Evaluating Sampling Efforts of Fourth Generation Agents from Soil, Water, and Surfaces to Assess Hazard Characterization Capabilities for Contaminated Sites
Citation:
Willison, S., L. Oudejans, M. Magnuson, M. Corlew, A. Dindal, C. Dodds, AND T. Malloy. Evaluating Sampling Efforts of Fourth Generation Agents from Soil, Water, and Surfaces to Assess Hazard Characterization Capabilities for Contaminated Sites. 2023 EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference, Charleston, SC, December 05 - 07, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) within the Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducts applied, stakeholder-driven research and provides responsive technical support to help solve the Nation’s environmental challenges. The Center’s research focuses on innovative approaches to address environmental challenges associated with the built environment. This work summarizes sampling results of a Fourth Generation Agent (FGA) to determine the sample collection efficiencies from environmental matrix types (e.g., surfaces, water, and soil). Sampling parameters included the evaluation of three different wipe materials and two different wipe wetting solvents to determine optimal sampling efficiencies for the tested surface matrix types. An unconventional sampling procedure involving two different strippable coatings applied to the contaminated surface was also evaluated. Three soil types, three water types (from drinking water utilities), and three surface types were also tested. The results are intended to assist emergency response personnel during remediation activities involving an FGA.
Description:
The U.S. EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is charged with protecting human health and the environment from accidental and intentional releases of toxic chemicals and other threat agents. Such chemical agents include Fourth Generation Agents (FGAs), which represent a significant homeland security threat. Sample collection procedures of samples from different environmental matrices (e.g., water, soil, and commonly used surface types) contaminated with FGAs require evaluation and development to ensure they can generate quality data for field and remediation operations. Three drinking waters, three soil types, two strippable coatings, and three wipe materials on various surface materials were evaluated with the FGA, A-234. Since low clean up levels might be desirable, samples were contaminated with nanogram (ng) to microgram (µg) levels of the FGA and quantitated with liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This work evaluated wipe, water, soil, and strippable coating sample collection methods, including steps for sample collection, sample preservation, and sample preparation prior to analysis to assess for impacts on the accurate quantitation of FGA contamination. Data, including recovery efficiencies, from the tested matrix types described above will be discussed to properly assess sampling efforts for the tested FGA.