United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Exposure Research
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-97/119    January 1998
Project Summary

Evaluation  of  Methods  for
Collecting  Dislodgeable  Pesticide
Residues  from Turf
Christopher R. Fortune
  Three surface dislodgeable residue
collection methods were evaluated in
two tests performed on turf treated with
pesticide formulations. The test plots
used were typical of the turf found in
lawns of local residents. The polyure-
thane foam (PDF) roller and the Dow
sled methods were tested side-by-side
on turf treated with  a mixture  of
chlorpyrifos  and chlorothalonil. The
PDF  roller and California roller meth-
ods were tested side-by-side on turf
treated  with a mixture of dicamba,
mecoprop, and 2,4-D.  A pressurized
tank  sprayer was used to  apply the
pesticide formulations according  to
manufacturer's label directions. Test
plots were mowed so  that the mower
direction was  kept the same over the
entire plot. Both tests were conducted
by performing replicate sampling  in
separate areas of the plots so that the
sampler direction was with, against, or
across the cutting  direction of the
mower.
  All three test methods were evalu-
ated  on the basis of their sampling
precision and  transfer efficiency data.
Another important criterion considered
was the affinity of the sample media to
become contaminated  with grass clip-
pings and debris during sample collec-
tion.  Low recoveries of target analytes
from some spiked media samples were
an additional consideration. After con-
sidering all of these factors, we deter-
mined that the PDF roller method was
the least suitable for turf residue sam-
pling under our test conditions. The
Dow  sled method was more suitable,
but the small sled proved unstable in
tests on deeper turf, so the test data
was  limited.  The  California roller
method proved to be the most suitable
procedure.
   This Project Summary was developed
 by the National Exposure Research
 Laboratory's Human Exposure and At-
 mospheric Sciences Division, Research
 Triangle Park, NC,  to announce key
 findings of the evaluation that is fully
 documented in a separate report (see
 ordering information at back.)

 Introduction
   The levels and distribution of pesticide
 residues in residential environments is a
 subject of concern because of the poten-
 tial exposure risk such contaminants pose
 for small children. The application of pes-
 ticides to residential lawns for control of
 insects, weeds,  and turf diseases consti-
 tutes the  primary  source of  surface
 dislodgeable residues. The U.S.  Environ-
 mental  Protection Agency has been ac-
 tive in conducting research efforts to de-
 velop methodologies for monitoring sur-
 face dislodgeable  pesticide residues on
 indoor surfaces and floors and on outdoor
 surfaces and lawns. These efforts are in
 response to the Office of Pollution Pre-
 vention and  Toxics, which is currently in-
 volved in the development of testing guide-
 lines for post-application exposure. The
 guidelines are applicable to both occupa-
 tional reentry and residential exposure and
 are designed to cover data requirements
 necessary to support the registration  of
 pesticide products under 40 CFR part 158.
   A  recent  study  designed to measure
 the transport of lawn-applied acid  herbi-
 cides from turf into the home used human
 subjects to simulate track-in transport of
 dislodgeable  residues  from treated turf
 plots to outside doormats and indoor car-
 pet surfaces. The  Southwest Research
 Institute (SwRI) PUF roller method was
 used to monitor dislodgeable residues on
 both the indoor carpet surfaces and on
 the treated  turf plot.  A round-robin test

