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Developing Analytical Methods for Gathering Nationwide Occurrence Data for Chemicals on the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (Ccl)
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| Abstract: | Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) require the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to publish a list of contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, and which may require regulation under the SDWA. In response to this requirement, and after extensive consultation with the scientific community, the USEPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) published a Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) of 50 chemicals and 10 microorganisms in March 1998. A critical piece of information that OGWDW must have for making a regulatory determination on these contaminants is the frequency and magnitude of their occurrence in public drinking water systems across the country. This information will be collected by OGWDW through a nationwide chemical monitoring program at drinking water utilities. Because of the importance of the regulatory determination process, it is essential that the test methods used to gather this occurrence data be both sensitive and specific.
NERL collaborated with OGWDW to determine which of the 50 chemicals under consideration for regulatory action needed new, improved analytical methods prior to collection of occurrence data. From the list of chemicals for which method development was required, NERL has completed the development of two analytical methods that together will test for five chemicals of concern, and meet the data quality objectives of OGWDW. Method 528 is currently being used in a nationwide monitoring study of public drinking water supplies to obtain data on four substituted phenols listed on the CCL, and on an additional eight substituted phenols that are priority pollutants. Phenols are of concern as drinking water contaminants because of their widespread use as intermediates in the manufacture of pesticides, bactericides, and other industrial chemicals. Chlorinated phenols are also a by-product of the paper manufacturing industry. Method 529 was developed to monitor for hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, also known as Royal Demolition Explosive (RDX), and an additional 13 explosives and related chemicals. Recent studies of groundwaters near military installations have identified RDX and other munitions as an emerging drinking water concern. Method 529 will be used in the next nationwide monitoring study to gather data on the occurrence of RDX and other explosives.
NERL is currently working with OGWDW to develop three additional methods for chemicals listed on the CCL. These methods will be used to monitor perchlorate, organotins, alachlor-ESA and other acetanalide pesticide degradation products in a nationwide study beginning in 2006.
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| Citation: | Munch, J. W. Developing Analytical Methods for Gathering Nationwide Occurrence Data for Chemicals on the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (Ccl). Presented at Science Forum 2003, Washington, DC, May 5-7, 2003. |
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| Contact: |
Mary P. O'Bryant - (919)-541-4871 or obriant.mary@epa.gov
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| Division: |
Microbiological & Chemical Exposure Assessment Division |
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| Branch: |
Chemical Exposure Research Branch |
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| Product Type: |
Abstrct/Oral |
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| Presented: |
05/05/2003 |
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