programs
and various methodologies for developing acceptable
ambient concentrations. Using all available data, the
committee prepared a list of recommendations for the
State Board of Minerals and the Environment.
Draft Regulations Based on Ambient Standards
The committee's recommendations were the basis
for draft regulations developed by the South Dakota Of-
fice of Air Quality and Solid Waste. The draft regulations
were based on ambient standards derived from occupa-
tional exposure limits adjusted for sensitive populations
using "safety factors." Chemicals were placed into one
of three categories based on their known carcinogenici-
ty, potential carcinogenicity, and toxicity.
Under the draft regulations, new sources would be
required to apply for construction permits and to
demonstrate compliance with the regulations. For ex-
isting sources, the Department of Water and Natural
Resources would determine initial compliance, and
those sources not found to be in compliance would sub-
mit a compliance schedule or demonstrate that they
were in compliance with the regulations. All sources
would have to be in compliance by July 1, 1992.
When the draft regulations were presented to the
Board of Minerals and Environment at their September
1987 meeting, the Board decided to postpone adopting
the regulations because an EPA contractor was still stud-
ying emissions from three major sources in South
Dakota. The same contractor is also conducting a study
to determine and quantify the air emissions from a
"typical" dry cleaner, print shop, and body shop.
For additional information, call Beth Lockwood,
South Dakota Department of Water and Natural
Resources, Office of Air Quality and Solid Waste, (605)
773-3153.
RESIDENTIAL WOOD SMOI
MUTAGENICITY IN JUNEAI
An ambient air sampling program was conducted
in the Mendenhall Valley residential area of Juneau,
Alaska, during the winter of 1985-1986. The study was
undertaken to determine the mutagenicity and chemical
characteristics of respirable particulate matter collected
from a cold climate residential neighborhood. This area
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studies conducted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and
Raleigh, North Carolina, by EPA's Integrated Air Cancer
Project. The Juneau study was coordinated through the
EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis,
Oregon; the EPA Region X Juneau field office; and the
Alaska State Department of Environmental
Conservation.
Sampling and Analytical Methods Outlined
PM-io hi-volume size selective inlet air samplers
with 2.5 micron impactors were used in this study to col-
lect fine particles (0-2.5 microns) on TeflonR-coated
glass fiber (PallflexR) and quartz filters. The quartz filters
were analyzed for total mass collected. The PallflexR
filters were extracted with methylene chloride by sonica-
tion and analyzed for particle-bound extractable organic
mass with high performance liquid chromatography. Ali-
quots of the extracts were solvent exchanged with
dimethylsulfoxide for subsequent analysis of
mutagenicity using the Ames test with the TA 98 strain
of bacteria.
The Juneau, Alaska, fine particle samples were col-
lected continuously from a flat roof on Floyd Dryden
School from November 11, 1985, through January 10,
1986, on a 12-hour basis, with sampling periods of 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. (daytime) and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (nighttime).
Results Similar In All Three Cities
The major results of the Juneau study show that a
relationship exists between the mass of ambient fine par-
ticles collected and the amount of mutagenicity ob-
served for the particulate extracts (strain TA 98 with an
S9 liver supplement), and that this relationship is greatly
affected by the amount of wood burning in Juneau and
the daily ambient temperature. This conclusion is de-
rived from the fact that maximum levels of fine particu-
lates and maximum levels of mutagenicity occurred
during peak cold periods, on weekends and on holidays
during the testing period. While the ambient mutagenici-
ty (revertants/m3) increased as fine particle mass in-
creased, the mutagenic potency (revertants/ug) of ex-
tracted organics was unchanged. In addition, the
percentage of the fine particle mass that could be ex-
tracted by methylene chloride did not change as a func-
tion of particle concentration. These results support the
conclusion that a single source, wood smoke, was
probably predominate over the entire range of ambient
air concentrations and also probably the predominate
contributor of the pollutant collected. This conclusion is
consistent with the findings of a 1984 study* that in-
dicated wood smoke was responsible for 82 percent of
the fine particle mass collected at this sampling site.
