Volatilization of Chemicals from Soil

Stefan Trapp, Michael Matthies & Hans-Ulrich Wolter

The project is sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG. It is part of the project 'Long term geochemical processes ... in groundwater'.

Purpose: Development of models for the calculation of multimedia transfer processes of chemicals, e.g. for the path ground water - soil - vegetation - air. Useful for risk assessment of contaminated sites.

Modeling volatilisation of PCDD/F from soil and uptake into vegetation

Stefan Trapp and Michael Matthies

Soil contamination is one of the long-term environmental problems generated by anthropogenic activities of the last decades. Standards for some organic compounds are being discussed. We investigate the question whether volatilisation of organic chemicals - here PCDD/F - from soil and subsequent sorption to leaves may be a significant pathway for contamination. This transfer pathway is investigated with a mathematical model. The model is based on an analytical solution of the diffusion/dispersion equation for two media, and equilibrium assumptions. A calculation is made for 2,3,7,8-TCDD uptake into herbage. It can be shown that this transfer pathway may only be important for highly contaminated soils. The aim of reducing the daily intake of PCDD/F by contaminated food is best reached by an effective emissions control. Volatilisation of persistent lipophilic chemicals from soil is a long-term process and can lead to a secondary pollution of the atmosphere.

Environmental Science and Technology 1997, 31(1), 71-74.

Thanks for your interest.

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Last changed 8/8/97