This project represents a major research effort combining GLEC and the EPA-Duluth/Region V/Headquarters expertise to refine EPA's procedures for screening persistent, bioaccumulative, toxics (PBTs) in effluents, aquatic organisms, and sediments. The first phase involved field validation of the methods. GLEC conducted field evaluations at two sites, to determine if the protocol could accurately predict tissue contaminant burdens of PBTs based on the protocol results obtained from industrial effluents. The studies evaluated effluents from a coking facility and a chemical plant, in a small stream and a brackish estuary, respectively. The results of the studies indicated that the protocol was a practical and effective method for identifying and predicting tissue concentrations of organic pollutants in effluents which are likely to bioconcentrate/bioaccumulate. The second phase consisted of developing and implementing a statistically valid round robin study to evaluate the intra- and interlaboratory variability and ease of performance of the methods. GLEC trained fifteen analytical laboratories throughout the U.S. to become proficient with the procedures. Following the training, GLEC coordinated and orchestrated the round-robin study. GLEC collected, pre-screened and shipped multiple samples of effluent, fish tissue and sediment to the laboratories. Scheduling guidelines, quality assurance/quality control criteria, and technical advice were provided to the laboratories by GLEC. The third phase involved the analysis of the round robin study data. Due to the complexity of the study results, sophisticated statistical techniques were used in the analysis. Two manuscripts have been published presenting the round robin study results, both with a GLEC scientist as the first author.
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