Uptake of explosives from contaminated soil by existing vegetation at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10159743· OSTI ID:10159743

Schneider, J F; Tomczyk, N A; Zellmer, S D ^[1]; Banwart, W L ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)

This study examines the uptake of explosives by existing vegetation growing in TNT-contaminated soils on Group 61 at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (JAAP). The soils in this group were contaminated more than 40 years ago. In this study, existing plant materials and soil from the root zone were sampled from 15 locations and analyzed to determine TNT uptake by plants under natural field conditions. Plant materials were separated by species if more than one species was present at a sampling location. Standard methods were used to determine concentrations of explosives, their derivatives, and metabolites in the soil samples. Plant materials were also analyzed. No. explosives were detected in the aboveground portion of any plant sample. However, the results indicate that TNT, 2-amino DNT, and/or 4-amino DNT were found in some root samples of false boneset (Kuhnia eupatorioides), teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris), and bromegrass (Bromus inermis). It is possible that slight soil contamination remained on the roots, especially in the case of the very fine roots for species like bromegrass, where washing was difficult. The presence of 2-amino DNT and 4-amino DNT, which could be plant metabolites of TNT, increases the likelihood that explosives were taken up by plant roots, as opposed to their presence resulting from external soil contamination.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10159743
• Report Number(s): ANL/ESD/TM--65; ON: DE94013721
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROCEDURES
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS AND EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
MILITARY FACILITIES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
ROOTS
SOILS
TNT
UPTAKE