Soils burial site

Soil burial is widely used as the method of testing susceptibility to degradation. It closely mimics the conditions of waste disposal used for plastics but it is often difficult to reproduce results obtained because of absence of control over either the climate at the test site or the variety of micro-organisms involved in the degradation. Soil burial is thus used to provide qualitative indications of biodegradability, with more controlled laboratory work with cultured micro-organisms being used to obtain more quantitative detail. 

The process of mathematical fitting is error-prone, and especially two different issues have to be considered, the first one dealing with the boundary conditions of the fitting procedure itself A pure diffusion process is considered here as the only transport mechanism for fluorine in the sample. A constant value for the diffusion constant D, invariant soil temperatures and a constant supply of fluorine (e.g. a constant soil humidity) are assumed, the latter effect theoretically resulting in a constant surface fluorine concentration for samples collected at the same burial site. In mathematical terms, Dt is influenced by the spatial resolution of the scanning beam, the definition of the exact position of the bone surface, which usually coincides with the maximum fluorine concentration, and by the original fluorine concentration in the bulk of the object, which in most cases is still detectable. A detailed description on... 

In January, 1976, the Environmental Protection Agency (17, 18) reported that radioactive material migrated from a surface burial facility and extended to the surrounding environment for several hundred feet from its original site. Radioactive material was detected in surface soil samples, in soil cores, in sediments from deep monitoring wells, and in sediments from intermittent streams which drained the burial sites. Again, whenever possible, if carcinogenic material cannot be rendered harmless, it should be disposed of by incineration. 

Eichholz GG, Petelka MF, Kury RL. 1988. Migration of elemental mercury through soil from simulated burial sites. Water Res 22(1) 15-20. 

Although some sources of possible contamination are readily identified, and often may be kept from occurring, past bad disposal methods continue to plague the environment. Industries small and large have in past decades disposed of waste product by shallow burial. Liquid wastes were buried in steel containers, which after 30 or 40 years begin to rust through and leak their contents into the soil. The location of most of these burial sites are found only after environmental pollution has begun. 

World War I gas warfare research included working with over 70 arsenical compounds. Research testing and disposal at one facility has resulted in elevated arsenic being found on 160 residential properties. Soil removals began in 2002. Diseases include aplastic anemia, brain and bone cancers, pernicious anemia (often misdiagnosed arsenic toxicity), cancers of the larynx, and learning disabilities. Where the range or CWM complex is transferred, small disease clusters may serve to identify potential burial sites. 

Many types of chemical weapons are lethal to micro and macro invote-brates. Bioassay can be used as a good indicator of polluted surface water. The types of species that more easily succumb to pollution have been well outlined by several sources. Bioassay has now been successfully used to locate and assess CWM burial sites in Canada, and it should be a routine part of CWM site remediation in this country. Unlike sampling, it can be used in real-time, as a glance under the miaoscope will promptly reveal sterile soil. 

Soil gas surveys can be done rapidly and easily and can cover a wide area. One new type uses a Cortex shoelace with absorbent pellets inside (called the Goresorber). The shoelace is inserted into the ground with a two-foot push tube. (Clearance with a metal detector is recommended.) The lace is withdrawn in a day or so and the pellets analyzed for CWM or explosive breakdown products. A geographic information systems (CIS) computer printout is made extrapolating areas of increased concentrations. This method can be used to locate all manner of landfills or contaminated soils. Similarly, soil samples can hint at burial sites. Where most soil samples are clean but some reveal CWM or explosive breakdown products, this may present evidence of a nearby burial site. 

The District suggests that the partners discuss, as a priority, the need for more extensive sampling (some of these properties had only three samples) and whether a mapping of the soil gas would be useful in pointing to potential burial sites. The Corps should discuss interim measures with the property owners. 

Many of these springs have been channeled into storm sewers. Also, the hilly nature of the site results in much soil erosion that also finds its way into the storm sewers. Once sediment testing is performed in these sewers, it will be relatively easy to trace the contaminants up-gradient. This is likely to narrow down areas of contamination and burial sites. For example, explosives always find their way into the storm sewers. The explosive burial site referenced in the historic document section will probably only be found via this storm sewer sediment testing. 

Choosing the correct burial site is important, since the environment will have a direct effect on the performance of buried materials. This choice must take into account more than just characteristics of a soil, and must include consideration of local conditions of temperature, rainfall, and location. For example, a soil located in a valley near a stream provides a different environment to the same soil on a nearby hill. In general, the best test site is near the structure... 

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