Case studies in organic contaminant hydrogeology

Journal Article · · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01740582· OSTI ID:6810921

Baker, J A ^[1]

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1. Waste Management Inc., Oak Brook, IL (USA)

The effective management of domestic solid waste and hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste is a major problem in the area of environmental geology and water sciences throughout the world. A series of case studies is presented of organic contaminants from both solid and hazardous waste disposal facilities to provide examples of these problems. The facilities were investigated to determine risks and liabilities before acquisition, to determine the site hydrogeologic conditions for design of appropriate groundwater monitoring plans, and/or to determine the potential for groundwater contamination. The case studies are of disposal facilities located in glacial tills, carbonaceous weathered clay soils, weathered shale, limestone bedrock, dolomite bedrock, and alluvial and sedimentary deposits. The results of these studies and investigations show certain relationships in the distribution of organic pollutants to the different geologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of each facility. In each of the four case studies, all 129 priority pollutants were analyzed in private wells and/or monitoring wells. The 31 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the priority pollutant list were the majority of organic compounds detected. When VOCs are found in groundwater impacted by disposal facilities, they are present in groups and tend to be distributed in patterns based on their relative concentrations. It is rare to find only one or two VOCs from facilities where leakage has been detected. The ethylenes and ethanes appear to be more prevalent and mobile than aromatic VOCs. The aromatics are restricted primarily to leachates and wastes and in monitoring wells located adjacent to facilities. 2 refs., 15 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6810921
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA) Vol. 14:1; ISSN 0177-5146; ISSN EGWSE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540330 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKANES
ALKENES
AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
GROUND WATER
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATTER
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOLID WASTES
TOXIC MATERIALS
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER WELLS
WELLS