LETTERS Volatile organics Dear Sir: I read with interest the recent article by Mieure on “Determining volatile organics in water” (ES&T, August 1980, p. 930). In spite of the two disclaimers in the initial paragraph (viz. “. . . within my experience . . ,” and “This article is not a comprehensive treatment . . .”), it is unfortunate that Mieure did not mention the Grob closed-loop stripping procedure (( 1) and references cited therein). Indeed, Coleman et al. (2) say, “The method of choice at this time [for determining volatile organic compounds in water] is Grob closedloop-stripping analysis (CLSA).” The lack of inclusion of the Grob procedure only tends to perpetuate the technological gap commented upon by Coleman et al. It is clear that the Grob procedure should have been mentioned as a “widely used technique” when one
considers the great number of water laboratories that use the procedure routinely. Furthermore, there have been a number of publications by research groups, including those at Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Stanford University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, EPA, and EAWAG, which report the use of the Grob procedure for nonroutine studies. Richard H. Bromund Professor of Chemistry The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio 44691 Guest Scientist, 1980-81 EAWAG CH-8600 Diibendorf Switzerland (1) Grob, K.; Ziicher, F. J. Chrornatogr. 1976, 117, 285-94. (2) Coleman, W. E.; Melton, R. G.; Slater, R. W.; Kopfler, F. C.; Voto, S. J.; Allen, W. K.; Aurand, T. A. “Determination of Organic Contaminants by the Grob Closed-LoopStripping Technique,” presented at the
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Environmental Science & Technology
American Water Works Association, Water Quality Division’s Water Quality Technologv Conference VII. Philadehhia. Pa.. Dec.-9-12, 1979, U.S. GPO i980k57: 146‘5601.
Meeting on nitrites Dear Sir: A National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council committee studying nitrites and alternative curing agents plans to hold a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, 198 1. The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences, 2100 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C., from 1O:OO A . M . until 3:OO P.M. The purpose of the meeting is to receive information from individuals and organizations on health risks and benefits of nitrites and nitrates and on the status of research on alternatives to nitrites. The committee is especially interested in obtaining scientific information which is not available in the published literature. Further information can be obtained from Dr. Robert A. Mathews, National Academy of Sciences, (WG-1003), 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington,D.C. 20418, (202) 389-6085, or Dr. Roy Widdus, (202) 389-665 1.
