Environmental Forensics

by Morrison; Robert D.

• ISBN13: 9780849320583
• ISBN10: 0849320585
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-09-29
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

Offering state-of-the-art techniques for both attorneys and environmental scientists, Environmental Forensics: Principles and Applications discusses non-chemical methods such as corrosion modeling, inventory reconciliation, and aerial photography interpretation. The book also covers chemical fingerprinting used to identify the origin and age of a contaminant release- relevant techniques include the use of radioactive isotope analysis, degradation modeling based on half-lives, and fuel additives such as MTBE.Environmental Forensics provides case study examples of environmental trial exhibits. It covers misused techniques that can bias the scientific validity of a trial exhibit, such as scale exaggeration, use of statistical manipulation, data contouring, and selective presentation.Detailed information is provided for identifying and interpreting those portions of environmental reports that are "target rich" sources of scientific biases. These include the identification of false positive, false negative and the intentional manipulation of environmental data that occurs primarily in the sample collection process.

Table of Contents

An Overview of the History, Chemistry, and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents	3	(48)
Introduction	3	(1)
Chronology and Use of Chlorinated Solvents	3	(10)
Trichloroethylene (TCE)	8	(2)
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE, or Perchloroethylene)	10	(2)
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA, or Methylchloroform)	12	(1)
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane)	13	(1)
Chemistry and Properties of Chlorinated Solvents	13	(12)
Terminology and Classification	13	(1)
Chemical Structure and Properties	14	(2)
Henry's Law Constant (KH)	16	(1)
Liquid Density	17	(1)
Solubility	18	(1)
Viscosity	19	(1)
Vapor Pressure and Density	20	(1)
Boiling Point and Latent Heat of Vaporization	20	(1)
Octanol/Water Partition Coefficient (Kow)	21	(1)
Hydrolysis	22	(1)
Sorption	22	(1)
Biodegradation	22	(2)
Anaerobic Degradation	24	(1)
Aerobic Degradation	24	(1)
Transport of Chlorinated Solvents through Soil	25	(2)
Impact of Cosolvency on Transport through Soil	27	(1)
Transport of Vapors in Soil	28	(2)
Transport through the Capillary Fringe	30	(2)
Transport in Groundwater	32	(19)
Darcy's Law	33	(1)
Porosity (ne)	33	(1)
Permeability (k) and Hydraulic Conductivity (K)	34	(2)
Retardation	36	(3)
Dispersivity	39	(1)
Free Phase Solvent Transport in Groundwater	40	(1)
Transport in Fractures	41	(2)
Transport in Fractured Porous Media	43	(1)
References	44	(7)
Chemistry and Transport of Petroleum Hydrocarbons	51	(40)
Introduction	51	(1)
Chemistry of Crude Oil	51	(2)
Chemistry of Refined Products	53	(8)
Gasoline	55	(4)
Diesel	59	(2)
Chemical Reactions in the Vadose Zone	61	(10)
Henry's Law Constant (KH)	63	(1)
Liquid Density	63	(1)
Solubility	64	(1)
Viscosity	65	(3)
Vapor Pressure and Vapor Density	68	(1)
Sorption	68	(1)
Retardation	68	(1)
Biodegradation	69	(2)
Overview of Transport through the Unsaturated (Vadose) Zone	71	(5)
Transport through Soil	72	(1)
Cosolvation and Colloidal Transport	72	(1)
Residual Saturation	73	(1)
Vapor Phase Transport	74	(2)
Hydrocarbon Interactions at the Capillary Fringe	76	(3)
Hydrocarbon Solubilization from the Capillary Fringe into Groundwater	78	(1)
Transport in Groundwater	79	(12)
Rate of Transport	79	(1)
MTBE Transport in Groundwater	80	(2)
Length of a Petroleum Hydrocarbon Plume	82	(1)
Transport in Fractures	83	(1)
References	84	(7)
Identification of Biased Environmental Data	91	(66)
Introduction	91	(1)
Geologic Characterization	92	(6)
Boring Log Terminology	93	(5)
Interpretation of Geologic Information	98	(3)
Soil Collection for Chemical Analyses	101	(5)
Soil Sampling Equipment	101	(2)
Subsampling and Sample Transfer	103	(2)
Soil Compositing	105	(1)
Groundwater Characterization	106	(25)
Monitoring Well Location	108	(2)
Installation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells	110	(2)
Sampling Plan	112	(2)
Groundwater Purging	114	(1)
Groundwater Sampling	115	(1)
Sampling Equipment and Sequence	116	(3)
