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Proceedings of the Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy

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The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a global leader in the development of science and engineering tools for environmental assessment and management. As a center for research, education, service and outreach, the University has, for more than a decade, hosted the Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy. This colloquium is a “must attend” for academics, students, regulatory authorities, policy makers, and the private sector. The Conference is particularly noteworthy for its success in bringing practitioners and analysts from across the globe to share experiences and contribute to the deliberations. Through 2004, conference proceedings were published annually in the hardcover series Contaminated Soils. Now, the University is building on the success of the Annual Conference and the Proceedings series and publishing presented papers from the conference in an open access format. Starting with Volume 11, manuscripts are available both as individual papers or as part of the complete proceedings for that year. Volume 11 includes manuscripts presented at the 21st Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water, held October 17-20, 2005. Volume 12 includes manuscripts presented at the 22nd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water held October 16-19, 2006. Volume 13 includes manuscripts presented at the 23rd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water held October 15-18, 2007. Volume 14 includes manuscripts presented at the 24th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water held October 20-23, 2008. Volume 15 includes manuscripts presented at the 25th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy held October 19-22, 2009 Volume 16 includes manuscripts presented at the 26th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy held October 18-21, 2010 Volume 17 includes includes manuscripts presented at the 27th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy held October 17-20, 2011
The Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water is a yearly event hosted in October at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The proceedings are an open access annual international publication on the scientific and technical information, data and critical analysis in the areas of Analysis, Site Assessment, Environmental Fate, Environmental and Human Risk Assessment, Remediation and Regulation as applied to contaminated soils, sediments, water and energy. Manuscripts that have been presented at the conference both as poster or platform presentations may be submitted to be included in the conference proceedings for that year. The conference includes the following topics. Analysis - basic analytical problems, with assessment of contaminated soil, sediment or water, and development and evaluation of innovative laboratory techniques and standards. Site Assessment – application and development of field sampling techniques, statistical design, sample collection and handling. Environmental Fate – The movement and partitioning of contaminants and breakdown products in soil, sediment and water, including chemical and physical influences and the mathematical representation of contaminant movement. Environmental and human risk assessment issues – analysis of exposure assessment and health effects to humans and the environment, and risk characterization of sites including remedial actions. Regulation – regulatory programs, policies and legal considerations including numerical standards of cleanups (action levels, maximum concentration levels, cleanup levels), approaches used by the regulatory community, legal issues pertaining to regulatory actions and statutes and private sector transactions. The above general areas include more specific topics presented at the Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy: Acid Mine Drainage Analysis Bioremediation Biotechnology Chemical Oxidation Remediation Practices Combination of Remediation Technologies Environmental Fate Environmental Forensics Environmental Modeling Heavy Metals Innovative Technologies Legal Issues MTBE Munitions and Explosives of Concern Perchlorate Pesticides Phytoremediation Regulatory Remediation Risk Assessment Site Assessment Sustainable Remediation Vapor Intrusion

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 186
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    PublicationOpen Access
    BIOSCREEN, AT123D, And MODFLOW/MT3D, A Comprehensive Review Of Model Results
    Cecan, Liliana; Schneiker, Robert A.
    The Domenico equation is commonly used to evaluate long term risks associated with contaminated groundwater. Numerous groundwater models are based on it, including BIOSCREEN and BIOCHLOR. This paper compares the results from BIOSCREEN, AT123D and MODFLOW/MT3D groundwater models. Results from the AT123D and MODFLOW/MT3D models indicate that BIOSCREEN significantly underestimates contaminant mobility and thus exposure risks. This was unexpected as BIOSCREEN results are commonly assumed to be extremely conservative. In fact BIOSCREEN did produce the highest downgradient concentrations; however it took unreasonably long periods of time to achieve them. Such lengthy time periods are not typically evaluated as part of a risk evaluation. Even more surprisingly, BIOSCREEN produced the same peak concentration for all contaminants and for all aquifer types tested. Both contaminant concentration and travel times from AT123D and MODFLOW/MT3D models were almost identical. Furthermore, these results varied with contaminants and aquifer properties as expected. The influence of biodegradation was also evaluated. Inclusion of conservative biodegradation rates made BIOSCREEN the least conservative model by far. This is because the lengthy travel times produced by BIOSCREEN provide a longer period of time over which biodegradation works.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    A Comparion of Three Soil Characterization Methods on a Soil Formed in Sandy Glacial Outwash
    Morris, Michael W.; Comeau, Aimee; Ammons, John T.; Blair, Ryan; Lu, Changsheng; Roberts, Caroline
    A field scale test was performed to evaluate three different soil sampling approaches. These included a USDA-NRCS pedon approach, a multiple increment approach, and a five-point composite approach. A 484 ft2 plot in an upland glacial outwash plain in Falmouth, Massachusetts was subjected to these three soil characterization methods. The USDA-NRCS approach involved the excavation of a soil pit (or pedon) with soils described according to the methods outlined in the Soil Survey Manual (Soil Survey Staff, 1993). Natural soil horizons were identified and samples were collected to a depth of 4 ft. For the multiple increment samples, a 30-point grid was installed and samples were collected using a 1 in push probe. For the five-point composite, a five-point grid was installed within the plot and samples were collected with a 2.5 in bucket auger. Both the multi-increment and the five-point composite samples were taken at arbitrary depths of 0-3 in, 3-6 in, 9-12 in, 21-24 in, and 33-36 in. All samples were subjected to particle size and organic carbon analyses. The upland soil shows the effects of podzolization with some translocation of organic matter with depth in the pedon. The particle size analysis of the pedon confirms a sandy glacial outwash with a thin layer of loess in the upper horizons. The particle size analysis also shows a clear pattern of decreasing silt content with depth in the pedon. The organic carbon analysis shows both compositing approaches have greater organic carbon contents at depth compared to the soil pedon. The compositing approaches also show higher silt contents with depth compared to the soil pedon. The enrichment of organic carbon and silt in the lower samples may indicate a mixing of surface materials with depth for both composite methods.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Deception And Fraud In The Publication Of Scientific Research: Are There Solutions?
