Are the EPA-approved methods highly specific methods?
Many of the EPA-approved methods are based on methods developed by pesticide active ingredient manufacturers. In general, these methods are expensive to run and not performed by many laboratories. However, there are several methods that will detect a series of different pesticide active ingredients. For example, Method 1656 is used to analyze organo-halide pesticides. For more information on pesticide active ingredient methods, please reference Methods for the Determination of Nonconventional Pesticides in Municipal and Industrial Wastewater (EPA 821-R-93-010). EPA has also produced other reference materials on water and wastewater methods, including the Environmental Monitoring Methods Index (a powerful PC database that electronically links over 4,000 substances with methods and regulations) and the Methods and Guidance for the Analysis of Water (EPA 821/C-97-001). These reference materials are available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), which can be reached b
