Introduction to Environmental Forensics

Section I. Basic Information

Chapter 1. Applications of Environmental Forensics

• 1.1. Introduction
• 1.2. Chemical Characterization and/or Delineation of Contamination
• 1.3. Reconstructing Historical Releases and Establishing Background
• 1.4. Determination of Responsibility and Allocation of Liability
• 1.5. Insurance Litigation
• 1.6. Toxic Torts

Chapter 2. Essential Historical Research Methods and Their Application to Environmental Forensics

• 2.1. Introduction
• 2.2. Historical Research for Site Assessment or Responsibility Assignment
• 2.3. Historical Research and Analysis for Apportionment and Cost Allocation
• 2.4. The Historian’s Contribution to Liability Determinations
• 2.5. The Historian’s Contribution to Cost Allocation
• 2.6. Historical Research and Analysis for Matters of “Intentionality”
• 2.7. Conclusion

Chapter 3. Photogrammetry, Photointerpretation, and Digital Imaging and Mapping in Environmental Forensics

• 3.1. The Aerial Photographic Record
• 3.2. Principles of Photogrammetry
• 3.3. Photointerpretation
• 3.4. Analytical Products and Preparation of Exhibits
• 3.5. Case Studies
• 3.6. Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Measurement Process

• 4.1. Introduction
• 4.2. Sampling and Analytical Errors in the Measurement Process
• 4.3. Planning
• 4.4. Sampling Different Media
• 4.5. Data Assessment
• 4.6. Conclusion

Chapter 5. Statistical Methods

• 5.1. Introduction
• 5.2. Background
• 5.3. Applications in Environmental Forensics
• 5.4. Conclusion

Chapter 6. Identification of Forensic Information from Existing Conventional Site-Investigation Data

• 6.1. Introduction
• 6.2. Site History
• 6.3. Geological Data
• 6.4. Hydrogeological Data
• 6.5. Contaminant Chemistry Data
• 6.6. High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) Data
• 6.7. Data Reflecting Postrelease Contaminant Concentration Pattern Changes
• 6.8. Conclusion

Chapter 7. Chemical Partitioning and Transport in the Environment

• 7.1. Introduction
• 7.2. Chemical Parameters
• 7.3. Fugacity Description of Partitioning
• 7.4. Mass-Transfer Models
• 7.5. The Advection–Dispersion Equation
• 7.6. Conclusion
• List of Symbols and Abbreviations

Section II. Chemical, Biological, And Isotopic Pattern-Recognition Methods

Chapter 8. Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting Methods

• 8.1. Introduction
• 8.2. Overview of Chemical Fingerprinting Methodology
• 8.3. Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• 8.4. Volatile Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting Methods
• 8.5. Semivolatile Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting Methods

Chapter 9. Source Identification and Age Dating of Chlorinated Solvents

• 9.1. Introduction
• 9.2. Product Formulations and Diagnostic Stabilizers
• 9.3. Manufacturing Impurities
• 9.4. Manufacturing Impurities to Distinguish New and Used Vapor Degreasing Chlorinated Solvents
• 9.5. Symmetric Tetrachloroethane for Age Dating PCE and TCE
• 9.6. Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA)
• 9.7. Reconstructed Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Plume Technique
• 9.8. Conclusion

Chapter 10. Congeners: A Forensics Analysis

• 10.1. Introduction
• 10.2. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• 10.3. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• 10.4. Dioxins and Furans
• 10.5. Other Chemical Families
• 10.6. Developing Analytical Tools for Forensic Studies of Congeners
• 10.7. Conclusion

Chapter 11. Application of Stable Isotopes and Radioisotopes in Environmental Forensics

