| Title: |
User s Guide to the Collection and Analysis of Tree Cores to Assess the Distribution of Subsurface Volatile Organic Compounds
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| Resource Type: |
document --> guidance / decision support
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| Country: |
USA
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| Year: |
2008 |
| Availability: |
Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5088
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| Author 1/Producer: |
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Agency, regulator or other governmental or inter-governmental body
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| Format (e.g. PDF): |
PDF
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| Size: (e.g. 20mb) |
2.6
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Methods
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| Short description: |
Analysis of the volatile organic compound content of
tree cores is an inexpensive, rapid, and simple approach to
examining the distribution of subsurface volatile organic
compound contaminants. The method has been shown to detect
several volatile petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated
aliphatic compounds associated with vapor intrusion and
ground-water contamination. Tree cores, which are approximately
3 inches long, are obtained by using an increment borer. The
cores are placed in vials and sealed. After a period of
equilibration, the cores can be analyzed by headspace analysis
gas chromatography. Because the roots are exposed to volatile
organic compound contamination in the unsaturated zone or
shallow ground water, the volatile organic compound
concentrations in the tree cores are an indication of the
presence of subsurface volatile organic compound contamination.
Thus, tree coring can be used to detect and map subsurface
volatile organic compound contamination.
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Submitted By:
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Professor Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 06/08/2008
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