Sampling and analysis of wastes generated by gray iron foundries. Final report

Thirty (30) wastes generated by 21 gray iron foundries in Pennsylvania and Michigan were sampled and analyzed. The samples were collected by Northrop Services, Inc., in accordance with strict chain-of-custody procedures, and sent to the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas (EMSL-LV). Three aliquots of each sample were extracted in accordance with the EPA Extraction Procedure (EP) (45CFR261.24). A second set of three aliquots of each sample was digested with nitric acid/hydrogen peroxide. Both the extracts and digests were analyzed for 16 elements by ICP and for cadmium, chromium and lead by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. At the request of the American Foundrymen Society, aliquots of all raw samples, as well as nine extracts and nine digests, were sent to Dr. W. Boyle, University of Wisconsin, for independent analysis. Twelve aliquots of raw samples, nine extracts and nine digests were analyzed by an analytical laboratory under contract to EMSL-LV. Excellent agreement was obtained between the three laboratories. Of the 30 samples evaluated for EP toxicity, a total of 9 (30%) exceeded the criteria levels for cadmium and/or lead. None of the extracts exceeded the hazardous waste criterion level for chromium.