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Development of Sampling Protocols and Strategies for Solid Waste Sampling During Biological Incidents
Citation:
Hofacre, K., S. Nelson, R. James, P. Lemieux, AND W. Calfee. Development of Sampling Protocols and Strategies for Solid Waste Sampling During Biological Incidents. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-22/117, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to expand on work done previously using grab sampling techniques to sample biological agents from waste matrices. This bench-scale effort was used to inform waste sampling activities at the AnCOR Wide Area Demonstration in May 2022.
Description:
This report focuses on the evaluation of spore recovery using three different methods applied to candidate solid waste streams likely to be generated during the decontamination and restoration of a biological incident at a United States Coast Guard (USCG) station. Candidate solid waste streams were: personal protective equipment, line (rope), and boat seat covers. The spore recovery and analytical methods used here were adapted using existing EPA spore recovery and analysis methods but applied to the solid waste materials so that no new methods needed to be developed. Results from this study can be used to better plan and execute the recovery of a USCG base, or any large outdoor urban area, following a biological contamination incident. Specifically, the results will help to manage solid waste generated from decontamination and recovery following a biological incident. This work was coordinated with and managed by the EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funded Analysis for Coastal Operational Resiliency (AnCOR) project.