Residual Explosives Criteria for Treatment of Area P Soil, Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant
Abstract
From about 1950 to 1980, the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, near Shreveport, discharged wastewater from its explosives load, assembly, and pack activities into a complex of leaching pits known as Area P. The groundwater under Area P has been found to contain the explosives TNT, RDX, and HMX as well as related compounds. The Army plans to incinerate soil that has been excavated from this area to a limited depth. An assessment of this plan from a health effects viewpoint was requested, details of which are documented in this report. Three situations were addressed, those of potable groundwater, safety of surface water for aquatic life, and future construction activities. State regulations require the uppermost aquifer to be addressed as a potential water supply; at Area P, the uppermost aquifer is the Alluvial aquifer. The assessment concluded that current levels of explosive contamination in groundwater probably exceed acceptable levels of drinking water quality. Keywords: TNT; DNT; RDX; Groundwater; HMX; Soil contamination; Carcinogenicity; Mammalian toxicity; Aquatic toxicity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA197799
Entities
People
- Mitchell J. Small
Organizations
- United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories