| Title: |
Innovations in Site Characterization Case Study: Hanscom Air Force Base, Operable Unit 1 (Sites 1, 2, and 3)
|
| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
|
| Country: |
USA
|
| Year: |
1998 |
| Availability: |
EPA-542-R-98-006
|
| Author 1/Producer: |
US EPA
|
| Author / Producer Type: |
Agency, regulator or other governmental or inter-governmental body
|
| Publisher: |
EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
|
| Publisher City: |
Washington D.C.
|
| Format (e.g. PDF): |
PDF
|
|
EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->Others
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->PAH
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Sampling and analysis
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Sampling strategy
|
| Short description: |
This case study is the first in a series designed to provide cost and performance information for innovative
tools that support less costly and more representative site characterization. These case studies will include
reports on new technologies as well as novel applications of familiar tools or processes. They are prepared
to offer operational experience and to further disseminate information about ways to improve the efficiency
of data collection at hazardous waste sites. The ultimate goal is enhancing the cost-effectiveness and
defensibility of decisions regarding the disposition of hazardous waste sites.
|
| Long description: |
Number of Samples Analyzed during Investigation:
A 10-day Adaptive Sampling and Analysis Program produced the following: 601 soil samples screened for volatile organic
compounds (VOC) (<1 min/analysis); 158 soil samples for quantitative analysis for VOCs (15 min/analysis); 69 soil samples
for simultaneous quantitative analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);
121 quantitative soil samples for metals (8 min/analysis after microwave sample digestion).
Cost Savings:
The cost savings using this approach are estimated at 50% over traditional methods.
Results:
Field analytical methods can provide quantitative data to support remedial decisions for contaminated soil. The assessment of
contaminated soil was completed in two weeks using an Adaptive Sampling and Analysis Strategy.
Description:
As part of EPA’s Environmental Technology Initiative (ETI), Tufts University conducted a demonstration of the ability of
field analytical methods to produce data of sufficient quality to support a risk assessment. The specific risk scenario was soil
contamination migration to ground water. Action limits were set at the 20 Dilution-Attenuation Factor (DAF) from EPA’s
Soil Screening Levels. Over a two week period, subsurface soil cores and samples were collected using a Geoprobe. Soil
samples were screened with the Bruker Thermal Desorption GC/MS at an average rate of 75 samples/day. Quantitative VOC
analyses were performed using conventional (Tekmar) Purge & Trap GC/MS in conjunction with Tufts-developed IFD
software to speed processing of the MS signal and data analysis. After extraction, simultaneous quantitative PAH/PCB
analyses were performed by Tufts-developed Thermal Desorber GC/MS and IFD data analysis producing data with only a 10-
minute run time. Finally, fixed-lab quality data for metals was produced in the field by the use of batched microwave
digestion and a field-adapted ICP/OES.
|
|
Submitted By:
|
Dr Stefan Gödeke WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 27/10/2006
|
|
|