-------
was just recently conducted to evaluate
the PUF roller and two other methods in
measuring dislodgeable pesticide residues
on indoor carpet.  In this  current study,
those same three methods, the SwRI PUF
roller, the California cloth  roller, and the
Dow drag sled were evaluated in two tests
conducted on treated turf.
  The turf test plots used in this study
were located on the grounds of a ManTech
Environmental facility in  Research Triangle
Park,  NC. While the grounds are main-
tained by a professional service, the test
plots used here were  not of the high qual-
ity that would be found  at a turf research
facility. Consequently, they were more typi-
cal of the "real world" residential lawn in
that they contained a substantial  portion
of weeds and exhibited a  more  uneven
and generally lower turf density. After mow-
ing, two separate test plots were  treated
with commonly used  formulations: an in-
secticide and fungicide in  the first test,
and an acid herbicide mixture in the sec-
ond test. Deposition coupons were placed
on the test surface prior to spraying the
formulations to determine the amount and
uniformity of the pesticide application. Field
blank samples and field spike samples
were  collected for each method used in
each test. Written standard operating pro-
cedures (SOPs) for the test methods were
followed  in performing replicate sampling
on each test plot.
  The test results were used to calculate
the sampling  precision for each target
analyte  in terms  of the percent  relative
standard  deviation  of three replicate
samples for each  method. The transfer
efficiency of each method was determined
by calculating the ratio of the average
transfer rate  to  the  average deposition
rate for each target analyte as determined
by analysis  of  the  deposition coupon
samples. The  performance of each
dislodgeable residue sampling method was
evaluated based  on these  results  and on
other  key factors relating  to the sample
media, sample handling, and the  quality
control sample analysis results. All of the
analytical laboratory work performed in this
study was provided  by Southwest Re-
search Institute, San Antonio, TX. In addi-
tion to performing  all of the test sample
extraction and GC/MS analysis work, they
provided all of the pre-cleaned  sample
media and the laboratory standard spike
solutions.

Study Design
  Turf test plots were designed to contain
three  separate  8- x 10-ft  sections that
would permit the collection  of three repli-
cate  samples with each test method in
each  section. The plots were mowed one
day prior to the test application and in  a
manner such that the mower direction was
kept constant throughout the  process.
Sampling was then performed so that the
sampler direction in each test section var-
ied relative to the cutting direction of the
mower,  that is, the same direction,  the
perpendicular direction, and the opposite
direction.

Combination Insecticide and
Fungicide Application  Test
  This test was designed to evaluate the
PUF roller method and the Dow drag sled
method in  side-by-side  sampling.  The
sample traverse for both  methods was  a
single pass of 2.0 m in length. A commer-
cially available mixture of the insecticide
chlorpyrifos and the fungicide chlorothalonil
was prepared  in water  and  applied  ac-
cording  to  manufacturer's recommenda-
tions. The formulation (0.17% chlorpyrifos,
1.41% chlorothalonil) was applied at a rate
of 1 gal/500 ft2 using a compressed air
tank sprayer. Three a-cellulose deposition
coupons were evenly distributed over each
test section prior to  spraying. This test
was conducted  in  hot and relatively dry
conditions during the month of July.

Acid Herbicide Application Test
  This test was designed to evaluate all
three of the dislodgeable residue test meth-
ods, including the California roller method.
The procedures employed in  the first test
were generally followed.  Due to the addi-
tional sampling area required by the addi-
tion of the California roller method to the
test protocol, a  fourth test section  was
prepared  for treatment. Two  replicate
samples were collected with the California
roller method in each of the first three test
sections, and an additional three samples
were collected  in  the fourth  section. A
commercial mixture of acid herbicides was
mixed in water according to manufacturer's
recommendations yielding a  formulation
containing  0.007%  dicamba, 0.03%
mecoprop, and 0.06% 2,4-D.  The mixture
was applied to the  test plot at a rate of  1
gal/250  ft2. In contrast to  the conditions
that marked the first test  in this study, this
second  test was conducted  during  cool
and relatively wet conditions in the month
of October.

Test Methods

a-Cellulose Deposition Coupon
  The deposition coupons used were 100-
mm squares of cellulose filter paper at-
tached to  aluminum foil-covered backing
sheets of the  same  size. Each coupon
was marked by pencil  line so that a 12.5-
mm (0.5-in.) border on all sides was avail-
able to allow handling. Prior to extraction,
the coupon border was trimmed away to
leave a 75-mm square (56.25 cm2) filter
sample for analysis in the laboratory. Esti-
mates of the deposition rate  for a given
sample were determined from the  ratio of
the mass  of  pesticide  residue found on
the coupon to its area and were  usually
reported in units of micrograms per square
centimeter.

