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DISTINGUISHING ANTHROPOGENIC AND GEOGENIC IMPACTS OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION
Citation:
SCHECKEL, K. G. DISTINGUISHING ANTHROPOGENIC AND GEOGENIC IMPACTS OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION. Presented at International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Forensics, Perth, AUSTRALIA, April 04 - 09, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
to present information
Description:
Environmental forensics is an area of scientific research that addresses contamination within the environmental media of air, water, soil and biota, and is subject to law court, arbitration, public debate, or formal argumentation. Environmental forensics involves scientific studies that explore source, fate, transport and ecological effects of environmental contamination, with contamination being delineated in terms of chemical characterization, biological influence, responsible parties and legal consequences. Environmental forensics is rapidly evolving into a powerful, advanced site characterization methodology that helps decision makers develop a better understanding of the origin and timing of a contaminant's release into the environment. Chemical fingerprinting is a technique well known in the field of environmental geochemistry but has not been widely used in environmental forensics. Beyond chemical fingerprinting determination of metal speciation can play a decisive role related to fate and transport of contaminates leading to solid legal litigation to penalize responsible parties. This presentation will highlight the role of advanced spectroscopic methods in aiding the efficiency of environmental forensics.