analytical chemistry Editor: Herbert A. Laitinen EDITORIAL HEADOUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220 151 Managing Editor: Josephine M. Petruzzi Associate Editors: Andrew A. Husovsky, Barbara Cassatt Associate Editor, Easton: Elizabeth R . Rufe Editorial Assistant: Andre D ’Arcangelo Associate Editor, editing: Nancy J. Oddenino Production Manager: Leroy L. Corcoran Art Director: John V. Sinnett Desfgner: Alan Kahan Advisory Board: L. S. Birks. Peter Carr, David Firestone, Kurt F. J. Heinrich. Philip F. Kane, Barry L. Karger. J. Jack Kirkland. Marvin Margoshes, Robert S. McDonald, James W. Mitchell, Royce W. Murray, Harry L. Pardue, Garry A . Rechnitz, Walter Slavin, John P. Walters Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Gary D. Christian, Catherine Fenselau. Gary M. Hieftje, Tomas Hirschfeld, Peter T. Kissinger. C. David Miller, Carter L. Olson, Sidney L. Phillips, Thomas H. Ridgway Regulations, Analytical Division Ad Hoc Committee: Robert A. Libby (Chairman) Warren B. Crummett. William T. Donaldson. Donaid T. Sawyer Contributing Editor: Claude A Lucchesi Department of Chemistry. Northwestern University, Evanston. Ill. 60201 Published b y the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N W Washington D C 20036
Books and Journals Division Director D H Michael Bowen Journals Charles R Bertsch Magazine and Production Bacil Guiley Research and Development Seldon W Terrant
Cleaning Our Environment-An
Update
The ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement has issued a new edition of its report “Cleaning Our Environment” with the subtitle “A Chemical Perspective” as a follow-up to its 1969 report, subtitled “The Chemical Basis for Action”, In an AC editorial in November 1969, the recommendations contained in the report were examined from the viewpoint of their analytical implications. Of the 33 recommendations, six were specifically directed to research in analytical chemistry and instrumentation. while many others had direct or indirect analytical components. I t was clear in 1969 that to make significant progress in implementing the recommendations it would be necessary to include a great deal of highly competent analytical work, both as a service function and as research and development in its own right. T h e new edition differs markedly from the old in devoting a separate chapter t o Chemical Analysis and Monitoring, rather than scattering this material through the various sectidns on air, water, solid wastes, and pesticides. In this chapter, recognition is given to the accomplishments of analysts in refining existing techniques and t o developing new methods for identifying and measuring previously unsuspected constituents of the environment. At the same time, it is acknowledged that “progress in environmental measurement has heen slow. in part because o f the persistent shortage of specialists in the field. Analysis too often is treated as a secondary activity and assigned to unqualified personnel. One result has been masses of environmental data that frequently are useless for the intended purposes.” Four recommendations in this chapter deal with the needs for additional funding for training in analytical chemistry and for research and development on new and improved analytical methods. Analytical scientists are urged to take the initiative in quality assurance of environmental analytical methods, and to give balanced attention to two types of techniques, namely those aimed a t specific compounds and those aimed a t classes of substances. Simple, low-cost methods suitable for mass application are t o he preferred. Many ot’the recommendations in other chapters also involve analytical methods and instrumentation. T h e ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement has appointed a Sub committee on Environmental Analytical Chemistry with Dr. tl‘arren B. Crummett of Dow Chemical Co. as Chairman. T h e goal of the Subcommittee is t o set forth the minimum criteria f o r the validation of an environmental analytical method. Brief statements concerning sampling and sample handling. calibration and standardization, measurement validation. data handling. and establishing acceptability are to be formulated. This action should constitute an important initial step toward improving the usefulness, credihility. and reliability of environmental analytical data.
Circulation Development Marion Gurfein Manuscript requirements are published in the January 1979 issue page 171 Manuscriptsfor publication ( 4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at the ACS Washington address The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society
A N A L Y T I C A L CHEMISTRY, VOL. 51, NO. 4, APRIL 1979
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