Determination of the Environmental Fate of Decontamination Agent C-8 Using Soil Microcosms
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA207100
Entities
People
- Bernard A. Donahue
- Ray R. Hinchman
- Stanley D. Zellmer
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory