Effects of particulate explosives on estimating contamination at a historical explosives testing area

Chemosphere. 2002 Jan;46(1):3-9. doi: 10.1016/s0045-6535(01)00107-2.

Abstract

A historical explosives testing area harbored contamination as unevenly distributed solid particles within a contaminant-stained soil matrix. Particles larger than 3 mm diameter accounted for 96.4% of the explosives contamination. Independent sampling and analysis methods showed significant differences in contaminant estimations due to particulate explosives. We present a solvent-based sample averaging method designed to solve spatial heterogeneity problems resulting from the presence of contaminant particles.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Data Collection
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Explosions*
  • Particle Size
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Trinitrotoluene / analysis*
  • United States

Substances

  • Soil Pollutants
  • Trinitrotoluene