    Teaf, Christopher M.; Johnson, Barry L.
    A number of events in the U.S. and abroad have refocused the scientific community on historical issues of whether, and how, integrity of our technical literature can be assured. Solutions to this problem are neither simple nor certain. Professional societies have addressed scientific misconduct, and effective responses by the research community will require cooperation of scientific publications. While the incidence of scientific fraud is difficult to estimate with precision and certainly varies with discipline, identified and publicized recent cases beg attention from editorial boards. Several egregious cases are described. The peer review system serves the function of examination and critique by scientists in relevant disciplines to assess submitted papers prior to publication. There is even a developing literature and several specific journals dedicated to the subject of fraud, professional integrity and ways to monitor or correct existing conditions. Underlying the field of professional and scientific publication is a fundamental assumption that data are real and that research actually occurred. Typically, the process is “blind” in both directions, although some journals permit “author-directed” reviews. A reviewer’s responsibilities include ensuring that text properly reflects data, that tables and figures are necessary/appropriate, and that conclusions fairly and reasonably reflect results and the body of information. Thus, existing peer review systems probably cannot detect anything but the most obvious fraud. In addition to imposing or perpetuating stringent review protocols, journals also can amend author guidelines to speak explicitly about publishing requirements. Cases of properly documented fraud warrant immediate public announcement, followed by official withdrawal or retraction. Reflection on these issues led editors of one journal to institute changes in editorial policies and develop a code of ethics for authors, reviewers, and editors. Prevention of dishonest research is already difficult, and we should ensure that this remains the case. Editors should formally commit reviewers/authors to ethical conduct in technical publications prior to publication and review.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    In-situ Washing by Sedimentation Method for Contaminated Sandy Soil
    Budianta, Wawan; Salim, Chris; Hinode, Hirofumi; Ohta, Hideki
    We propose a new method of in situ soil remediation called in situ washing by sedimentation (IWS), accomplished by injecting a high air-pressure into a mixture of saturated water-sandy soil at a certain depth (D) and hydraulically separating the soil particles based on their particle size and density. This physical segregation exploits the distribution of contaminant in the soil by physically separating a selected contaminant-rich fraction. For the in situ application, the physical segregation by sedimentation and on-site water wash treatment happen as an integrated process. The advantage of IWS that the washing and segregation processes take place simultaneously during the remediation process, quick, effective and cheap since there are no costs for excavation of contaminated soil from the site. The effect of soil-water ratio and diameter geometry of the column on the effectiveness of segregation by IWS was investigated. A series of laboratory test were conducted to optimize the soil water ratio for the best segregation process. Soil-water ratio 1:2 (v/v) was found to be optimum for particle segregation produced by IWS . The suitability of IWS for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) remediation, such as Napthalene, Phenantrene and Pyrene, were examined by batch sedimentation column experiment. The laboratory experiment was effective to produce a distinct size segregation of the contaminated soil into the coarse and fine fractions, as well as the wash water, indicating that a significant reduction in Napthalene, Phenantrene and Pyrene level (90%) may be achieved. The experimental results show that the removal efficiencies depend on the initial concentration of PAH in the soil sample, the duration of washing and the addition of biosurfactant in the washing solution.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Monitoring Sources of Mercury in the Atmosphere
    (2012-01-01) Metcalf, James; Mose, Douglas G
    In Virginia and most other states, rain and snow collection stations have been used to determine the concentration of mercury in precipitation. These mercury measurements are distributed by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program through the Illinois State Water Survey (http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu). Mercury deposition data has been gathered for over a decade and may be compared to the on-line data currently reported from collection sites. Coal-burning power plants are thought to contribute most of the atmospheric mercury, and it was thought that the precipitation collections would prove this hypothesis. In Virginia, this hypothesis is supported. It has been found that the atmospheric content of mercury increases during prolonged intervals without precipitation. In this study, it was found that the atmospheric content of mercury was exceptionally low following an unusually prolonged precipitation event.