• 11.1. Introduction
• 11.2. Radioisotope Age Dating of Contaminants in Sediments and Groundwater
• 11.3. Use of Stable Isotopes to Identify Contaminant Sources
• 11.4. Biodegradation
• 11.5. Vocs and Vapor Intrusion
• 11.6. Sources and Sink of Atmospheric Gases
• 11.7. Combining Isotope Methods with Other Methods
• 11.8. Inorganic Isotopes
• 11.9. Shale Gas, Shale Oil, and Hydrofracking
• 11.10. Developments in LC/IRMS

Chapter 12. Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics: Soil as Physical Evidence in Forensic Investigations

• 12.1. Introduction
• 12.2. Soil and Forensic Context
• 12.3. Classic Methods of Characterizing Soil for Forensic Investigations
• 12.4. The Practice of Forensic Investigations Relating to Soil
• 12.5. Developments in Analysis of Soil Samples
• 12.6. Characterization of Soil Organic Matter
• 12.7. Maximization of Soil Evidence by Integration and Use of Databases

Chapter 13. Environmental Forensic Microscopy

• 13.1. Introduction
• 13.2. Sampling and Analysis Equipment
• 13.3. Determining the Nature of Contaminants
• 13.4. Measuring the Extent of a Specific Contaminant
• 13.5. Case Studies: Examples of Environmental Forensic Microscopy Investigations
• 13.6. Conclusion

Chapter 14. Hydraulic Fracturing: Data Analysis Methods to Identify Sources of Dissolved Gas and Chemical Compounds in Drinking Water Wells

• 14.1. Introduction
• 14.2. Chemical Characterization of Potential Sources for The Drinking Water Well in Question
• 14.3. Sampling of Drinking Water Wells
• 14.4. Laboratory Analysis
• 14.5. Data Analysis Methods to Investigate The Source(s) of Gases in Drinking Water Wells
• 14.6. Conclusion

Chapter 15. Forensic Applications of Dendroecology

• 15.1. Introduction
• 15.2. Terminology
• 15.3. Principles
• 15.4. Dendroecology/Phytoscreening Sampling
• 15.5. Sample Preparation and Analysis
• 15.6. Forensic Opportunities
• 15.7. Interpretation of Dendroecology/Phytoscreening Data
• 15.8. Conclusion

Section III. Forensic Modeling

Chapter 16. Forensic Applications of Subsurface Contaminant Transport Models

• 16.1. Introduction
• 16.2. Contaminant Releases on a Paved and Unpaved Surface
• 16.3. Contaminant Transport Through a Paved Surface
• 16.4. Contaminant Transport Through an Unpaved Surface
• 16.5. Contaminant Transport Through Soil
• 16.6. Groundwater Models
• 16.7. Conclusion

Chapter 17. Forensic Investigation of Underground Storage Tanks and Subsurface Piping

• 17.1. Introduction
• 17.2. Forensic Sampling During Tank Excavation
• 17.3. Historical UST Standards
• 17.4. Corrosion
• 17.5. Conclusion

Chapter 18. Principal Components Analysis and Receptor Models in Environmental Forensics

• 18.1. Introduction
• 18.2. Principal Components Analysis
• 18.3. Self-Training Receptor-Modeling Methods
• 18.4. The Influence of Alteration Processes on Mixing Models
• 18.5. Conclusion

Chapter 19. Multivariate Statistical Methods and Source Identification in Environmental Forensics

• 19.1. Introduction
• 19.2. Multivariate Methods

Chapter 20. Receptor Models and Measurements for Identifying and Quantifying Air Pollution Sources

• 20.1. Introduction
• 20.2. The General Air Quality Model
• 20.3. The Chemical Mass Balance Receptor Model
• 20.4. Chemical Components (i)
• 20.5. Source Profiles (j)
• 20.6. Sampling Periods (k)
• 20.7. Particle Size (m)
• 20.8. Receptor Locations (l)
• 20.9. Estimating Uncertainties (σ_Cikl, σ_Fij, and σ_Sjkl)
• 20.10. Receptor-Model Application and Validation Protocol
• 20.11. Conclusion