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Assessing soil and groundwater contamination in a metropolitan redevelopment project
Junki Yun1, Ju Young Lee, Jeehyeong Khim
1Samsung C & T Corporation Engineering and Construction Group, Seoul, South Korea. yjky@samsung.com
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|January 12, 2013
Summary
Urban redevelopment faced challenges from persistent soil and groundwater contamination, specifically from waste materials and petroleum. Remediation efforts identified remaining zinc and total petroleum hydrocarbon hotspots, impacting project progress and human health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Urban redevelopment projects, including a rapid transit railway and mega-shopping area, require assessment of soil and groundwater contamination.
- Previous remediation efforts have been undertaken, but residual contamination by waste materials and petroleum persists in several sites.
- Contaminated sites pose risks to human health and can impede urban development progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of soil and groundwater contamination at a site slated for urban redevelopment.
- To identify specific contaminants, including zinc and petroleum hydrocarbons, and their sources.
- To evaluate the relationship between soil and groundwater contamination for remediation planning.
Main Methods:
- Site investigation and sampling of soil and groundwater.
- Chemical analysis for zinc (Zn) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH).
- Microbial analysis for hydrocarbon-degrading microbes.
- Statistical analysis, including Spearman correlation, to assess contaminant relationships.
Main Results:
- High concentrations of zinc (Zn) were found across the area due to historical waste disposal.
- Elevated levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and hydrocarbon-degrading microbes were detected at 7m depth, linked to a former underground storage tank.
- A significant correlation was observed between TPH concentrations in soil and groundwater.
Conclusions:
- Despite initial remediation, significant zones of zinc and petroleum contamination remain.
- The historical presence of underground petroleum storage tanks is a key factor in current petroleum contamination.
- Understanding the correlation between soil and groundwater TPH is crucial for effective remediation strategies in urban redevelopment zones.
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