Hazardous Site Cleanup Division

This Fact Sheet is presented by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (EPA) to assist in the selection of analytical parameters and the associated Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures to be utilized in Phase II Environmental Assessments under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields initiative. This fact sheet is presented for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a federal policy or directive. The Brownfields Coordinator for this region may be reached at 215-814-5000.

LIST OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCB) COMPOUNDS *

Alpha-BHC
Beta-BHC
Delta-BHC
Gamma-BHC (Lindane)
Heptachlor
Aldrin
Heptachlor Epoxide
Endosulfan I
Dieldrin
4,4'-DDE
Endrin
Endosulfan II
4,4'-DDD
Endosulfan Sulfate
4,4'-DDT
Methoxychlor
Endrin Ketone
Endrin Aldehyde
Alpha-chlordane
Gamma-chlordane
Toxaphene
Aroclor 1016
Aroclor 1221
Aroclor 1232
Aroclor 1242
Aroclor 1248
Aroclor 1254
Aroclor 1260

* Please note: The list above corresponds to the EPA Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) pesticide/PCB list, and is not a complete list of all toxic pesticide/PCB compounds. If the site history suggests a pesticide/PCB compound may be present which is not on this list, the compound should be included in the requested analysis.

ANALYSIS METHODS

Please note that the methods listed below are EPA approved and the most commonly used by EPA and their contractors. However, they are not the only methods for the analysis of pesticide/PCB compounds. In addition, these are not drinking water test methods.

METHOD	APPLICABLE MATRICES
EPA 608 (1)	Aqueous
EPA SW-846 3010 or 3020/8080 (2)	Aqueous
EPA SW-846 3500 or 3550/8080 (2)	Soil/Sediment, & Waste
EPA CLP Statement of Work 3/90	Aqueous & Soil/Sediment

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1992. Test Methods for Organic Chemical Analysis of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater. Washington, D.C. July.
EPA. 1986. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste. SW-846. Washington, D.C. September.

COLLECTION MEDIA/VOLUME

Listed below are the EPA-recommended preservation and holding times as well as suggested glassware.

MATRIX	GLASSWARE	VOLUME	PRESERVATIVE	HOLDING TIME
Soil/Sediment	8-oz wide mouth jar	1 8-oz jar	ice to 4º C	14 days
Aqueous	32-oz amber bottle	2 amber bottles	ice to 4º C	7 days
Waste	8-oz wide mouth jar	1 8-oz jar	none required (ice preferred)	none (try not to exceed 14 days)

MINIMUM LABORATORY QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES

The laboratory should have Standard Operating Procedures available for review for the organochlorine pesticide/PCB analyses and for all associated methods needed to complete the pesticide/PCB analysis, such as total solids, instrument maintenance, sample handling, and sample documentation procedures. In addition, the laboratory should have a Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control Statement available for review which includes all key personnel qualifications.

QC TYPE	FREQUENCY OF ANALYSIS	ACCEPTABLE LIMITS
Initial Calibration Organochlorine Pesticides	Prior to analysis of samples (minimum three concentration levels for every compound and an instrument blank) and every 72 hours thereafter	% Relative Standard Deviation of Response Factors of < 25 (see method for any allowable variations), and a minimum Response Factor of > 0.05 (See method for calculation), also breakdown criteria must be met, resolution check criteria must be met, and retention time windows established
Initial Calibration PCBs	Minimum 1 fingerprint per Aroclor be analyzed prior to sample analysis and three concentration levels of any Aroclor detected in the samples be analyzed during or directly after sample analysis	% Relative Standard Deviation of Response Factors of < 25 (see method for any allowable variations, at least three peaks per Aroclor should be used to calculate response factors and identify Aroclors
Continuing Calibration	Once every 10 sample runs (mid-level standard containing pesticide compounds) or an Aroclor fingerprint	% Difference for Response Factor of < 25 (see method for any allowable variations), a minimum Response Factor of > 0.05 (see method for calculation), and retention times must be within windows
Second Column Confirmation	All pesticide hits Optional PCB hits	All pesticide hits must be confirmed on a dissimilar column from original analysis
Method Blank	Once per extraction batch	See method for allowable limits
Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate	One MS/MSD per 20 samples or per extraction set	See method for limits
Surrogate Spikes	Added to each sample (see method for suggested surrogate compounds)	Report recovery

MINIMUM DATA PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS

Sample results in a tabular form (if soil or sediment) reported on a dry weight basis.
Report % moisture or % solids for all soil and sediment samples.
Report sample volumes or weights, as well as any dilution factors, for each sample analysis.
Returned signed copy of the chain of custody form sent with the samples, and the internal or laboratory chain of custody forms.
Method blank results.
GC initial and continuing calibration data summary forms.
GC pesticide breakdown and resolution forms, and analytical sequence forms.
Surrogate spike recoveries, either on a separate table or with the results, including laboratory QC limits.
Matrix spike recovery tables, including laboratory recovery and relative percent difference QC limits.
Date samples were analyzed, on a separate sheet, or results page.
Optional: sample, standard and blank chromatograms, instrument run logs, and total solids logs.

Note: The optional QC must be maintained by laboratory for at least one year for possible future QC audits.