When the samples collected in Juneau were com-
pared with those collected in Raleigh and Albuquerque,
it was found that the mutagenicity (with S9) was directly
related to the fine particle concentrations at each loca-
tion. A single regression line fit the data points from all
three cities, suggesting that the relationship between
ambient air mutagenicity and fine particle concentration
was similar for each of these residential locations. This
relationship demonstrates that although Juneau is heavi-
ly inundated by wood smoke, its mutagenic and mass
loading relationships are not unique; other U.S. residen-
tial communities are similarly affected by wood smoke
If you would like to receive more information
describing the Juneau, Alaska, study, please call Bar-
bara M. Andon, Integrated Air Cancer Project (919)
541-7532 or (FTS) 629-7532.
*Cooper, J. A., C. A. Frazier, and L. C. Pritchett,
"Characterization of Air Quality Impacts from Residen-
tial Wood Combustion in Juneau and Fairbanks,
Alaska," prepared for the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation, June 20, 1984.
EPA EXAMINES AIR TOXIC
POST-1987 OZONE ATTAINI
EPA has prepared for public comment a policy
statement addressing the likelihood that many areas in
the country will not attain the national ambient air quali-
ty standards (NAAQS) for ozone and carbon monoxide
by December 31,1987. December 31,1987 is the latest
date provided for by the Clean Air Act (the Act) for attain-
ing these NAAQS. The Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards (OAQPS) has evaluated the significance of
the proposed post-1987 ozone attainment policy to air
toxics and has suggested approaches for harmonizing
its implementation with goals for controlling emissions
of air toxics. This proposed policy statement establishes
an EPA presumption that State post-1987 ozone attain-
ment plan submittals will reflect consideration of air
S AND THE
MENT POLICY
toxics control opportunities. At Newsletter press time,
EPA's post-1987 ozone attainment plan was scheduled
to be published in the Federal Register shortly.
Efficient air quality management favors addressing
air toxics and ozone concerns together since both pro-
grams are concerned with many of the same sources
and since many State and local agencies are implemen-
ting programs to control both ozone and air toxics. In
addition, EPA's National Air Toxics Strategy* stresses the
importance of using all available existing authority to ad-
dress the air toxics problem. A principal existing authori-
ty envisioned for use under the strategy is the State
implementation plan (SIP) process, provided under Sec-
tion 110 of the Act. Section 110 is oriented toward attain-
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ment and maintenance of the NAAQS for criteria
pollutants but, since a large numberof air toxics are also
forms of particulate matter (PM) or volatile organic com-
pounds (VOCs), the controls required for them also af-
fect the ambient loadings of air toxics. This approach is
suggested by a May 1985 EPA report entitled "The Air
Toxics Problem in the U.S.: An Analysis of Cancer Risks
for Selected Pollutants." This report indicated that con-
trols on PM and VOCs prompted by SIPs reduced the
aggregate cancer risk from 16 different toxic pollutants
in 5 major urban areas by about 50 percent between
1970 and 1980. A follow-up study suggests that additional
cancer risk reductions of 25 percent or more are possi-
ble through a careful selection of SIP measures.
The proposed post-1987 ozone policy does not re-
quire any specific measures for incorporation into SIPs,
but examines a variety of approaches to encourage con-
sideration of air toxics control opportunities. First, State
programs are encouraged to develop and implement a
toxics component in their ozone plans. Second, the pro-
posed policy affirms that EPA can promote the adoption
of toxics measures through the way it reviews SIPs, for
example, weighing productive or counterproductive
measures in general determinations of whether
"reasonable efforts" are being made to attain the
NAAQS for ozone and carbon monoxide. Third, EPA will
consider all toxics concerns in its own actions relative
to ozone SIP development. This includes the possible
development of nationally presumptive VOC control
measures or promulgation of any measures under Sec-
tion 110(c) of the Act. Finally, nonattainment new source
review permitting under Part D of the Act can ap-
propriately reflect a greater consideration of air toxics
concerns.
