Problems with Chlorinated Solvents[]
Chlorinated solvents in general are harmful to human and ecological health. They can cause or are suspected of causing cancer, and are toxic or harmful to aquatic organisms.
Spills and leaks of chlorinated solvents have caused widespread subsurface contamination in the environment. Commonly these contaminants are present in the subsurface in the form of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL, the bulk chemical product), as dissolved contaminants in ground water, associated with aquifer sediments, and as vapors in the unsaturated zone. Because the density of these NAPL’s is greater than water, they tend to sink in ground water systems, which results in a complex dispersal and plume patterns, long-term sources in the subsurface, and difficult clean-up. Under the proper conditions, biodegradation and volatilization can contribute significantly to the removal of chlorinated solvents from the subsurface, making natural attenuation a potentially important remediation alternative. http://toxics.usgs.gov/investigations/chlorinated_solvents.html
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