PUF Roller
  The  PUF roller dislodgeable  residue
sampling method uses a prototype me-
chanical apparatus having two rear wheels,
a cylindrical aluminum  roller at the front,
and  a  handle for pushing  or pulling at-
tached at the rear. Two stainless  steel
blocks  (total  weight = 3.97 kg) are at-
tached to the center portion of the frame.
A PUF ring measuring 90-mm o.d.- x 30-
mm i.d.- x 76-mm in length was fitted onto
the aluminum cylinder, which was  then
attached to the front of the sampler as-
sembly.
  The location of the sample was marked
on the test plot by placing a metal guidebar
adjacent to the planned track of the de-
vice. The  200-cm sample  traverse dis-
tance was marked off in 10-cm segments
on the bar. A solvent-washed thin alumi-
num sheet was placed  at the  starting po-
sition to serve as a platform  to hold the
PUF roller before starting the test.
  A sample traverse consisted of a single
pass over the 200-cm pathlength. At the
end of the traverse, the roller was imme-
diately lifted off of the turf. The aluminum
cylinder was then detached from the as-
sembly, and the PUF ring was recovered
and stored  in its container.  The marks at
10-cm intervals on the guidebar were used
to  assist the  operator in  maintaining the
sampling rate at about 10 cm/s.

Dow Drag Sled
  The Dow drag sled procedure uses a 3-
x 3-in. piece  of 3/4-in.-thick plywood as
the base  for a  sled  with  a  ridge  con-
structed on the top to  hold  an 8-lb round
downrigger weight. A screw eye is placed
in the center of one edge of the block, to
which a 24-in  long wire and  pull  handle
are attached. The base and sides of the
sled  are covered with two layers of alumi-
num foil attached with staples.
  The sampling media  consists  of
precleaned 4- x 4-in. undyed cotton denim
cloth squares. A thin aluminum sheet start-
ing platform and  a metal guidebar were
used with  the  Dow  sled  procedure. A
sample traverse consisted of a single pass
with  the sled over a  distance of 200 cm
using guide marks at  10-cm  intervals to
achieve an approximate sampling  rate of
10 cm/s.

-------
  The  denim cloth sampling media is at-
tached to the  base of the sled by using
plastic-headed  pushpins positioned
through the overlapping edges of the cloth
and into the front and sides of the wooden
sled. With the denim cloth securely in
place, the sled was placed  on  the alumi-
num starting platform, and the 8-lb weight
was put into its position on top of the sled.
The  drag line was then  attached to  the
screw eye on the front of the sled. Keep-
ing the drag line at a low  angle relative to
the  ground,  the operator pulled the sled
forward at a steady rate until the front of
the sled reached the  200-cm mark on the
guidebar. The  sled was then quickly lifted
from the turf,  and the denim  cloth was
removed from the sled, then folded and
stored  in its container.

California Roller
  The  California roller method uses a de-
vice  resembling a large rolling  pin to col-
lect surface dislodgeable residues on  a
percale sheet cloth matrix. The roller con-
sists of a 63-cm-long PVC pipe, 13 cm in
diameter, that  is fitted with PVC endcaps
having roller handles. The  roller is cov-
ered with a 1-cm-thick foam cover, 51 cm
in length, and is filled with a quantity of
small to  medium-size steel ball bearings
sufficient to  bring the total  weight of the
roller to 11.3 kg.
  The  sampling  medium, consisting of a
precleaned 17- x 17-in.  cloth  cut from
percale bedsheet material (50% combed
cotton, 50% FortrelŪ polyester, 180 thread
count), is placed flat  on the turf and cov-
ered with a plastic sheet (e.g. medium-
size  plastic trash  bag, 20- x 24-in.). The
plastic  sheet is held in place by driving 6-
in.-long metal  spikes through the corners
of the  sheet and into the ground.  Sam-
pling is performed by moving the roller
back and forth ten times at a steady rate
over the sample medium (20 total passes).
A special metal handle assembly was fab-
ricated for use in these tests to permit the
operator to  more comfortably  move  the
roller without exerting any downward pres-
sure on the handles. After the final sample
pass, the  roller and handle  assembly  are
removed from the test area,  the  metal
spikes  are removed, and the plastic sheet
is discarded.  Forceps are  then  used to
collect  and fold the percale cloth for inser-
tion into its sample container.

