Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) is a technique designed to statistically reduce or limit variability associated with discrete sampling. It provides unbiased, representative and reproducible estimates of the mean concentration of analytes in a specific area of interest, called a “decision unit.”

Interest in (ISM) has grown in recent years largely because the approach, when applied correctly, can significantly reduce sampling uncertainty. This in turn can increase the probability that sample data is more representative of average site conditions at hazardous waste sites, thereby strengthening decision making at the site.

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In response to a draft scientific review released in September 2010, the EPA has issued guidance to all public water systems (PWS) recommending enhanced monitoring and sampling programs specifically for hexavalent chromium [also known as chromium-6 or Cr(VI)] in drinking water.

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The EPA has officially removed saccharin and its salts from their list of hazardous constituents and commercial chemical products. In a December 14, 2010 release, the EPA stated that saccharin is no longer considered a potential hazard to human health. Other substances on this list are still considered hazardous.

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In November 2010, the EPA published a second list of chemicals for the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). New to this list were those pesticides identified by the FDA and priority pollutants under the Safe Drinking Water Act that did not appear on the first list.

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The EPA has recently published several document summaries about method detection limits, quantitation limits and calibration curves. To create the summaries, EPA evaluated the current use of these concepts and future needs across EPA program lines. The resulting compilations will help practitioners better understand the existing terminology and how each EPA program handles data.

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Recently, the EPA announced it intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. Mercury is a concern to human health because it is considered a persistent bioaccumulative toxic element.

According to the EPA, dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged into US waterways each year.

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The EPA is considering hexabromocyclododecane, a brominated flame retardant made up of various mixtures of its 16 isomers (herein: HBCD), for action under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). This is in addition to two other groups of compounds already discussed in previous Lab Science News articles.

HBCD is ubiquitous in the environment throughout the world and is also found in human tissues, including blood, adipose, and breast milk. When released into the environment, it can travel great distances, bioaccumulating and biomagnifing in the food chain. In addition to its high toxicity to aquatic organisms, studies have also linked HBCD to reproductive, developmental, and neurological effects in humans, with a potentially higher impact on children because of their smaller size.

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