What should be done to mitigate groundwater contamination?
Groundwater contamination is a serious problem that is growing in the United States, but its true extent is not known and it is difficult to determine because of the complexities of contaminants, their transformation, and fate in groundwater systems. It is also difficult to predict their movement in groundwater. Since we know that the problem is serious and that our needs for groundwater will grow, the mitigation of groundwater contamination, despite the high cost, is necessary. Furthermore, it is very difficult to predict effects on human health because they have not been defined for many of the chemicals. Antagonism and synergistic effects of interacting chemicals have not been determined because they are complicated by many factors, for example, volatile organic compounds. The effects of leachates in groundwaters entering streams on the riverine environment and aquatic life have not been determined. Successful mitigation requires that we determine which microbial and chemical contaminants are the most serious threats to human health, develop the technology to biologically, chemically, and physically transform hazardous waste into nonhazardous materials; develop the technology to properly contain hazardous materials and to remediate contamination, and determine the effects of those hazardous materials on soils and water microorganisms and macroorganisms. Our challenge is how can we immobilize or destroy groundwater contaminants so that they will not enter groundwater, or if they enter groundwater, are confined and destroyed.
Patrick
R
R
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014873:Water Pollutants