Characterization Techniques for Contaminated Sites in Environmental Forensics

Abstract

Environmental forensics combines scientific disciplines and historical research methods to reconstruct past contaminating events, For example, when and how contamination at various locations occurred. Site investigation, characterization of the contaminants, and monitoring of the cleanup progress are the key topics while dealing with environmental issues. Many techniques have been mentioned in the literature to accomplish these purposes. Conducting a cost-effective and innovative practices for site investigation and cleanup, needs systematic project planning, dynamic work strategies, and the real-time measurement techniques. A successful site characterization projects rely on environmental data that accurately represent actual site conditions. Field-based methods are useful tools that assist in making timely decisions rather than waiting for laboratory results. Chlorinated solvents are one of the widespread volatile organic compounds detected in soil and groundwater. Given their frequency of detection in environmental investigations, techniques to age-date and identify the origin of chlorinated solvent releases are of great interest in environmental forensic investigations.