Volatile Organic Compounds in the Unsaturated Zone from Radioactive Wastes

摘要: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often comingled with low-level radioactive wastes (LLRW), but little is known about subsurface VOC emanations from LLRW landfills. The current study systematically quantified VOCs associated over an 11-yr period at the USGS Amargosa Desert Research Site (ADRS) in southwestern Nevada. Unsaturated-zone gas samples of were collected by adsorption on resin cartridges and analyzed thermal desorption GC/MS. Sixty 87 method analytes detected 110-m-thick unsaturated zone surrounding a disposal facility. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 100% collected. powerful greenhouse gases, deplete stratospheric ozone, likely released facilities worldwide. Soil-gas depth 24 m horizontal distance 100 south nearest waste-disposal trench contained >60,000 ppbv total VOCs, including >37,000 CFCs. Extensive sampling shallow (0-2 deep) identified areas where concentrations exceeded 5000 1.5-m depth. compound background levels up to 300 Maximum vertical diffusive fluxes estimated be 1 g yr. distributions similar not identical those previously determined for tritium elemental mercury. To our knowledge, this first characterize distribution emanating landfill. Our results may help explain anomalous transport radionuclides ADRS elsewhere.