Sample Analysis
  A wide variety of samples were handled
and analyzed  in this  study.  In addition to
the  three types  of dislodgeable residue
samples collected from the two differently
treated test plots, quality  control samples
were collected that included field blanks,
field spikes,  raw formula samples, and
grass clippings and debris removed from
test sample media. The analytical labora-
tory, SwRI, followed specific SOPs for ex-
traction and analysis of each sample type
and group of target analytes to  be deter-
mined. The laboratory also performed  its
own internal quality control procedures that
included  analysis of media  and  solvent
blanks, spiked  samples,  and addition  of
surrogate compounds before extraction to
test sample  recovery levels. Sample ex-
traction  procedures for  the  chlorpyrifos/
chlorothalonil  samples  involved a  cold-
shake extraction in solvent, concentration
by  evaporation,  and  Florisil  cleanup.
Sample extracts were then  analyzed  by
GC/MS using the selected ion monitoring
mode.  Acid  herbicide samples  were ex-
tracted in an  acidified water/ethanol solu-
tion followed by liquid-liquid extraction with
chloroform, solvent exchange,  and then
derivatization to the methyl ester form of
the compounds. Analysis was by GC/MS
using a Fisons VG-MD800 instrument.

Results and Discussion
  Analytical  results for field and  labora-
tory blanks and GC/MS calibrations were
acceptable in  all  cases. Surrogate  com-
pound  recoveries were acceptable for  all
samples with two  exceptions that were  so
noted.  Analysis of field  and  laboratory
spiked  samples for chlorpyrifos and
chlorothalonil were acceptable for all me-
dia except for low recoveries  (68%)  of
chlorothalonil on the PUF media. Analysis
of field and laboratory spiked samples for
dicamba,  mecoprop, and 2,4-D yielded
generally poor results.  Only the percale
sheet (California roller method) media
yielded acceptable recoveries of all three
target analytes averaging  84%  recovery,
with a minimum of 76%. The results indi-
cate inefficient extraction of the  target
analytes  from the PUF  media and the
denim  cloth  media.  Recoveries  ranged
from a high of 69% for dicamba to a low
of 34% for 2,4-D,  both from the  PUF me-
dia.

Combination Insecticide  and
Fungicide Application Test
  The turf plot used in this test was mowed
to a height of two inches, and a  four hour
drying period was allowed following appli-
cation  of the  pesticide formulation. The
deposition rate and uniformity of the appli-
cation were  determined  by placing three
deposition coupons in each  of  the three
test plot sections  before spraying the turf
plot. The centrally located coupon in each
section was recovered  immediately after
the spraying was  completed. The remain-
ing coupons were recovered  at intervals
concurrent with the individual sampling op-
erations.  In each test section  the two re-
maining coupons were combined for analy-
sis as a single sample. A uniform applica-
tion was  indicated based  on  the results
for both sets of deposition coupons. The
calculated average deposition rate and the
corresponding percent relative standard
deviation  for chlorpyrifos for coupons col-
lected  immediately were 14.7  |j,g/cm2  +
10.9%, and for those  collected  later in the
day the results were 2.64 |ag/cm2 + 9.4%.
The corresponding data for chlorothalonil
was 180.6 lag/cm2 + 11.2% and 139.2 \igl
cm2 +  3.7%. The  large decrease in the
levels of chlorpyrifos during the drying pe-
riod attests  to the high volatility of this
compound.
  The  overall results  for this test are pre-
sented in Table 1 for  both the PUF roller
and the  Dow drag  sled  methods.  The
method transfer rate  is the ratio of the
total  pesticide collected  to the total  area
covered during the sample  traverse. The
sampling  precision is  the calculated per-
cent  relative standard deviation for repli-
cate sample results. The method transfer
efficiency is the ratio of the method trans-
fer rate to the pesticide deposition rate as
determined by the combined  analysis of
the two depositions collected  from each
test plot section at the time of sampling.
  The  sampling  precision  results were
mixed  and not particularly good for either
of the two methods evaluated in this test.
The average transfer  rate  and the corre-
sponding transfer  efficiency of the  PUF
roller  method were approximately twice
that of the Dow drag sled method for both
target compounds  used.