EPA is examining a variety of strategies with the
potential for providing joint air toxics and ozone control
and is estimating the environmental payoff associated
with these potential SIP measures. Such information
should assist States in not only selecting environmen-
tally beneficial measures but also in avoiding measures
that are counterproductive. EPA intends to make this
guidance available in time for use in developing the
post-1987 ozone attainment SIPs.
EPA places considerable long-term importance on
the use of the SIP process and other existing programs
and legal authority to further air toxics goals. The Air Tox-
ics Program Section within OAQPS is charged with
developing these efforts. Other tasks currently underway
include incorporation of air toxics concerns into the
PM-io programs and the enhancement of existing air
quality permitting programs to address toxics. Com-
ments and questions on any aspect of this work are
welcome and may be addressed to Kirt Cox, U.S. EPA,
OAQPS, (919) 541-5399 or (FTS) 629-5399.
'See related article in August 1985 Newsletter,
pages 3-5.
EPA ASSESSES HOSPITAL IV
EMISSIONS IN NEW DRAFT
In response to an increasing concern over the
potential public health impacts of air emissions from the
incineration of hospital wastes, EPA's Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards (OAQPS) is conducting a multi-
pollutant assessment of this source category. Hospital
wastes contain both potentially toxic and infectious
materials. Since direct landfilling of these wastes is
discouraged or prohibited in most areas, the incinera-
tion of hospital wastes is becoming the preferred method
of disposal. Concerns have been raised not only about
the release of toxic air emissions such as dioxins and
dibenzofurans, other products of incomplete combus-
tion, and inorganic pollutants such as hydrogen chloride,
but also about the possibility that infectious
microorganisms (e.g., viruses) may survive the combus-
tion process.
A number of States are currently reviewing their
regulations for hospital/infectious waste emissions and
assessing the need for further regulation. To aid in that
effort, in early November 1987, EPA released a draft
report summarizing available information on hospital
waste incineration. The report has been mailed to direc-
tors of State and larger local air pollution control agen-
SICINERATOR
1 REPORT
cies for their use, review and comment. Others in-
terested in obtaining a copy may call Rayburn Morrison
at the telephone number given at the end of this article.
Agency Addresses Quantity of Waste
The EPA's preliminary characterization of the in-
dustry indicates that, in 1985, there were a reported 6,872
hospitals in the United States with approximately 1.3
million beds. The estimated hospital waste generation
rates range from 8 to 13 pounds/bed/day, resulting in an
upper estimate of total hospital waste generation rate of
about 5,900 tons per day. All of this waste, however, is
not sent to incinerators. Some may be sterilized through
autoclaving or ethylene oxide treatment or even sent
directly to landfills. Therefore, it is very difficult to
estimate the total capacity of hospital waste now being
incinerated or the capacity of existing hospital in-
cinerators.
While approximately 10 to 15 percent of the hospital
waste would be considered infectious, much more of the
total volume of waste has to be treated as infectious
waste because of the mixing of infectious and non-
infectious hospital waste. In many cases, incineration is
5
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the most practical waste sterilization and disposal
method for hospitals. Incineration can reduce the waste
volume by up to 90 percent and also provide the poten-
tial for heat recovery systems, which can supply a por-
tion of the hospital's steam or hot water requirements.
At present, the available data are not sufficient to
develop a comprehensive list of hospital incinerators, in-
cluding their design capacity and means of air pollution
control. One incinerator manufacturer has estimated that
90 to 95 percent of the operating hospitals in the United
States have incinerators on site, including small retort
units for pathological or special wastes. Although the
number of the larger, controlled air incinerators burning
hospital waste is not known, two leading manufacturers
of these units estimate that at least 1,200 of these
systems have been built within the past 20 years.
