Editors'Column
EPA Office of Research and Development Establishes Priorities for 1981 The Office of Research and Devel opment (ORD), the principal scientif ic component of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has just come out with the "ORD Extramural Program Guide, FY 1981." The pro gram guide, which makes public ORD's extramural research program for the new fiscal year, is an excellent indicator of where the EPA is placing its priorities. Although much of ORD's external research is solicited, research ers can get a good idea of the sort of environmental studies that are conso nant with the mission and priorities of the EPA by referring to this guide. In dividuals and organizations may also submit unsolicited research proposals to the agency for consideration. Air. This research program is de signed to provide EPA with sampling, analysis, and measurement techniques for the detection and identification of pollutants in air and for the character ization of emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Specific efforts will include the development and re finement of methods to measure fine and inhalable particulates, carbon fi bers, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Studies of industrial processes will include the identification of toxic emissions from ferrous metallurgy processes, includ ing iron foundry smelting and electric furnace emissions. New extraction and fractionation schemes are being developed to sepa rate organic matter from particulates. Personal exposure monitors, particu larly for the detection of asbestos and arsenic, are being developed and eval uated. Drinking water. Researchers are continually called upon to develop and
refine techniques for the sophisticated water analysis required by EPA both routinely and for specialized pollution problems. Energy. One aspect of this research is the development of advanced tech niques for monitoring pollutants re sulting from energy technology. Ener gy research also involves the develop ment and refinement of personal mon itors, in this case to determine human exposure to particulates, toxic organics, and sulfur oxides. Pesticides. Analytical tools and cal ibration techniques are being expanded to address priority pesticides. Toxic substances. Work is planned for the development of measurement methods for use in marine systems, in cluding the determination of volatile organics in estuarine water, organics in suspended particulate matter, and toxics bound to sediments and aquatic plants. ORD is also interested in the refine ment of analytical techniques such as GC coupled with Fourier transform . IR, for application to the detection of toxic substances. Water quality. Improved methods are desired for the rapid identification and quantitation of viruses in surface waters. ORD is sponsoring special studies on water quality in the Chesa peake Bay and the Great Lakes. For assistance and information re garding grants and proposals, contact the Office of Research and Develop ment (RD-675), Washington, D.C. 20460, or call 202-755-2532. A copy of the "ORD Extramural Program Guide, FY 1981" can be obtained from ORD Publications, U.S. EPA/CERI, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268. Stuart A. Borman
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 53, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1981 · 119 A
