Methodology and Quality Assurance/Quality Control of Environmental Analysis - Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis - page 99

on CD ROM for waste and for water. The Internet access commenced with air
methods and in 1998 the entire waste method (SW-846) was placed on the web. To
help quickly search for a particular method and get an access to the method, two very
useful indices are worth noting here:
Index to EPATest Method (Nelson, 2003; http://www.epa.gov/epahome/index)
National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) (http://www.nemi.gov).
Both method databases have a search option by analyte name or method
number. The NEMI also includes methods from many other sources (e.g., USGS,
ASTM) and a general online search can be performed by media (air, water, soil, and
so forth), subcategory (organic, radiochemicals, and so forth), source (EPA, USGS,
and so forth), and/or instrumentation. The NEMI can also be searched by the type of
regulation, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and National
Primary/Secondary Drinking Water Regulations. An additional feature of this online
database is direct Internet access to the actual methods for free (e.g., EPA and
USGS) or for a fee (e.g., ASTM and AOAC).
Described below are major EPA test methods by the type of media, that is,
air, water, and waste. It should be noted that whilemanymethods were developed for a
particular medium, there are other methods that are generally applicable to various
media. Additionally, the EPA test methods are ever changing, so the reader should
constantly check the most recent revision for any updates, additions, or deletions.
Air Test Methods
The U.S. EPA methods for atmospheric pollutants are under the authority of the
Clean Air Act (40 CFR 50-99). Sources for air test methods are located in three
different categories depending on the type of ''air'':
Methods for ambient air: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/
Methods for emission from stationary sources: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc
Methods for workplace/indoor air: mostly associated with OSHA/NIOSH: http://
www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/and http://www.osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/toc.html.
The first two categories are the U.S. EPA air test methods, both of which are
available from the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) site at http://www.epa.gov/
ttn. To obtain methods for ambient air, select AMTIC (Ambient Monitoring
Technology Information Center) from this Web site. There are three types of
methods for monitoring ambient air:
Method for criteria pollutants: These are the six air pollutants common
throughout the United States, including particulate matter (TSP, PM 10 , and
PM 2.5 ), SO 2 , CO, NO 2 ,O 3 , and lead.
Air Toxic (TO) Methods: These are for the measurement of 189 toxic
organic chemicals called hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These chemicals
are known or suspected as carcinogens with high usage and emission in