Incinerator Control Devices Uncommon
Most hospital units, including the older retort
incinerators, do not have add-on air pollution control
equipment other than the inclusion of a secondary com-
bustion chamber and/or an afterburner (gas- or oil-fired
burner). Some units have particulate control devices
(e.g., scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, and
baghouses) to meet existing regulations pertaining
primarily to particulate and visible emissions. Some
newer, larger hospital incinerators are equipped with
scrubbers and good particulate collectors to control acid
gases, particulates (e.g., metals) and other pollutants of
concern. Some areas are proposing the construction of
regional hospital waste incinerators with best available
control technology (e.g., dry scrubbers/fabric filters) to
provide comprehensive control of potentially toxic emis-
sions.
More Emissions Data Needed
Currently, there are limited emissions data for trace
air emissions from hospital incinerators. Data for trace
REGION V
INVENTORIES AIR TOXICS
EMISSIONS IN SOUTHEAST
The EPA's Region V Air and Radiation Division, with
assistance from the States of Illinois and Indiana and
several other EPA offices, has nearly completed an in-
ventory of air toxics emissions in the southeast Chicago
area. Designed as a comprehensive screening inventory
focusing on air carcinogen emissions, this study also
estimated emissions from wastewater treatment plants
and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal
facilities (TSDFs) in addition to the traditional point, area,
and mobile source categories.
emissions are available for only the newer, well designed
incinerators. No test data, other than particulate and visi-
ble emissions, were found for the older existing hospital
incinerators. Many of these older, poorly operated and
maintained incinerator facilities are of major interest to
EPA. Comprehensive emissions data for these types of
facilities are necessary for EPA's analysis of the need for
additional Federal regulation of hospital waste combus-
tion.
EPA requests those reviewing the draft report on
hospital waste incineration to forward available data and
information currently not included in the report, and to
provide EPA with a current list of hospital incinerators,
their type, manufacturer, capacity and, if applicable, air
pollution control devices.
Workshop Scheduled
EPA and the California Air Pollution Control Officials
Association (CAPCOA) will cosponsor a workshop for
regulatory agencies on hospital/infectious waste com-
bustion and ethylene oxide sterilization. The workshop
is scheduled for mid-February 1988 in Palo Alto, Califor-
nia.
For further information on current EPA work on
hospital incineration, contact the following:
• on the draft hospital incineration report, Rayburn
Morrison, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5330 or
(FTS) 629-5330;
• on the hospital waste combustion workshop,
David Painter, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5355
or (FTS) 629-5355;
• on emission testing and regulatory development,
Michael Johnson, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919)
541-5604 or (FTS) 629-5604; and
• on the future development of a hospital inciner-
ator inspection manual, Pamela Saunders, U.S.
EPA, OAQPS, (202) 382-2889 or (FTS) 382-2889.
CHICAGO
Data for the emissions inventory were collected
using several methods including sending questionnaires
requesting source and emissions data to 30 major point
sources, applying speciation factors to particulate mat-
ter and volatile organic compound data contained in the
National Emissions Data System (NEDS), using
pollutant-specific measured influent and effluent data to
estimate wastewater treatment plant emissions, and ap-
plying available emissions factors to estimate area
source impacts (e.g., wood stove emissions). Emissions
6
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from TSDFs were estimated by collecting information on
quantities of RCRA wastes handled, estimating the com-
position of these RCRA wastes, and applying assorted
TSDF emissions models. Of the 51 substances in-
vestigated (including 47 known, probable, or suspected
carcinogens), 39 substances were found (including 35
potential carcinogens).
The inventory is expected to be used in a dispersion
model-based exposure/risk assessment, which will pro-
vide an estimate of total risks as well as supporting
relative comparisons of risks from the various source
categories and the various pollutants included in the in-
ventory. It will also support comparisons of relative risks
from the various source categories and pollutants.
