title: Using pre-screening methods for an effective and reliable site characterization at megasites.
abstract: This paper illustrates the usefulness of pre-screening methods for an effective characterization of polluted sites. We applied a sequence of site characterization methods to a former Soviet military airbase with likely fuel and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contamination in shallow groundwater and subsoil. The methods were (i) phytoscreening with tree cores; (ii) soil gas measurements for CH4, O2, and photoionization detector (PID); (iii) direct-push with membrane interface probe (MIP) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) sensors; (iv) direct-push sampling; and (v) sampling from soil and from groundwater monitoring wells. Phytoscreening and soil gas measurements are rapid and inexpensive pre-screening methods. Both indicated subsurface pollution and hot spots successfully. The direct-push sensors yielded 3D information about the extension and the volume of the subsurface plume. This study also expanded the applicability of tree coring to BTEX compounds and tested the use of high-resolution direct-push sensors for light hydrocarbons. Comparison of screening results to results from conventional soil and groundwater sampling yielded in most cases high rank correlation and confirmed the findings. The large-scale application of non- or low-invasive pre-screening can be of help in directing and focusing the subsequent, more expensive investigation methods. The rapid pre-screening methods also yielded useful information about potential remediation methods. Overall, we see several benefits of a stepwise screening and site characterization scheme, which we propose in conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algreen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha Street, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalisz
authors.affiliation: SolGeo AG, Dornacherplatz 3, 4501, Solothurn, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stalder
authors.affiliation: Fugro Consult GmbH, Volkmaroder Str. 8c, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Eugeniu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martac
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha Street, Katowice, Poland. krupanek@ietu.katowice.pl.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krupanek
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartke
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene
keywords: Brownfields; Contamination; Direct-push; Phytoscreening; Probe technologies; Site characterization; Soil gas; Tree core