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LETTERS
ISCO’S new flow meter Even under ideal conditions, measuring flow is tough. You need a reliable flow meter that presents accurate data and can adapt easily to changing situations. Here i t is. The new ISCO Model 1870 operates anywhere. It’s moistureproof and runs on either line current or an attached nicad battery. Bubbler-tube design means that you don’t have to mount it over, or even close to, the flow stream. Reprogrammable plug-in modules store l e v e l - t o - f l p w r a t e conversion data for any primary device or plain channel. Flow rate in any desired unit i s recorded on a built-in 4” strip chart, and total flow i s continuously indicated on a digital display. A n ISCO Model 1870 has both the specifications and price you want. For literature or a demonstration, phone: toll free [800] 228-4250 (continental USA except Nebr.) Instrumentation Specialties Company, Box 5347, Lincoln, Nebraska 68505.
Water monitori n3 instrumentation CIRCLE 19
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READER SERVICE CARD
Environmental Science & Technology
Toxic substances testing-correction Dear Sir: There is a significant misprint in the table of compounds recommended for priority testing by the Interagency Toxic Substances Testing Committee (ITC). Alkyl phthalates are shown in that table ( E S &T , November 1978, p 1246) as being recommended for “other toxic effects” testing. This is erroneous. The ITC recommended only “environmental effects” testing for phthalates. I t should be noted that alkyl phthalate esters are among the least toxic substances known, and an error such as the one cited above might lead to an inappropriate conclusion to the contrary. It is, in fact, their general low order of toxicity and consequent wide commercial use that have prompted their being recommended for environmental testing. Alkyl phthalates are a very important family of commercial compounds and only one kind of testing-environmental-has been recommended. J. W. Hirzy Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Co. St. Louis. Mo. 63 166
Wanted: oil spill scientists Dear Sir: I n the wake of spills of huge amounts of oil from the A R G O M E R C H A N T and the A M O C O CADIZ, efforts are underway by the Federal government to improve coordination of scientists involved in research or damage assessment, and to improve methods whereby scientists can provide support to the on-scene coordinator for a spill cleanup. Assistance is needed in contacting scientists which may respond in connection with existing research projects (not a solicitation for new research grants) during potentially critical chemical or oil spills in the waters of the U S . Details regarding their scientific interest and capability can be forwarded to Dr. Paul Lefcourt, U S . EPA (RD-683), 401 M St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, where the scientist’s interest lies landward of the territorial baseline anywhere in the U S . , or to John Robinson, Manager,
Hazardous Materials Response Project, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Research Laboratories, Boulder, Colo. 80302, where the scientist’s interest lies seaward of the territorial baseline. As scientific support coordinator for Federal Region 11, I would be pleased to hear from those scientists whose interest lies landward of the territorial baseline of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U S . Virgin Islands. We wish to identify members of the scientific community who should be contacted during a particular spill and thereby improve scientific input and coordination in such events. Fred N. Rubel U S . EPA Region I I Edison, N.J. 08817
Mirex-final word Dear Sir: Peakall and coworkers are correct to point out some typographical errors and misleading captions to some paragraphs in the feature article, “The rise and fall of Mirex” (Ref. letter, ES&T, December 1978, p 1348). Regrettably, the extremely short turnover between acceptance and typesetting of the manuscript, together with some last minute changes and proofreading led to such error. I do reject, however, Peakall‘s sweeping assertion that my report “. . . suffers from the lack of a proper biological insight.” For a number of years, 1 have been involved with the implications of biological effects of contaminants on water quality objectives. Further, the manuscript had also been reviewed by biologists prior to its pub1icat ion. K. L. E. Kaiser
National Water Research Institute Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4A6 Canada
Correction December 1978, p 1352. The lime demand by 1990 is incorrectly reported in pounds. The correct lime demand by 1990 is 10 million tons.
