Environmental Speciation and Monitoring Needs for Trace Metal -Contai Ni Ng Substances from Energy-Related Processes
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STAND NATL iNST OF AU107 1=17^05 NBS 1>l PUBLICATIONS z CO NBS SPECIAL PUBLICATION * / Of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Bureau of Standards -QC 100 .U57 NO. 618 1981 c. 2 NATIONAL BUREAU QF STANDARDS The National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a basis for the Nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety. The Bureau's technical work is per- formed by the National Measurement Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, and the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology. THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT LABORATORY provides the national system of physical and chemical and materials measurement; coordinates the system with measurement systems of other nations and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical and chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce; conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties of materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; develops, produces, and distributes Standard Reference Materials; and provides calibration services. The Laboratory consists of the following centers: Absolute Physical Quantities' — Radiation Research — Thermodynamics and Molecular Science — Analytical Chemistry — Materials Science. THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY provides technology and technical ser- vices to the public and private sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems; conducts research in engineering and applied science in support of these efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines required to carry out this research and technical service; develops engineering data and measurement capabilities; provides engineering measurement traceability services; develops test methods and proposes engineering standards and code changes; develops and proposes new engineering practices; and develops and improves mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user. The Laboratory consists of the follov^ing centers: Applied Mathematics — Electronics and Electrical Engineering^ — Mechanical Engineering and Process Technology- — Building Technology — Fire Research — Consumer Product Technology — Field Methods. THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aid Federal agencies in the selection, acquisition, application, and use of computer technology to improve effectiveness and economy in Government operations in accordance with Public Law 89-306 (40 U.S.C. 759), relevant Executive Orders, and other directives; carries out this mission by managing the Federal Information Processing Standards Program, developing Federal ADP standards guidelines, and managing Federal participation in ADP voluntary standardization activities; provides scientific and technological advisory services and assistance to Federal agencies; and provides the technical foundation for computer-related policies of the Federal Government. The Institute consists of the following centers: Programming Science and Technology — Computer Systems Engineering. 'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, DC 20234, 'Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303. HATtONAL BUAEA.O or 8TANPAKD8 UBRABT Environmental Speciation and "/^i^^'^'o^ Monitoring Needs for Trace o Metal-Containing Substances no. G/F from Energy-Related Processes '^^i Proceedings of the DoE/NBS Workshop Held at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD May 18-20, 1981 Editors: Frederick E. Brinckman Chemical Stability and Corrosion Division Center for Materials Science National Measurement Laboratory National Bureau of Standards Washington, DC 20234 and Richard H. Fish Energy and Environment Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 Sponsored by the: National Bureau of Standards Washington, DC 20234 and Department of Energy Office of Health and Environmental Research Washington. DC 20545 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director Issued November 1 981 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 81-600140 National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 618 Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 618, 336 pages (Nov. 1981) CODEN: XNBSAV U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1981 . PREFACE Increased national reliance on alternate sources for either extracting fuels and oils from fossil deposits or from recycled materials now requires that we direct our attention to examining the processing and environmental hazards shared by both technologies and their possible common measurement solutions. These joint concerns are raised because it is already clear that fossil sources, such as shale oil (kerogen) or coal, being of biogeo- chemical origin, contain significant bioaccumulations of many toxic elements, including arsenic, mercury, selenium, and cadmium. Similarly, dependence upon recycled materials as prospective sources for organic feed stocks requires equivalent consideration of the substantial anthropogenic incorporation of the same toxic elements during prior use. Underlying both technologies, therefore, is a major requirement for reliable and appro- priate trace measurement methods and standards. These also can probably share common scientific and applications developments, not only because the analytes and matrices'are often similar, but especially because the processing favored in both technologies heavily involves interactions with ground waters and the atmosphere. Assessing or monitoring environmental hazards or impacts of such processes and their aqueous effluents, whether in the public health sense or in occupational exposure, is inhibited by two major unsolved problems: (1) what are the specific (molecular) forms of the toxic elements and their dosage effects on specific organisms? (2) what are (or will be) the best means for detecting and quantitating these toxicants in the process environ- ment as a timely monitoring control? Ultimately, this framework for data bases and decision-making must mesh with the existing body of environmental and health regulatory legislation: This is highlighted with recent passage of the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act (Public Law 96-479), which places identifica- tion of materials problems on parity with energy and environmental concerns. Over the past several years, widespread scientific interest has risen with develop- ment of new element-specific methods suitable for "speciating" or characterizing at trace (ppm or ppb) concentrations those types of metal- or metalloid-containing molecules that exhibit bioactivity or are biogenic. The work so far is widely scattered and inadequately funded; it is not focused on energy or recycled materials. Consequently, the speciation field is not yet sufficiently developed to make full use of its potential contribution to these topics of concern, which form the reasons for this Workshop. Against this backdrop, the Workshop germinated 2 years ago when we were greatly encouraged by Gerald Goldstein (DoE) and Joseph Berke (NBS) to attempt assembly of a forum where active colleagues, expert in the necessarily diverse disciplines, could critically discuss such a timely but broad area. Following much deliberation and creation of a (by no means complete) "short list," we contacted 24 possible speakers. Their immediate and enthusiastic response was later equally shared by some 40 more scientists invited from industry, academia, and Government to participate in the Workshop. Thus, this Workshop, unusual in its aim to address biogeochemical , analytical, and biological aspects of special classes of metal -containing materials in energy-processing or waste cycling, evol ved Ill The reader will appreciate that no simple organization of formal papers could make transitions between such diverse topics flow evenly. Rather, we have taken on the task to incorporate essential features of the informal discussion accompanying each paper and during the longer discussion periods concluding each Session. We assume full responsi- bility for the inevitable editorial changes in the dialog, and trust that our fellow conferees will not be offended. It should be noted that throughout these proceedings certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in order to specify adequately experimental pro- cedures. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Bureau of Standards or Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, nor does it imply that the material or equipment identified is necessarily the best available for the purpose. Continued interest and many forms of dedicated effort make a successful meeting; this Workshop was especially demanding of a great number of associates, only some of whom we can acknowledge here. We thank our sponsors, the Office of Health and Environmental Research, DoE,