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    PublicationOpen Access
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Assessing the Bioavailability of Arsenic in Sediments for Use in Human Health Risk Assessment
    (2012-01-01) Lamie, Pamela O
    Arsenic concentrations in sediments in a wetlands located downgradient from a landfill in northeastern Massachusetts were found to be over 1,000 mg/kg in several locations with a maximum detected concentration of 4,500 mg/kg. The elevated arsenic in sediment is likely the result of the dissolution of iron and arsenic in the underlying rock under reducing conditions mobilized with the groundwater and co-precipitating out into the sediments when groundwater reaches the oxidizing surface water, producing an iron and arsenic bearing floc. Approximately 15 acres of wetlands appear to be impacted from elevated arsenic concentrations. To assess the potential impacts to human health and to determine the extent of acreage requiring remedial action, a site-specific bioavailability factor was developed using an in vitro laboratory assessment. While in vivo (live animal) studies are considered to be the most accurate measures of bioavailability for assessing absorption of contaminants by humans, the in vivo studies are expensive and lengthy. The in vitro approach undertaken for this assessment simulates digestive activity in the stomach, including residence time, pH, temperature, agitation, and solid to liquid ratio. This in vitro laboratory approach coupled with an adjustment based on in vivo data, along with a mineralogical characterization of the impacted sediments, served to develop a site-specific bioavailability factor that resulted in more accurate human health risk characterization results.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Dechlorination of Pentachlorophenol by Zero Valent Iron and Bimetals: Effect of Surface Characteristics and Bimetal Preparation Procedure
    (2012-01-01) Gunawardana, Buddhika; Singhal, Naresh; Swedlund, Peter
    Treatment of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is challenging due to its hydrophobic nature and the stability of the carbon-chlorine bond, particularly in aromatic molecules. Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) has been used as an effective in situ passive treatment process for PCP contaminated groundwater. However, ZVI applications can experience a decrease in degradation rates over time due to: ZVI surface passivation, the formation of non-conducting iron oxides on the ZVI surface, and the accumulation of less chlorinated intermediates. In this study, ZVI modification by acid washing and formation of bimetallic systems by the incorporation of Nickel (Ni) was explored to overcome these limitations. PCP degradation was investigated in batch tests using ZVI as received (unwashed or UW) and acid washed (AW) ZVI. Two forms of bimetals were tested - one in which the Ni powder and ZVI (UW or AW) were physically mixed (NiS/Fe) and the other in which the Ni was coated onto acid washed ZVI (NiC/Fe) by reacting ZVI with NiSO4 solutions. PCP dechlorination was confirmed by gas chromatography quantifying PCP and all intermediates formed. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterise the ZVI surfaces.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Treating Arsenic-Contaminated Soil At A Former Herbicide Blending Facility
    Chowdhury, Ajit K; Stanforth, Robert R; Overby, Ross
    Arsenic-contaminated soil at a Superfund site in Missouri was treated during 2005 using a ferric sulfate-based additive. Initial testing indicated that 20 percent Portland cement was needed to treat the soil; in contrast, only around 2 percent of the ferric sulfate additive was required. The exact dosage depended on the arsenic content of the soil. Arsenic screening using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used for the in-field determination of the dose required for each batch of soil. Varying levels of available iron in the soil was an additional factor in selecting the dose of treatment chemical. More than 70,000 tons were successfully treated and disposed, at an average chemical dose of 2 percent. The correlation of XRF arsenic data with wet compositional analysis, the relationship of available iron to arsenic ratio with TCLP-arsenic analysis, and the dosage-response for chemical treatment of soil comparing the bench-scale and full-scale treatment data are discussed.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Presence And Effects Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons On Sewage Treatment Efficiency
    Mrowiec, Bozena; Suschka, Jan
    Aromatic hydrocarbons (BTX-s) are found very often in municipal sewage. The influence of BTX-s on biological processes efficiency, including the impact on nutrients removal, are presented. The BTX’s concentrations are varying in the range of 0 to 933 µg/L. Toluene is the compound most often measured in raw sewage. The concentration of toluene in the digested sludge liquor from primary settling tanks could increase to a level of 42 000 µg/L. Other aromatic hydrocarbons are observed in lower concentrations of about 30 µg/L. All of the investigated aromatic hydrocarbons have a more or less negative effect on the treatment. The effects have been evaluated in laboratory experiments for synthetic and real sewage. BTX-s have been added in concentrations in the range from 250 to 1250 µg/L. The biological treatment processes of municipal and synthetic sewage were performed in anaerobic and aerobic conditions. After the first step of treatment (anaerobic) the concentrations of BTX-s have decreased from 45 % for benzene to 76 % for p-xylene. A part of BTX-s was adsorbed on activated sludge. The aerobic stage permitted an almost complete BTX’s removal. The presence of aromatic hydrocarbons resulted in decrease of the effects of COD, nitrification and total phosphorus removal. The treated sewage contained higher concentrations of TKN in the range of 10 to 55 mg/L.