Document 2qbdVq2beMgZ80b6dojyMZJ56

i l /* Environmental Events Drinking Water Comes Clean in Tests; OSHA Noise Control Management Course. Dec 7 Camofifloe Mass Contaci Giona A Cianci Bolt. Bef ane* & Newman ine 50 Moulton S t . Camonage Mass 02138 The A pproaching Toxics Era. Dec 7. Washington D C Jan t3 Los Angeies. CaM Contact Can Gosime MCA 1025 Conn Ave N W Washington. D C 20009 The American Chemical Society s Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting cal'lor pape's by January 15 Con tact Dr Wm A Sheppard Experimental Station. Du c n t Company. Wilmington Del 19898 E nvironm ental Regulation of Industry. Decemoer 1 3 - u New York C.tv January 13-'A Los Angeies Contact Nancy Hinmar Practising Law Institute 0 10 7tn Ave New v 0rk N V 10019 Toxic Substances C ontrol Act Conference Dec 3 Arlington Va Contact Executive Enterprises !'(. 10 ColumDuS Circle New York N Y 10019 Preparation o< E nvironm ental Impact Statements Dec t'5-' 5 Wasnmc'o" DC Contact Director Conii-ijmQ tn c in e e ''n c Ecucaiion George Washington U nive'siV Washington. D C 20052 New Concepts ot O ccupational Medicine Under OSHA. Dec i3 - 1? O'iando F.a Contact the mcusina neaitn rouncai on. 5231 Centre Ave Pmscurgn Pa 15232 Seminars on Transportation o1 Hazardous Mate rials. Dec J -'S Mempms " e<-n C e n a r Sano'a D C ureT' M~h 3C 0**ce o' ^aza'ccus Mater a-s Op erators j S D ece-m e"'ct Transportation Wasr.ng ter. DC 2C590 S ym posium on Chem ical D ispersants tor the Control of Oil Spills. Ja" n - ' 2 Danas ' f * Comae* 2 vV~ E Mor. Ma 5 ` at'C" D 22" ERD- .Vashing ton DC 205-5 Cou'se on Laboratory Safety jan ' f.* AuV r Tex Contact marry M ane u r 've-sirv c Texas Svste^ 201 W 7th St Austin. Te 7S7C1 Energy Law & Regulations Seminar, ja *i 2" 26 w asringion D C Contact Na" cv McNe'ne. G o . f men; msi tutes me -~33 Bernesca A.fc Was- -Z rtfjv j " --------- Pesticide Level Is Only Parts Per Trillion The level of pesticides in the nation s with other sources of human exposure, drinking water is extremely low and is ex such as residues on food pected to decline further, a study by the Environmental Protection Agency reveals. In a recently completed national survey. 350 water supplies were analyzed for the presence of aldrm, dieldrin and DDT. Where detected at all, the substances were found in concentrations at the parts per tril lion level (see measurements story on this page). EPA says that pesticide traces found in drinking water are very small compared Pesticide levels in the general environ ment and drinking water are expected to decline naturally because of EPA bans, the agency says. EPA conducted the survey to obtain data on which to base possible regulations that would set maximum permissible levels of the pesticides in drinking water. The agency says it has little data on technology to treat or remove the chemicals at the low concentrations present. Revision Expected In Air Regulations Of some 689 water samples analyzed, dieldrin was found in 115 at levels ranging from four to 80 ppt. Only six of the samples exceeded 20 ppt and only two exceeded 30 ppt. National air quality critena will be revised during the next three years to agree with recommendations by the former National Air Quality Advisory Committee of the En vironmental Protection Agency. William K. Talley. EPA s assistant admin istrator for research and development, says the timetable calls for revised drafts on photochemical oxidants (and related hyd rocarbons) by August 1977; nitrogen oxides by February 1978: carbon monoxide One of the latter samples also contained aldrin at a concentration of 14 ppt. Only two samples had DDT in measurable quanti ties-- at 20 and 32 ppt. EPA is now collecting data to assess the feasibility of setting limits on organic chemi cals in drinking water Research is under way on health effects, contamination sources, treatment and removal technology and analytical techniques. Another study of the seasonal distribu by August 1978; sulfur oxides (and as tion of haloforms (such as chloroform) and sociated particulates) by August 1979; and other synthetic chemicals also is progress "particulate matter by August 1979. ing. It should be completed early in 1977. / One Part Per Trillion Is a Very Finely-Split Hair Worker exposure to certain chemicals is limited to a few parts per million. Regula tions reduce an industrial waste discharge to one pan per billion. Pesticide residues are found in drinking water in the low parts per trillion. Extremely low measurements, and laws and regulations based on them, are grow ing more commonplace as science perfects increasingly sophisticated sensors. Such infinitesimal figures probably don't register with most people. Only scientists and plant managers trying to get exposures and effluents down to levels as fine as frog hair comprehend and appreciate their meaning. Shedding light on the subject, Dr. Warren B. Crumett of The Dow Chemical Company has made some comparisons that put the figures in perspective (see table). They are being used by Dow's Ronald O. Kagel during his presentation on "Analyti cal Problems with Plant Effluents" at MCA's symposiums on The Approaching Toxics Era. The final two are scheduled for De cember 7 in Washington and January 13 in \ Los Angeles. Tv 7 U N IT Length Time Money Weight Volume Area Action Quality Rate T *" TRACE CONCENTRATION UNITS 7 p a rt p e r million 1 inch/16 miles 1 minute/2 years 1C/S10.000 1 ounce/31 tons potato chips 1 p a rt p er billion 1 inch/16.000 miles 1 second/32 years 1C/S10.000.000 1 pinch salt/10 tons potato chips 7 part p e r trillion 1 inch/16.000,000 mileN* - y j (A six-inch leap on aS'? I Q lOurney to the sun.) TM CP 1 second/320 centuries ~ 1C/$10.000.000.000 T DcJ 1 pinch salt/10.000 tons potato chips 1 drop vermouth/ 80 "fifths" gin 1 drop vermouth/ 500 barrels gin 1 drop vermouth/250.000 hogsheads of gin 1 sq. ft./23 acres 1 sq. ft./36 sq. mi. 1 sq. in./250 sq. mi. 1 bogey/3.500 golf tournaments 1 bogey/3,500,000 golf tournaments 1 bogey/3.500.000.000 golf tournaments 1 k>b/1,200 tennis matches 1 lob/1.200,000 tennis matches 1 k>b/1.200.000,000 tennis matches 1 bad apple/2.000 barrels 1 bad apple/2.000,000 barrels 1 bad apple/2.000,000.000 barrels 1 dented fender/10 car lifetimes 1 dented fender/10.000 1 dented fender/10,000.000 car lifetimes car lifetimes \ r 7T*77 A \ ?,T^ --------------------- - U J H I D --------------------- / --w IV E ORDER.