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THE BENEFITS OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE PHYSICOCHEMISTRY AND PULMONARY TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ORIMULSION FLY ASH
Citation:
Dreher, K L., J H. Richards, J K. McGee, J R. Lehmann, T. J. Hughes, C A. Miller, W P. Linak, AND A. Mallett. THE BENEFITS OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE PHYSICOCHEMISTRY AND PULMONARY TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ORIMULSION FLY ASH. Presented at Annual EPA QA Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, 04/08/02-04/11-02.
Description:
THE BENEFITS OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE PHYSICOCHEMISTRY AND PULMONARY TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ORIMULSION FLY ASH. K Dreher', J. Richards', J. McGee', J. Lehmann', T. Hughes', A. Miller, W. Linak2, and A. Mallett3.'National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory NHEERL), and 2National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), ORD, U.S. EPA, RTP, NC. 3University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Orimulsion? is a fuel source that could be an economical substitute for coal and heavy oil currently used in utility and other types of commercial boilers. The environmental and public health risks associated with the combustion of Orimulsion? are unknown. Category 2 Quality Assurance Guidelines (i.e., potential regulatory impact) were followed for this study because these results were submitted as part of a report submitted to the U.S. Congress on alternative fuel sources. This study compares the physicochemical and acute pulmonary toxicological properties of Orimulsion? fly ash (OFA-100 and OFA-400) derived from the combustion of two forms of Orimulsion? with similar properties of fly ash obtained from the combustion of a conventional fuel source, residual oil #6 (ROFA #6). Fuels were burned in a Package Boiler Simulator under identical combustion conditions and oil fly ash particles (< 2.5 m MMAD) collected on filters. Collected OFA-100, OFA-400 and ROFA #6 particles were analyzed for: particle acidity; 1MHC1 and water soluble metal (V, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd); and sulfate content. Particle acidity, sulfate level as well as acid and water soluble total metal content were comparatively similar for all oil fly ash samples examined. OFA-100 and OFA-400 filters had considerably less water soluble metals when compared to the ROFA #6 filter, with the exception of elevated Ni and V levels in the OFA-400 filter. Male, 60 - 70 day old, SpragueDawley rats were exposed by intratracheal instillation to water extracts of each oil fly ash filter. Animals were examined for biomarkers of injury by bronchoalveolar lavage at 24h post-exposure. The measurements of edema and inflammation for all oil fly ashes were comparable at low dose levels. However, OFA particles were found to elicit significantly greater inflammatory responses at higher doses when compared to ROFA#6. ROFA#6 particles were found to induce more pulmonary edema when compared to animals exposed to either OFA sample. These results demonstrate that OFA -100 and OFA-400 particles display similar physicochemical properties when compared to ROFA #6. However, OFA- 100 and OFA-400 particles were found to be more pro-inflammatory, whereas the ROFA particles were more edematous to the lung. A comprehensive inspection of study protocols and operating procedures, records, sample analyses and data was conducted by NHEERL Quality Assurance Managers not connected with the study. A technical systems review (TSR) final report was supplied to the study personnel. Implementation of Category 2 Quality Assurance guidelines and a TSR of all study data and records were found to enhance the overall scientific credibility and defensibility of this study. This is an abstract for presentation which has been reviewed by the U.S. EPA; views expressed do not necessarily represent EPA policy.