EPA Methods
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{{Update|date=August 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2017}}}}The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains and approves test methods, which are approved procedures for measuring the presence and concentration of physical, chemical and biological contaminants; evaluating properties, such as toxic properties, of chemical substances; or measuring the effects of substances under various conditions. The methods in the Agency index are known as EPA Methods.{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/region01/info/testmethods/pdfs/testmeth.pdf |format=PDF |title=Index to EPA Test Methods |author=Peg Nelson |website= |access-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013123427/http://www.epa.gov/region01/info/testmethods/pdfs/testmeth.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=ORD |date=2014-04-08 |title=Collection of Methods |url=https://www.epa.gov/measurements-modeling/collection-methods |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}} There are other types of methods such as the ASTM and United States Pharmacopeia, but the EPA Methods are developed through a regulatory process involving public notice, comment and revision and are legally binding whereas ASTM methods are developed through a consensus process and compliance is voluntary.{{Cite web |title=Detailed overview - Overview - About Us |url=https://www.astm.org/about/overview/detailed-overview.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.astm.org}}{{Cite web |title=ASTM Fact Sheet - Overview - About Us |url=https://www.astm.org/about/overview/fact-sheet.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.astm.org}}{{Cite web |title=About U.S. Pharmacopeia |url=https://www.usp.org/about |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.usp.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=What is a Pharmacopeia? {{!}} Quality Matters {{!}} U.S. Pharmacopeia Blog |url=https://qualitymatters.usp.org/what-pharmacopeia |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=qualitymatters.usp.org}} These methods are developed to help standardize and achieve the EPA mission to protect the environment and human health.{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OA |date=2013-01-29 |title=Our Mission and What We Do |url=https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}
Nomenclature
The method numbers generally range from 1 to 9000 and may have modification letters appended to the end, signifying a newer version of the method has been released. Some ranges of numbers appear to be organized with intention, for example methods 1-99 being air methods or the 7000s being for hazardous waste.{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/sw846/online/7_series.htm |title=Hazardous Waste | US EPA |website=Epa.gov |date=2016-11-28 |access-date=2017-03-17}} Others number ranges, however, seem to only contain random methods, like the 300 and 400 series both being for wet chemistry methods.{{cite web|url=http://www.caslab.com/EPA-Methods-300-Series/ |title=EPA METHODS 300 SERIES |website=Caslab.com |date= |access-date=2017-03-17}}
Searchable databases
Since the EPA methods are created by different regulatory departments within the EPA, finding methods on the EPA website itself can be challenging. To make finding methods easier, some organizations have created method search databases that organize all the methods into one place and link to actual test methods. Some allow searching by method number, analyte, or other keywords in the method.{{cite web|url=http://www.caslab.com/EPA-Methods/ |title=Epa Methods |website=Caslab.com |date= |access-date=2017-03-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nemi.gov/apex/f|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805223920/https://www.nemi.gov/apex/f?p=237%3A12%3A2688203394174892|url-status=dead|title=Browse Methods in NEMI|archive-date=5 August 2012|access-date=16 January 2022}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846 EPA Hazardous Waste Test Methods]
- [https://www.epa.gov/emc/emc-promulgated-test-methods EPA Air Emission Methods with Links]
- [https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods Clean Water Act Analytical Methods]
- [https://www.epa.gov/dwanalyticalmethods Drinking Water Analytical Methods]