Acid  Herbicide Application Test
  The  turf plot  used for this test  was
mowed to a  height of three  inches, and  a
three hour drying  period was allowed fol-
lowing  application  of  the  acid herbicide
formulation.  The deposition rate and uni-
formity of the pesticide  application were
determined for this test  by  using deposi-
tion coupons in the same way as in the
earlier  test. The calculated average depo-
sition rate and the corresponding percent
relative standard deviation for dicamba for
coupons collected  immediately were 0.36
|ig/cm2 + 4.7%,  and  for those collected
later in the day the results were 0.36 |ig/
cm2 +  10.0%. The  corresponding data for
mecoprop was  1.12  |ig/cm2 + 5.6% and
0.96  jag/cm2 + 17.2%. And for 2,4-D the
results were 2.64  |ig/cm2 +  14.0% and
2.82 jag/cm2  + 12.9%. These results show
that the application was  uniform, and that
the  levels of all three target compounds
remained stable throughout the drying pe-
riod.

-------
Table 1. Combination Insecticide and Fungicide Test Results
Method &
  Target
Compounds
Transfer Rate
  (mg/cm2)
Sampling
Precision
   Transfer
   Efficiency
PUF Roller
      Chlorpyrifos           2.37
      Chlorothalonil        401

Dow Drag Sled
      Chlorpyrifos           1.05
      Chlorothalonil        240
                      30.8%
                      62.0%
                      50.3%
                      19.3%
                      0.087%
                      0.293%
                      0.0390%
                      0.173%
  At the onset of the sampling activities
for this  test a problem was encountered
with  the Dow drag  sled  procedure. The
weighted sled could not be dragged over
the turf  surface without it falling over nu-
merous  times during a 200-cm traverse. It
appears that the  small sled, while func-
tioning  normally in  tests on  shorter turf
(two  inches high) earlier, could not remain
stable in the longer turf used for this test.
Consequently, the Dow drag sled was not
included in the sampling  schedule con-
ducted  on  this test plot.  Other  studies
have  been conducted  using  larger drag
sleds that have been found to be stable
for turf applications, but such a sled was
not available for use in this test. The over-
all results are presented  in Table 2 for
both  the PUF roller  and  California roller
methods. The method parameters shown
are the  same as reported for the combi-
nation insecticide and fungicide earlier.
  The results of the  acid herbicide appli-
cation test are definitive.  The  sampling
precision and transfer efficiency of the PUF
roller method were similar to those same
results  from  the first test performed. In
both  cases the method exhibited relatively
low precision  and variable  transfer effi-
ciency results. In  contrast,  the California
Table 2. Acid Herbicide Test Results
                   roller method exhibited relatively high pre-
                   cision and consistent transfer efficiency
                   results for this  one test in which it was
                   evaluated.

                   Analysis of Grass Clippings
                   and Debris Removed from
                   Sample Media
                     A  problem developed early on in this
                   study involving  the grass  clippings and
                   other debris that  adhered  to  the sample
                   media following the  performance of the
                   dislodgeable residue test runs. The prob-
                   lem was particularly serious for the PUF
                   roller sample media.  Both the drag sled
                   denim cloth media and the California roller
                   percale  sheet media were found to collect
                   small amounts of clippings and debris, but
                   these could  be  easily removed  by  the
                   laboratory analyst. The PUF roller media,
                   on the other hand, collected much larger
                   quantities of the  debris,  and it adhered
                   more strongly making  removal  tediously
                   difficult.  Prior to extraction and analysis of
                   every sample collected during this  study,
                   the  sample  media  were  meticulously
                   cleaned  of debris  and the removed mate-
                   rial was saved  for later gravimetric and
 Method & Target
   Compounds
    Transfer Rate
      (mg/cm2)
  Sampling
  Precision
Transfer
Efficiency
PUF Roller
        Dicamba
        Mecoprop
        2,4-D
         0.66
         2.48
         4.89
    43.7%
    46.2%
    47.7%
 0.184%
 0.257%
 0.171%
California Roller
Dicamba
Mecoprop
2,4-D