Equipment Decontamination	119	(3)
Sample Containers	122	(1)
Sample Filtration, Preservation, and Holding Times	123	(5)
Field Measurements	128	(3)
Field Quality Control Samples	131	(1)
Soil Vapor Surveys	131	(8)
Interpretation of Soil Vapor Data	136	(3)
Analytical Methods	139	(18)
Misidentification of Analytes	142	(1)
Laboratory Documentation	143	(1)
Chain of Custody	143	(3)
Document Control/Control Log	146	(1)
Signature List	146	(1)
Logbook Cover Sheet	146	(1)
Sample Kit Preparation Log	146	(1)
Field Logs	146	(1)
Sample Receipt Checklist and/or Log	147	(1)
Sample Preparation Logbook	148	(1)
Sample Analysis Log	148	(1)
Instrument Run Log	148	(1)
Instrument Maintenance Log	149	(1)
Certificates of Analysis	149	(1)
Laboratory Certification	149	(1)
Laboratory Quality Control Samples	149	(2)
References	151	(6)
Forensic Techniques Used in Environmental Litigation	157	(86)
Introduction	157	(1)
Aerial Photography	158	(3)
Underground Storage Tank Corrosion Models	161	(4)
Inventory Reconciliation	165	(1)
Commercial Availability of a Chemical	166	(2)
Chemicals and Formulations Unique to a Manufacturing Process or Activity	168	(7)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls	172	(3)
Petroleum Refinery Throughput Analysis	175	(1)
Chemical Identification of Petroleum Hydrocarbons	176	(21)
Analytical Strategy	179	(2)
Proprietary Additives: Petroleum Hydrocarbons	181	(5)
Anti-Knock Additives (Alkyl Leads)	186	(3)
Lead Scavengers	189	(1)
Oxygenates	190	(5)
Trace Inorganics	195	(1)
Petroleum Dyes	195	(2)
Octane Rating	197	(1)
Radioactive Isotope Dating	197	(12)
Dating Groundwater with Isotopes	198	(2)
Isotopic Analysis for Petroleum Hydrocarbons	200	(1)
Lead Isotope Analysis	200	(1)
Lead Isotope Analysis for Gasoline Fingerprinting	201	(2)
Isotope Analysis of Crude Oil and BTEX	203	(2)
Isotope Analysis of Gas Samples	205	(2)
Isotopic Analysis of Chlorinated Solvents	207	(2)
Chemical and Biological Degradation Models: Petroleum Hydrocarbons	209	(15)
Weathering and Biomarkers	209	(4)
Biodegradation Models	213	(2)
Pristane/Phytane Ratios	215	(1)
BTEX Ratios	216	(3)
Challenges to BTEX Ratio Methods	219	(5)
Chemical Degradation Models: Chlorinated Solvents	224	(4)
Rapid Optical Screening ToolTM Testing	228	(15)
References	230	(13)
Contaminant Transport Modeling	243	(36)
Introduction	243	(1)
Liquid Transport through Pavement	243	(5)
Vapor Transport through Pavement	248	(2)
Contaminant Transport in Soil	250	(6)
Challenges to Contaminant Transport Models for Soil	252	(1)
Colloidal Transport	252	(1)
Preferential Pathways	253	(3)
Cosolvent Transport	256	(1)
Contaminant Transport in Groundwater	256	(7)
Types of Groundwater Models	258	(3)
Selection of Boundary Conditions, Grids, and Mass Loading Rates	261	(1)
Software Applicability	262	(1)
Application of Groundwater Modeling in Environmental Litigation	263	(16)
Confirmation Models	263	(1)
Reverse Models	264	(1)
Hydrogeologic Variables	264	(2)
Contaminant Properties	266	(1)
Challenges to Reverse Models	267	(5)
Challenges to Phase-Separate Reverse Models	272	(1)
References	273	(6)
Forensic Review of Environmental Trial Exhibits	279	(48)
Introduction	279	(1)
Exaggerated Vertical and Horizontal Scales	279	(1)
Selective Data Presentation	280	(8)
Data Contouring	288	(11)
Manual Contouring	290	(1)
Computer Contouring	290	(2)
Inverse Distance Method	292	(1)
Kriging	292	(1)
Minimum Curvature Method	293	(1)
Sheppard's Method	293	(1)
Polynomial Regression	293	(1)
Color-Coded Data	294	(2)
References	296	(3)
Appendices
A Sample Calculation for the Transport of PCE Vapor through Concrete Pavement	299	(6)
A.1 Introduction	299	(1)
A.2 Sample Calculation	300	(3)
References	303	(2)
B Sample Calculation for the Transport of PCE Liquid through Concrete via Diffusion	305	(2)
B.2 Introduction	305	(1)
B.2 Sample Calculation	305	(1)
References	306	(1)
C Properties of Alcohol Oxygenates and Ether Oxygenates	307	(4)
D Advective and Partitioning Transport Equations of Radon for Detecting Diesel in Groundwater	311	(4)
D.1 Introduction	311	(1)
D.2 Derivation	311	(2)
D.3 Conclusions	313	(1)
References	314	(1)
E Chemical and Commercial Synonyms for Selected Chlorinate Solvents and Aromatic Hydrocarbons	315	(4)
References	318	(1)
F Laboratory Terms and Definitions	319	(8)
Index	327