You are here:
METHOD TO-15 SUPPLEMENT-ANALYSIS OF 1,1-DCE AT PPTV CONCENTRATIONS
Citation:
Oliver, K. D., H. H. Jacumin Jr., E. H. Daughtrey Jr., AND W A. McClenny. METHOD TO-15 SUPPLEMENT-ANALYSIS OF 1,1-DCE AT PPTV CONCENTRATIONS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-03/109 (NTIS PB2004-100892), 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
Develop innovative and customized new measurement approaches for air toxic VOCs as requested by methods development clients.
Description:
The Supplement to EPA Compendium Method TO-15 provides guidance for reducing the method detection limit (MDL) for the compound 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) and for other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 0.5 ppbv, as cited in Method TO-15, to much lower concentrations. Revisions to the original wording of Method TO-15 were made where the original language proved limiting to the goal of extending Method TO-15 to low pptv levels or where omissions or errors were observed. Also, recommendations in the form of additions were made on aspects of laboratory procedure deemed critical to low-pptv-level analysis. Specifically, the MDL for 1, l-DCE was determined to be 6 pptv. During this effort, a capability for preparing 1,1-DCE sample concentrations of 30 pptv and 60 ppbv in ambient air was developed. Using this capability and the capability to prepare samples of humidified zero air, samples were prepared in canisters and sent to three contract laboratories as unknowns. Subsequent comparison of results indicated close agreement among the laboratories while maintaining the performance standards for replicate precision (25%) and audit accuracy (30%) originally specified in Method TO-15. The following compounds were also detected at low pptv levels in canisters filled with spiked ambient air: chloroethene, dichloromethane, cis-l,2-dichloroetherie, trichloro-methane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, 1,1,1 -trichloroethane, trichloroethene, andtetrachloroethene. Since the different laboratories employed different analytical procedures, the use of a performance-based method appears justified. Specific guidance on analytical procedures from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is provided. These procedures have proven useful for CDPHE's contract laboratories in analyzing pptv-level samples of VOCs. The procedures followed by the EPA on-site contractor, ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., in preparing and analyzing low-level concentrations of 1,1-DCE as well as other aspects of their work on this project are provided as Appendix A.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), is providing the information in this report as a result of funding received from the Regional Monitoring Initiative Program for applied research in support of the regional offices, especially Region 8, and in support of state programs, especially the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment of the State of Colorado. A major portion of the report is the result of a work assignment under EPA Contract 68-D-00-206 to ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. This report has been subjected to the Agency's peer and administrative review and has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.