1.78
5.19
15.63

12.2%
13.1%
10.1%

0.504%
0.548%
0.560%
chemical analysis. Analysis of debris ma-
terial removed from two each of the PUF
roller and Dow sled samples from the first
test revealed that the impact of the grass
and debris  adhering to the media follow-
ing sampling was significant in the case of
the PUF roller for Chlorpyrifos. Because of
the relatively low Chlorpyrifos concentra-
tions and the greater bulk of  grass and
debris collected on the PUF media versus
the Dow denim cloth,  more than 25% of
the total Chlorpyrifos collected by the PUF
roller was due to grass and  debris,  while
less than 10% of the Dow sled Chlorpyrifos
was due to extraneous material. The much
higher   sample   concentrations  of
Chlorothalonil significantly reduced the im-
pact of grass and debris contributions to
the sample  totals  for both methods, al-
though the  PUF roller samples  averaged
about 5% of the total collected, while the
Dow sled samples were below  analytical
detection limits.  Three samples each of
the debris removed from  the PUF  roller
media and the California roller media used
in  sampling  for the acid  herbicide test
were similarly analyzed. The calculations
showing the percentage contribution of the
media sample and the debris  sample to
the total sample results  revealed the sig-
nificance of the problem posed by extra-
neous material  picked up  by sample me-
dia during tests on turf. For the PUF roller
test  runs, more than  97%  of the total
analyte  concentration for  all three acid
herbicide constituents was in  the  grass
clippings and debris sample fraction. And
even though the amount of grass and
debris  removed from the  percale  sheet
media was  much less than that from the
PUF sleeve, the grass clipping and debris
sample fraction accounted for about 70%
of the total  analyte concentration for  all
three acid herbicide constituents in those
samples. Gravimetric analysis  of the ex-
traneous material removed from all  three
types of sample media used in these tests
showed that the PUF roller media col-
lected an average of  17.4 mg  of debris.
The average amount removed from Cali-
fornia roller percale sheet media was 6.4%
of that amount, and debris removed from
the Dow sled denim cloth media was only
1.5%  of  the  PUF  roller amount. These
results  should  serve  to emphasize the
need to ensure that sampling media used
in  turf  measurements for  pesticide resi-
dues be scrupulously cleaned of any and
all extraneous material prior to extraction
and analysis.

-------
Conclusions and
Recommendations
  1.   A  pressurized  tank sprayer was
      used successfully in pesticide ap-
      plications on  two  turf test plots.
      Analysis of nine deposition coupons
      from each test yielded average de-
      viations in deposition rate of 8.8%
      relative standard deviation (RSD)
      for a pesticide/fungicide application
      and 10.7% RSD for an acid herbi-
      cide application.

  2.   The turf plots  used in this study
      were typical of local area lawns as
      opposed to  professionally  main-
      tained test plots such as have been
      used in other studies of  this type.
      As such, the turf density of these
      "real world" test plots  was  lower,
      and they contained  a substantial
      proportion of weeds.

  3.   Laboratory and field quality control
      sample results showed  no  target
      analytes  detected in sample media
      or in field blanks collected on un-
      treated test plots. Field and labora-
      tory spiked sample results indicated
      a problem with inefficient  extraction
      of   chlorothalonil,   dicamba,
      mecoprop, and 2,4-D from  PUF
      sleeves.  Spike  recoveries of the
      acid  herbicides were  also  low  for
      the denim cloth samples.

