What is Contamination of soil & underground
water ?
People may not know what is contamination of soil and ground water,
hereby there is some lists and introduction:
BTEX:
BTEX is an acronym that stands for Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene,
and Xylenes. These compounds are some of the volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) found in petroleum derivatives such as petrol
(gasoline). Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes have harmful effects
on the central nervous system. BTEX compounds are notorious due
to the contamination of soil and groundwater with these compounds.
This typically occurs near petroleum and natural gas production
sites, and petrol stations and other areas with Underground Storage
Tanks (USTs) or Above-ground Storage Tanks (ASTs) containing gasoline
or other petroleum-related products. The amount of 'Total BTEX',
the sum of the concentrations of each of the constituents of BTEX,
is sometimes used to aid in assessing the relative risk or seriousness
at contaminated locations and the need of remediation of such
sites. Naphthalene may also be included in Total BTEX analysis
yielding results referred to as BTEXN. In the same way, styrene
is sometimes added, making it BTEXS.
MTBE:
The main environmental risk of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether is that
it gives water an unpleasant taste at very low concentrations,
and thus can easily render large quantities of groundwater non-potable.
MTBE is often introduced into water-supply aquifers by leaking
underground storage tanks (USTs) at gasoline stations. Although
USTs are much better constructed now, accidental releases still
take place because of the very large number of USTs. The high
solubility and persistence of MTBE cause it to travel faster and
farther than many other components of gasoline when released into
an aquifer. It is also released when gasoline containing MTBE
is spilled onto the ground. Because it is water soluble, it easily
moves through soil, polluting both surface and groundwater. its
persistence and pervasiveness in the environment is a big probelm
also.
PAH:
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are lipophilic, meaning they
mix more easily with oil than water. The larger compounds are
less water-soluble and less volatile (i.e., less prone to evaporate).
Because of these properties, PAHs in the environment are found
primarily in soil, sediment and oily substances, as opposed to
in water or air. However, they are also a component of concern
in particulate matter suspended in air. Natural crude oil and
coal deposits contain significant amounts of PAHs, arising from
chemical conversion of natural product molecules, such as steroids,
to aromatic hydrocarbons. They are also found in processed fossil
fuels, tar and various edible oils. PAHs are one of the most widespread
organic pollutants. In addition to their presence in fossil fuels
they are also formed by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing
fuels such as wood, coal, diesel, fat, tobacco, or incense. Different
types of combustion yield different distributions of PAHs in both
relative amounts of individual PAHs and in which isomers are produced.
Thus coal burning produces a different mixture than motor-fuel
combustion or a forest fire, making the compounds potentially
useful as markers. Hydrocarbon emissions from fossil fuel-burning
engines are regulated in developed countries.
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