analytical chemistry July 1973, Vol 45, No. 8 Editor: HERBERT A. LAITINEN
Ed itonal
EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4600 Teletype: 710-8220151 Managing Editor: Virginia E. Stewart Associate Editors: Josephine M. Petruzzi Alan J. Senzel
Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Science
Assitrtant Editor: Andrew A. Husovsky PRODUCTION STAFF Art Director: Norman W. Favin Associate Production Managers: Leroy L. Corcoran Charlotte C. Sayre Editorial Assistant:
Nancy J. Oddenino
EDITORIAL PROCESSING DEPARTMENT, EASTON, PA. Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe
ADVISORY BOARD:Allen J. Bard, Fred Baumann David F. Bolte C G Enke, Henry M’ Fales Kenneth ’ W.’ Gardiner Jack M. Gill, JeAnette G. Grasselli, Theoi dore Kuwana, Oscar Menis, William C. Purdy Eugene M Sallee Donald T. Sawyer, Lioyd R. Snyher, Ha’rold F. Walton
INSTRUMENTATION ADVISORY PANEL: Jonathan W. Amy, Richard A Durst J. J. Kirkland, Charles E. Kiopfenstein, Ronald H. Laessig, Marvin Margoshes, Harry L. Pardue, Howard J. Sloane, Ralph E. Thiers
Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N. W. Washington, D.C. 20036
Books a n d J o u r n a l s Division John K Crum Director Ruth Reynard Assistant to t h e Director
Charles R. Bertsch Head, Editorial Processing Department D. H. Michael Bowen Head, Journals Department Bacil Guiley Head, Graphics and Production Department Seldon W. Tenant Head, Research a n d Development Department
VIII. Toxic Substances Control Act Pending legislation which would require testing of new chemical substances for environmental hazard prior to introduction to the market has potentially great significance to chemistry as a whole and to analytical chemistry in particular. While the exact terms of the legislation still remain to be clarified, it appears highly probable that some form of law will be enacted within a year. Recent articles in C&EN (March 26, p 12; April 30, p 30) have dealt with the problems that the proposed legislation would create within the chemical industry and the position of the ACS as representing the chemical profession more generally. Some of the more general problems being debated include the scope of coverage, the type of test data to be required, the allocation of costs between the first and subsequent manufacturers, the enforcement procedures, and provisions for appeals. Depending upon the resolution of such questions, the analytical problems will correspondingly vary, but it is safe to say that any new legislation dealing with environmental testing of new substances will present challenges of awesome proportions to the analytical chemist. First of all, detection and quantitative estimation in the various components of the environment-including air, water, soil, plant materials, and animal materials-will need careful attention as to sampling procedures, separation techniques, and measurements. Then, a study of degradation under a variety of environmental conditions, with a study of interferences from the degradation products, is needed. Possible secondary or indirect environmental consequences, such as interactions between heavy metals and the new chemicals or their degradation products, need to be considered, especially if the product is to be deliberately applied in the field. Chemical manufacturers have, of course, long carried out studies of this sort on pesticides, herbicides, detergents, and other materials of potential environmental concern. Likewise, analytical information will be available for many other materials to be covered in the new legislation. Nevertheless, the sheer magnitude of the proposed testing program will present quite a challenge to develop approaches with the necessary generality and flexibility to meet the needs of both the chemical industry and enforcement agencies.
Advertising Management CENTCOM, LTD. (for Branch Offices,see page 761A
For submission o f manuscripts, see page 684A
//ELANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 45, NO. 8, JULY 1973
* 1297
