Sampling Guidance for Scrap Metal Shredders

Book excerpt: "The purpose of this document is to provide basic instructions for collecting and statistically analyzing samples of materials that are produced as a result of shredding automobiles and other metal objects, since the by-products of these recycling operations may contain concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs). Shredders are large machines that convert light metal objects into fist size or smaller pieces of scrap metal. PCBs enter the shredder output when materials containing PCB-bearing fluids are shredded. Large concentrations of PCBs have been identified in some samples that have been collected at some recycling sites. Thus agencies may wish to collect data at shredder sites in order to study the situation in their locality. The sampling procedures described in this document are intended to produce representative samples of fluff that will give reasonably accurate estimates of the overall concentration of PCBs in the material being sampled. The document discusses sample selection, laboratory testing, and statistical procedures for analyzing data. This volume provides additional detail on the assumptions, background data, and numerical calculations that support the Field Manual (EPA 747-93-009)."--Abstract.