Environmental assessment of a site contaminated by organic compounds

This paper presents a study on environmental assessment of an abandoned ind ustrial area located in central Italy. Main production was refractory mater ials and compounds for treatment of industrial wastewater. The present work deals with a methodology for development of a sound sampling design, chemi cal characterization of soil samples, definition of the degree of site cont amination according to law limits and evaluation of the fate and transport of contaminants by EPA simulation model (VLEACH 2.2a). Results indicate tha t toxic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and plasticizers) are u niformly distributed in the contaminated site and only in one sampling poin t their concentrations exceed law limits. Modeling results confirm that con taminants migration to groundwater can be excluded, addressing for a site r emediation limited to the surface layer.