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J Environ Qual

Title:		Volatile organic compounds in the unsaturated zone from radioactive wastes
Author(s):		Baker RJ; Andraski BJ; Stonestrom DA; Luo W;
Address:		"U.S Geological Survey, W.Trenton, NJ, USA. rbaker@usgs.gov"
Journal Title:		J Environ Qual
Year:		2012
Volume:		41
Issue:		4
Page Number:		1324 - 1336
DOI:		10.2134/jeq2011.0480
ISSN/ISBN:		0047-2425 (Print) 0047-2425 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often comingled with low-level radioactive wastes (LLRW), but little is known about subsurface VOC emanations from LLRW landfills. The current study systematically quantified VOCs associated with LLRW over an 11-yr period at the USGS Amargosa Desert Research Site (ADRS) in southwestern Nevada. Unsaturated-zone gas samples of VOCs were collected by adsorption on resin cartridges and analyzed by thermal desorption and GC/MS. Sixty of 87 VOC method analytes were detected in the 110-m-thick unsaturated zone surrounding a LLRW disposal facility. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were detected in 100% of samples collected. Chlorofluorocarbons are powerful greenhouse gases, deplete stratospheric ozone, and are likely released from LLRW facilities worldwide. Soil-gas samples collected from a depth of 24 m and a horizontal distance 100 m south of the nearest waste-disposal trench contained >60,000 ppbv total VOCs, including >37,000 ppbv CFCs. Extensive sampling in the shallow unsaturated zone (0-2 m deep) identified areas where total VOC concentrations exceeded 5000 ppbv at the 1.5-m depth. Volatile organic compound concentrations exceeded background levels up to 300 m from the facility. Maximum vertical diffusive fluxes of total VOCs were estimated to be 1 g m yr. Volatile organic compound distributions were similar but not identical to those previously determined for tritium and elemental mercury. To our knowledge, this study is the first to characterize the unsaturated zone distribution of VOCs emanating from a LLRW landfill. Our results may help explain anomalous transport of radionuclides at the ADRS and elsewhere"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/*chemistry Environmental Monitoring Groundwater/chemistry *Radioactive Waste Refuse Disposal Time Factors Volatile Organic Compounds/*chemistry Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry;"
Notes:		"MedlineBaker, Ronald J Andraski, Brian J Stonestrom, David A Luo, Wentai eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/07/04 J Environ Qual. 2012 Jul-Aug; 41(4):1324-36. doi: 10.2134/jeq2011.0480"