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Attenuation of Pollutants
- Article from:
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Water:Science and Issues
- Author:
- Brady, Patrick V.
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Attenuation of Pollutants
The moment that
pollutants
in soils become dissolved in natural waters, their potential for transport is greatly magnified, as is the likelihood that people will ingest them. The primary health risk from many
hazardous waste
sites, dumps, septic tanks, factory outflows, and other pollution sources is the possibility that pollutants will be dissolved into
groundwaters
or surface waters, then ultimately reach drinking water.
Pollutants of concern include industrial solvents such as perchlorethlyene (PCE); trichlorethylene (TCE); motor fuel components such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, (collectively termed BTEX); and
inorganic
...