CLU-IN.ORG | Contaminant Focus: ARSENIC, Detection and Site Characterization

Arsenic

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Arsenic
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TCE

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For more information on Arsenic Treatment, please contact:

Linda Fiedler
Technology Assessment Branch
(703) 603-7194
fiedler.linda@epa.gov

Detection and Site Characterization

This section is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather provides links for characterization approaches, field analytical equipment evaluations, and analytical methods that are, for the most part, readily available on the Internet. When choosing analytical techniques for water samples, it should be remembered that the new MCL for arsenic has dropped the required quantification limit to 10 µg/L.

Check the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) to identify methods for arsenic not cited on this page. NEMI is a free, searchable clearinghouse of methods and procedures for regulatory and non-regulatory analyses.

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Field Analysis | Laboratory Analysis | U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program Verifications | Other Reports | Literature References

Field Analysis

Field Demonstration and Validation of a New Device for Measuring Water and Solute Fluxes, NASA LC-34 Site
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), 172 pp, 2006

ESTCP passive flux meter (PFM) demonstration and validation projects include MTBE flux measurement at Port Hueneme, perchlorate flux at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indianhead, and TCE flux at NASA Launch Complex 34 at Cape Canaveral.

Field Measurement Methods for Arsenic in Drinking Water
Laurie S. McNeill, et al.
American Water Works Association. ISBN: 1583213201, 75 pp., 2004.

Field Speciation Method for Arsenic Inorganic Species
D.A. Clifford, S. Karori, G. Ghurye, and G. Samanta.
IWA Pub., London. AwwaRF Report 91014F, ISBN:1843399075, 112 pp, Apr 2005.

This report presents a new and reliable field-speciation method for the inorganic arsenic species As(III) and As(V) and compares the new method with a recently developed U.S. EPA preservation method. The EDTA-HAc method will be submitted to the Standard Methods Committee for adoption as a Standard Method for Water Analysis. The method is universal in that it allows immediate field speciation and 30-day preservation of arsenic species by the addition of appropriate amounts of EDTA and acetic acid.

Mass Flux Toolkit to Evaluate Groundwater Impacts, Attenuation, and Remediation Alternatives
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), 2006

To help site managers and site consultants estimate mass flux and understand the uncertainty in those estimates, ESTCP has funded the development of a computerized Mass Flux Toolkit, free software that gives site personnel the capability to compare different mass flux approaches, calculate mass flux from transect data, and apply mass flux to manage ground-water plumes. The toolkit spreadsheet and associated documentation are available on the ESTCP contractor's website in a zipped file.

Monitoring Arsenic in Water, Technical Bulletin No. 8
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Supply Division, 2004.

Monitoring Arsenic in the Environment: A Review of Science and Technologies for Field Measurements and Sensors
U.S. EPA, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Technology Innovation Program
EPA 542-R-04-002, 29 pp, 2004
Contact: Dan Melamed, dan.melamed@em.doe.gov

Tech Data Sheet: Rapid Characterization of Metals in Sediments Using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Technology, Field-Portable XRF: A Rapid Sediment Characterization (RSC) Tool
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 2 pp, 2000
Contact: Victoria Kirtay, kirtay@spawar.navy.mil

Whole-Cell Bacterial Biosensors and the Detection of Bioavailable Arsenic
H. Strosnider
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, 23 pp, 2003

Laboratory Analysis

Analytical Methods Support Document for Arsenic in Drinking Water
U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Targeting and Analysis Branch
EPA-815-R-00-010, 52 pp, 1999
Contact: Safe Drinking Water Hotline, hotline-sdwa@epa.gov

Method 1632A: Chemical Speciation of Arsenic in Water and Tissue by Hydride Generation Quartz Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
EPA-821-R-01-006, 35 pp, 2001
Contact: William A. Telliard, telliard.william@epa.gov

Method 1632: Inorganic Arsenic in Water by Hydride Generation Quartz Furnace Atomic Absorption
EPA-821-R-96-013, 34 pp, 1996
Contact: William A. Telliard, telliard.william@epa.gov

Methods of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: Arsenic Speciation in Natural-Water Samples Using Laboratory and Field Methods
Garbarino, John R., Anthony J. Bednar, M.R Burkhardt
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4144, 41 pp, 2002
Contact: John Garbarino, jrgarb@usgs.gov

Methods of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: Determination of Dissolved Arsenic, Boron, Lithium, Selenium, Strontium, Thallium, and Vanadium Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
J.R. Garbarino
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-093, 31 pp, 1999
Contact: John Garbarino, jrgarb@usgs.gov

Methods of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: Determination of Whole-Water Recoverable Arsenic, Boron, and Vanadium Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-mass Spectrometry
J.R. Garbarino
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-464, 22 pp, 2000
Contact: John Garbarino, jrgarb@usgs.gov

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), 4th Edition
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 94-113, 1994

Method 5022 Arsenic, organo
Method 7900 Arsenic and compounds, as As (except AsH₃ and As₂O₃)
Method 7300 Elements by ICP (Nitric/Perchloric Acid Ashing)
Method 7901 Arsenic trioxide, as As
Method 6001 Arsine

Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Wastes: Physical/Chemical Methods, 3rd Edition
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SW-846.

Method 6010B: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (estimated instrument detection limits 35 µg/l)
Method 6020: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (estimated detection limits 0.02 µg/l)
Method 7061A: Arsenic—Atomic Absorption, Gaseous Hydride (estimated detection limits 0.002 mg/l)
Method 7063: Arsenic in Aqueous Samples and Extracts by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (estimated detection limits 0.1 µg/l)

U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program Verifications

Contact: Teresa Harten, harten.teresa@epa.gov

Other Reports

Abandoned Mine Site Characterization and Cleanup Handbook
U.S. EPA Headquarters and Regions 8, 9, and 10. EPA 910-B-00-001, 409 pp, 2000.

This general overview of mine sites characterization and cleanup also contains information on the potential for encountering arsenic problems and how to deal with them.

Environmental Forensics: Contaminant-Specific Guide
Robert D. Morrison and Brian Murphy.
Elsevier Academic Press, Boston. ISBN: 0125077513, 576 pp, 2006

Environmental forensics is the application of scientific techniques for the purpose of identifying the source and age of a contaminant. This book discusses the following contaminants and contaminant groups: mercury, asbestos, lead, chromium, methane, radioactive compounds, pesticides, perchlorate, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, chlorinated solvents, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, crude oil, gasoline, microbes, and compounds found in sewage.

Locating and Estimating Air Emissions from Sources of Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds
U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
EPA-454-R-98-013, 132 pp, Jun 1998
Contact: Info CHIEF, info.chief@epa.gov

This document describes the properties of arsenic and arsenic compounds as air pollutants, defines production and use patterns, identifies source categories of air emissions, and provides emission factors. Arsenic is emitted as an air pollutant from external combustion boilers, municipal and hazardous waste incineration, primary copper and zinc smelting, glass manufacturing, copper ore mining, primary and secondary lead smelting, and agricultural chemical production and application.

Literature References

Measurement and Monitoring Technologies for the 21st Century Initiative (21M²) Literature Search
Literature search conducted under EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Measurement and Monitoring Technologies for the 21st Century Initiative (21M²) for arsenic detection and analysis in soil, groundwater, and drinking water.