A final report covering most of the inventory is
available from John Summerhays (mail code 5AR-26),
at U.S. EPA, Region V, 230 South Dearborn, Chicago,
Illinois 60604, (312) 886-6067 or (FTS) 886-6067.
CHLORINATED SOLVENTS
ADDRESSING RISK OF SOD
A work group composed of representatives from
several Federal agencies was formed in 1985 to evaluate
population exposures and risks resulting from releases
to the environment of six chlorinated solvents. The work
group was formed because of the intermedia nature of
solvent emissions, the potential for substitution among
the solvents, and the desire of several Federal agencies
to coordinate their activities. The agencies involved in-
clude the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Consumer Pro-
duct Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The
chlorinated solvents being studied by this work group in-
clude methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, per-
chloroethylene, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride,
and the chlorofluorocarbons.
Four source categories were chosen initially for
evaluation based on the relative size of the population
risks and availability of data. These source categories
are: (1) industrial and commercial solvent cleaning
(degreasing); (2) industrial and commercial dry clean-
ing; (3) formulation and commercial and consumer use
of aerosols; and (4) formulation and industrial, commer-
cial, and consumer use of paint strippers.
Degreasing and Dry Cleaning Risk
Estimates Completed
The work group has now completed much of the
data collection and evaluation for the degreasing and dry
cleaning source categories. Risks to the general popula-
tion have been estimated for methylene chloride and
trichloroethylene emissions from degreasers and for per-
chloroethylene emissions from both degreasers and dry
cleaning.
The degreasing sources include three types of
cleaners used as subcategories in the emissions, ex-
posure, and risk assessments. These cleaner types are:
(1) cold cleaners (essentially basins of solvent used to
clean parts-as in a service station); (2) open top vapor
degreasers (where the solvent is heated to form a vapor
that condenses on the parts being cleaned); and (3) con-
veyorized cleaners (used in the large scale operations).
WORK GROUP
/ENT EXPOSURE
The dry cleaning source category is similarly divided into
subcategories, including the industrial, commercial and
coin-operated sectors of the dry cleaning industry.
Various equipment types are typically used, including
transfer machines (where solvents are emitted as ar-
ticles are transferred from washing to drying machines,
as well as from drying machines) and dry-to-dry
machines (in which the same equipment is used to wash
and dry the articles).
Area Source Exposure Modeling Approach Used
It has been estimated that more than 100,000 metric
tons of halogenated solvents are released to the at-
mosphere every year from both the degreasing and dry
cleaning source categories. To estimate population ex-
posure and carcinogenic risk from exposure to these
emissions via the ambient air, EPA has developed an ex-
posure model that distributes the emissions throughout
the country on the basis of employment statistics.
Using Department of Commerce data on county
business patterns, an estimate of pollutant emissions
can then be developed for each county in the country
based on the number and size of facilities. The emis-
sions estimate for each county is then coupled with the
county population size to estimate exposure to the
pollutants of interest.
Next, population exposure is multiplied by the unit
cancer risk factor, a measure of carcinogenic potency,
and adjusted for exposure duration to estimate the ag-
gregate risk within the exposed population. This "area
source" modeling approach has been used to estimate
risks from exposure via the ambient air due to (1) the very
large number of degreasing and dry cleaning sources,
and (2) the lack of data necessary to support "point
source" modeling.
Risks to degreasing and dry cleaning workers have
also been estimated-in this case, largely using monitor-
ing data and estimates of exposures associated with
various work locations.
Risk Reduction Options Under Study
Several options to reduce risks through application
7
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of emission control devices (e.g., carbon adsorbers) or
modifications to occupational standards (e.g., lowering
the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit) are currently be-
ing examined. These options are being discussed by
representatives from the many agencies and offices in-
volved in the work group, with decisions on the need for
regulations expected during 1988.
For more information on the chlorinated solvents
work group activities, contact John Vandenberg, U.S.
EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5332 or (FTS) 629-5352; Mark
Meech (regarding dry cleaning), U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919)
541-5414 or (FTS) 629-5414; or Dave Beck (regarding
degreasing), U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5421 or (FTS)
629-5421.
DIOXIN STUDY RELEASED
In September, EPA released the results of the Na-
tional Dioxin Study in the form of a "Report to Congress."
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) was a major participant in this study with
responsibility for Tier 4, the portion of the study dealing
with combustion sources. Combustion is regarded as
the most likely source of dioxin emissions into the air. The
objective of the Tier 4 study was to determine the extent
and magnitude of dioxin emissions from combustion
sources.
The Tier 4 study included an extensive field sam-
pling program involving both stack sampling and ash
sampling. Twelve sources representing 8 different com-
bustion source categories were stack tested, while ash
samples were collected from 75 sources representing
21 different source categories. Results from the stack
sampling effort showed that dioxin was present in the
stack emissions from all sources tested. However, the
concentrations of these emissions varied widely, rang-
ing from near the analytical detection limit for a Kraft
paper mill recovery boiler, to emissions five orders of
magnitude higher for a secondary copper smelter.
Literature references showed several source categories,
including coal-fired utility boilers, had been tested with
nondetectable dioxin emissions.
A total of 22 reports have been published under the
Tier 4 study. A summary report titled "National Dioxin
Study Tier 4 - Combustion Sources Project Summary
Report," EPA-450/4-84-014g, September 1987, is
available from the EPA Library at Research Triangle
Park. The main technical report, "National Dioxin Study
Tier 4 - Combustion Sources Engineering Analysis
Report," EPA-450/4-84-014h, September 1987, is also
available from the EPA Library. For additional informa-
tion, contact Bill Kuykendal, (919) 541-5372 or (FTS)
629-5372.
OAQPS PUBLISHES TWO Nl
EMISSIONS DOCUMENTS? F
Reports on PCBs and POM Completed
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) has published two more emission factor
reports in its series entitled "Locating and Estimating Air
Emissions from Sources of (Substance Name)." The
new reports deal with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
and polycyclic organic matter (POM). The respective
report numbers are EPA-450/4-84-007n and
EPA-450/4-84-007p. The purpose of these reports is to
assist air pollution control agencies and others who are
interested in locating potential air emitters of PCBs and
POM and making preliminary estimates of their emis-
sions. Like the 13 others previously published in this
series (see list below), these are introductory documents
only, and are not intended to provide exact estimates of
emissions of air toxics from specific facilities.
These reports describe the types of sources that
may emit PCBs and POM and give emissions data, in-
cluding emission factor estimates, that demonstrate the
EW TOXIC AIR
PREPARES A THIRD
potential for PCBs and POM to be released from opera-
tions within a source. A brief summary of the physical
and chemical characteristics of PCBs and POM, and a
historical overview of the production and uses are
presented.
Single copies are available from the EPA library,
MD-35, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711,
(919) 541-2777 or (FTS) 629-2777. Copies are also
available from the National Technical Information Ser-
vice (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia
22161, (703) 487-4650. The NTIS order number for the
PCB report is PB87 209540/AS. No NTIS order number
has been assigned to the report on POM emissions yet.
For further information, contact David Misenheimer, U.S.
EPA, OAQPS, Air Management Technology Branch
(AMTB), (919) 541-5473 or (FTS) 629-5473.
