Determination of the Environmental Fate of Decontamination Agent C-8 Using Soil Microcosms

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Abstract:

The U.S. Army is developing vehicle decontamination agents to counteract the effects of chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare agents. This study investigates decontamination agent C-8, which contains tetrachlorethylene. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USEPA classifies this substance as a priority pollutant one that is very hazardous to humans. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental fate of tetrachloroethylene. Simulated decontamination wastewater was applied to microcosms intact soil cores, followed by four simulated rainfall events. The waste-water effluents, simulated rain effluents, and surface soils were analyzed for tetrachlorethylene. Low concentrations of tetrachloroethylene were found only in the second rainwater effluents, but none was detected in the wastewater effluent or surface soils. The results of this study indicate that tetrachloroethylene moves through the soil more slowly than water and poses a threat of groundwater contamination because it was detected in some effluents.

Author(s):
Donahue, Bernard A. ; Hinchman, Ray R. ; Zellmer, Stanley D.
Author Organization(s):
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH LAB (ARMY) CHAMPAIGN IL
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.
Pagination:
0020

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CERL-TR-N-89/05
Monitor Series:
CERL
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_JCA_4.1.2_Sustain the Force; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_1.2.7_Experimentation; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_1.3_Human Capital Management; JCA_4.5.4_Requirements Definition; JCA_4.5_Operational Contract Support; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance
Communities of Interest:
Engineered Resilient Systems
Descriptor(s):
*DECONTAMINATION MATERIALS, *CHLORINE COMPOUNDS, *ETHYLENES, *WATER POLLUTION, *SOILS, WASTE WATER, THREATS, HUMANS, WATER, SURFACES, GROUND WATER, RAIN, CHEMICAL AGENTS, LOW LEVEL, CONCENTRATION(COMPOSITION), POLLUTANTS, VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION, RAINFALL, EFFLUENTS, CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, DECONTAMINATION, HAZARDS, CORES, PERCHLORYL COMPOUNDS, NUCLEAR WARFARE, SIMULATION
Field(s)/Group(s):
Geology, Geochemistry and Mineralogy, Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare, Water Pollution and Control
Keyword(s):
*TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
Report Date:
1989 Mar 01