THE USE OF COMPOUND SPECIFIC ISOTOPE ANALYSIS (CSIA) FOR DISCERNING SOURCES OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) AND PERCHLOROETHYLENE (PCE) WITHIN A COMMINGLED GROUNDWATER PLUME IN CALIFORNIA, USA

摘要

The assessment of groundwater contamination is frequently complicated by issues of commingling from two or more sources of contamination. Determining relative contributions of separate sources is critical in cleanup cost recovery and environmental litigation. While assessment methodologies have advanced significantly through the application of new technologies such as Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) coupled with advanced computer modeling applications, such technologies typically fall short of being able to prove responsibility for contamination, especially in cases of commingled plumes. Environmental forensics techniques have been playing an increasingly important role in being able to prove the origin of chemicals of concern. Others have also addressed the importance of being able to apply advanced site characterization tools in conjunction with environmental forensic methods.