  4.   For all three dislodgeable residue
      collection methods, sample handling
      for turf samples was complicated
      by the adherence of grass clippings
      and debris  to  the  sample media
      following sample runs. This prob-
      lem was most severe for the PUF
      roller,  which  collected  about  20
      times more material,  by weight, than
      either the  California roller or the
      Dow sled.
  5.   Analysis  of grass clipping and de-
      bris  samples removed  from  PUF
      roller and California roller samples
      collected from  the  acid  herbicide
    test plot revealed that target analyte
    levels  in the grass clippings  and
    debris  samples  were  50  times
    higher  than  levels in  the  PUF
    sleeves and 2-6 times higher than
    levels in the California roller cloths.
6.   In the comparison of the PUF roller
    and  Dow sled  methods on  turf
    treated  with  chlorpyrifos and
    chlorothalonil,  neither method  ex-
    hibited  good  sampling  precision,
    with results ranging from 20 to 50%
    RSD.  The Dow sled yielded  better
    consistency in the transfer efficiency
    data, and neither method exhibited
    a clear trend  as to the effect of
    sampling direction  relative to  the
    mower direction  used.
7.   In the comparison of the PUF roller
    and  the  California  roller methods
    on turf treated with  the acid herbi-
    cides, dicamba, mecoprop, and 2,4-
    D, the PUF roller sampling preci-
    sion averaged near 45% RSD, while
    the California roller precision was a
    surprisingly good 12% RSD on av-
    erage. Transfer efficiency was vari-
    able  for the PUF roller averaging
    about 0.2%,  while  the California
    roller exhibited consistent transfer
    efficiency  at about  0.5%. For the
    three sampling directions  tested,
    sampling  precision  was  lower for
    the PUF roller for sampling in the
    same direction  as the mower and,
    for the  California roller,  precision
    was  higher for sampling in the op-
    posite direction.


8.   The  evaluation of the PUF roller
    method on treated turf revealed sev-
    eral inherent problems with the tech-
    nique in this real-world application.
    Sampling  precision  was  generally
    poor, pesticides were not efficiently
    extracted  from  the  sample  media,
    and the PUF media was inordinately
    prone to collecting grass clippings
    and debris during sample runs. For
    these reasons  we  do  not  recom-
      mend that  the  PUF  roller method
      be  used for  dislodgeable residue
      sampling on turf.
  9.   The evaluation  of the  Dow sled
      method on  treated turf was limited
      because of the instability of the 3-
      x 3-in. sled used. The available data
      show that sampling precision was
      low, but transfer efficiency was con-
      sistent. The denim cloth media does
      not tend to collect grass clippings
      and debris, but the low extraction
      efficiency for acid herbicides is  a
      source of concern. Further evalua-
      tion of the Dow sled method on turf
      is recommended, but a larger sled
      base will be required.


  10.  The evaluation of  the  California
      roller method  on treated turf yielded
      results showing high sampling pre-
      cision and  consistent transfer effi-
      ciency. The percale sheet sampling
      media does not tend to collect grass
      clippings and debris, and extrac-
      tion efficiency of the acid herbicide
      target  analytes was  good. These
      results,  along with the  availability
      of a  handle  assembly  permitting
      upright operation of the roller, form
      the basis for our giving the Califor-
      nia roller method the best rating of
      the three methods evaluated  in this
      study.


  11.  The results of tests comparing the
      levels of the  target analytes  found
      in grass clippings and  debris re-
      moved from the sample media to
      the levels found in the media itself
      establish the extreme  importance
      of  scrupulous  cleaning of the
      dislodgeable  residue  sampling me-
      dia, either at  the time of sampling,
      or at least prior  to  extraction for
      analysis.

  This work was  performed  by ManTech
Environmental  Technology, Inc.,  under
U.S.  EPA Contract 68-D5-0049, and  by
Southwest Research Institute under Sub-
contract 96-0049-01 to ManTech.

-------
     ChristopherR. Fortune is with ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Research
       Triangle Park, NC 27709.
     Robert G. Lewis is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
     The complete report, entitled "Evaluation of Methods for Collecting Dislodgeable
       Pesticide Residues from Turf," (Order No. PB98-114390; Cost: $21.50, subject to
       change) will be available only from:
            National Technical Information Service
            5285 Port Royal Road
            Springfield, VA 22161
            Telephone: 703-487-4650
     The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
            National Exposure Research  Laboratory
            U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
            Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
      BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
         EPA
   PERMIT NO. G-35
EPA/600/SR-97/119

-------