To date, the following 15 reports have been pub-
lished in the "Locating and Estimating Air Emissions
from Sources of (Substance)" series:
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Substance
EPA Publication Number
NTIS Order Numl
Acrylonitrile
EPA-450/4-84-007a
PB84 200609
Carbon Tetrachloride
E P A-450/4-84-007b
PB84 200625
Chloroform
EPA-450/4-84-007C
PB84 200617
Ethylene Dichloride
EPA-450/4-84-007d
PB84 239193
Formaldehyde
EPA-450/4-84-007e
PB84 200633
Nickel
EPA-450/4-84-007f
PB84 210988
Chromium
EPA-450/4-84-007g
PB85 106474
Manganese
EPA-450/4-84-007h
PB86 117587
Phosgene
E P A-450/4-84-007i
PB86 117595
Epichlorohydrin
E P A-450/4-84-007j
PB86 117603
Vinylidene Chloride
EPA-450/4-84-007k
PB86 117611
Ethylene Oxide
E P A-450/4-84-007I
PB87 113973
Chlorobenzenes
E P A-450/4-84-007m
PB87189841
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
E P A-450/4-84-007n
PB87 209540
(PCBs)
Polycyclic Organic Matter
E P A-450/4-84-007p
(none yet)
(POM)
VOC and Particulate Spedation
Document In Preparation
The Air Management Technology Branch within
OAQPS is developing a document that will contain
speciation data for both volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and particulate matter (PM). This document will
be useful to those preparing air toxics emissions inven-
tories, ozone modeling, source receptor modeling, and
acid precipitation inventories.
The VOC portion of the document will contain ap-
proximately 300 species composition profiles for VOC
emission sources. These profiles account for approx-
imately 90 percent of the total national VOC emissions
as estimated by the National Acid Precipitation Assess-
ment Program (NAPAP). The PM portion of the docu-
ment will present elemental analysis together with
limited compound-specific speciation data. These data
will be presented for several particle size ranges in-
cluding PM10.
In addition to the hard copy document, the data
bases will be available on floppy disks in dBase III files.
The document should be available in final form in
December 1987. For additional information, please call
Bill Kuykendal, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5372 or
(FTS) 629-5372.
NESCAUM ANNOUNCES NEW
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use
Management (NESCAUM) announces the publication
of a new quarterly newsletter called "Northeast
AIReport." The first issue is scheduled to appear in
September. NESCAUM is the association of the State
air quality control departments in Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The association's
purpose is to promote cooperation and coordination of
air quality programs among the member States, encom-
passing technical and policy issues.
The purposes of the AIReport are to improve the
exchange of information among the eight member
States of NESCAUM and to share the Northeast
region's air use management concerns, proposals, and
programs with air quality officials and other interested
parties across the United States. The scope of the ar-
ticles will range from individual State programs and in-
terstate issues to region-wide policies.
The Northeast AIReport will be distributed without
charge to State and local agencies. To get on the mail-
ing list, contact the Managing Editor, Northeast
AIReport, NESCAUM, 85 Merrimac Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02114, (617) 367-8540.
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STAPPA/ALAPCO CONDUC
NONCANCER SURVEY
Recently, the STAPPA/ALAPCO Air Toxics Com-
mittee sent a questionnaire to each State and local air
pollution control agency director requesting information
on adverse noncancer health effects potentially
associated with exposure to nonaccidental releases of
toxic air pollutants. More specifically, this questionnaire
requested State and local agencies to identify the types
of data that they collect on nonaccidental releases of tox-
ic air pollutants and/or adverse noncancer health effects
that occur in the general public. This information will
:t
be used to support a broader effort underway at EPA to
collect and assess all available information on the
magnitude and nature of noncancer public health effects
possibly resulting from exposure to routine emissions
of toxic air pollutants. For additional information on this
project or to obtain a copy of the questionnaire, contact
Beth Hassett, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5346 or
(FTS) 629-5346; or Ha Cote, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919)
541-5342 or (FTS) 629-5342.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
EMERGENCY GUIDE NOW
The National Response Team (NRT), composed of
14 Federal agencies having major responsibilities in en-
vironmental, transportation, emergency management,
worker safety, and public health areas, announces the
availability of the "Hazardous Materials Emergency
Planning Guide" (HAZMAT Planning Guide). The report
is published under NRT planning and coordination
authorities (40 CFR 300.32) according to the re-
quirements of Title III, Section 303(f) of the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA).*
Title III of SARA, also known as the Emergency Plann-
ing and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, required
the NRT to publish guidance documents for the prepara-
tion and implementation of emergency plans related to
extremely hazardous substances. It will also be valuable
to communities preparing for general hazardous
materials incidents.
