This article relates the historical origins of the EPA's Priority Pollutants list and the development of the Priority Pollutant Protocol. Then, it summarizes the status of the current analytical procedures in their present and still-developing forms. (BB)

Discusses the role of scientific information in four areas: research management, distinctions between science issues and policy issues, criteria development and standard setting, and risk analysis. Recommends ways to improve the process by which scientific data are evaluated and incorporated into standard-setting actions by EPA decision makers.…