The purpose of the HAZMAT Planning Guide is to
assist local communities in planning for successfully
handling hazardous materials incidents. Developed
cooperatively by NRT member agencies, the Guide
replaces the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
AVAILABLE
cy's "Planning Guide and Checklist for Hazardous
Materials Contingency Plans" (known as FEMA-10), as
well as general portions of the EPA's "Chemical
Emergency Preparedness Program (CEPP) Interim
Guidance.'' * * The body of the document includes more
discussion examples concerning hazards analysis; the
new Appendix A addresses the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 in greater
detail. The initial list of extremely hazardous substances
was published in the Federal Register on November 17,
1986. The final rule was published in the Federal
Register on April 22, 1987 (52 FR 13378).
Those interested in receiving a copy of the
HAZMAT Planning Guide should write to the following
address: HAZMAT Planning Guide (WH-562A), 401 M
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. There is no
charge for the guide. Please allow approximately three
weeks for delivery.
*See articles in June 1987 (page 11) and December
1986 (page 5) Newsletters.
**See article in December 1985 Newsletter (page 11).
RISK COMMUNICATION
HOTLINE IN SERVICE
Because of technical problems, the EPA's Risk
Communication Hotline number (announced in the June
1987 Newsletter) has not been in service during the past
few months. The Hotline staff apologizes for the inconve-
nience this may have caused and announces that the
Hotline number has now been restored to working order.
The staff encourages those wishing information on risk
communication or referrals to experts in the field to use
the service. The Risk Communication Hotline number
is (202) 382-5606 or (FTS) 382-5606.
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SPOTLIGHT
YOUR AGENCY
The Clearinghouse Newsletter staff is looking for
State and local air toxics programs to highlight in the
State/Local Agency Spotlight column. This column was
begun in the March 1987 issue to inform readers more
fully of the breadth of air toxics projects in progress in
various agencies throughout the country. If you are in-
terested in spotlighting your agency's projects in this col-
umn, please call Beth Hassett, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919)
541-5346 or (FTS) 629-5346; or Alice Pelland, Radian
Corporation, (919) 541-9100.
NEED HELP?
If your agency needs help in finding information on a
specific air toxics question, you can announce that need
in the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
Newsletter. Your colleagues from other State or local
agencies who have such information will be able to con-
tact you with assistance. In addition, the Clearinghouse
staff would like to receive your ideas for future Newslet-
ter articles. To list an information need in the next issue
or to submit an article or a suggestion for a future
Newsletter article, please call Alice Pelland, Radian Cor-
poration, (919) 541-9100.
The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter is published by the National Air Toxics Informa-
tion Clearinghouse to assist State and local air agencies making decisions on noncriteria pollutant emissions. The
Clearinghouse is being implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Strategies and Air Standards
Division, Pollutant Assessment Branch as part of a joint effort with the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program
Administrator (STAPPA) and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO). The National Air Toxics
Information Clearinghouse Newsletter is prepared by Radian Corporation under EPA, Contract Number 68-02-4330,
Work Assignment 34. The EPA Project Officer is Beth Hassett, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Telephone:(919)541-0850. The Radian Project Director is Alice Pelland,
P.O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, (919)541-9100.
The Newsletter is prepared primarily for State and local air pollution control agencies and is distributed free of
charge. Those wishing to report address changes may do so by contacting Nancy Riley, EPA OAQPS (919)541-0850.
Please contact either the Project Director or the Project Officer with any comments you might have pertaining to this
newsletter or with suggestions for future newsletters. Articles in the newsletter are written by Radian Corporation
or EPA staff unless otherwise indicated.
The views expressed in the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter do not necessarily reflect
the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does
not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use by EPA.
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