After undergoing the catastrophic phase of the 2 world wars, soil and water contamination has become a major problem faced by the countries globally. It has been estimated that there are hundreds of explosives-contaminated sites in the United States, and even a greater number in Europe and Asia. TNT, Rapid Detention Explosive (RDX) and High Melting Explosive (HMX) are the most commonly found explosive contaminants found in soil and water which are the materials majorly used by the military forces. Even after the 80 years of World War I, the soil samples obtained from Belgium were containing, substantial amount of contamination, mainly by lead, copper, arsenic and nitro aromatic metabolites such as 1, 3-dinitrobenzene. Managing sites contaminated with energetic materials has also become an international problem shared by many countries.<\/p>\n
Here are 6 Severe Cases of Soil Contamination:<\/p>\n
Hazardous Impacts of Explosives in Soil & Water:<\/strong><\/p>\n Due to improper handling and disposal techniques, the explosive contaminants and their derivatives have polluted environment to levels that threaten the health of humans, livestock, wildlife and, entire ecosystem. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) from military operations worldwide also poses a serious environmental threat due to the release of toxic substances from the corroding ordnance. In addition to the risks associated, these also possess a potential for an accidental detonation.\u00a0Ingestion, inhalation or dermal absorption of contaminated soil and water by a human body could lead to diseases like geohelminth infection, cancer, hookworm disease, and podoconiosis. Also, it could lead to congenital anomalies and impotency.<\/p>\n As explosive contaminated soil and water is a serious threat to human life and entire ecosystem, numerous solutions are available in the market to identify and remediate explosive-contaminated soils and waters. Electronic Sensor Technology, Inc. (EST) based in California provides one such solution by its portable sensor technology called zNose\u00ae. This electronic nose uses gas chromatography (GC) and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) to give complete profile of every possible kind of odors and chemicals in less than a minute. zNose\u00ae\u2019s gas detection voc capabilities can be applied to chemical analysis of air, water and soil for odor management and remediation projects.<\/p>\n The Vapor Analysis System of zNose\u00ae, used in zNose\u00ae provides a quantifiable response to multiple types of explosives simultaneously. Extracts of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) from soil or water were easily obtained in minutes allowing the system to operate under field conditions.<\/p>\n The use of the device for the detection of explosive has shown that, it can also be used for rapid screening of soil and water for explosives at the mg\/kg and water at the mg\/l concentration level. The instrument can perform an analysis in just 1 minute after injection of the sample. The fast response of the instrument also qualifies it as an Electronic Nose with the advantage that it has stable sensors that do not drift and do not require constant calibration.<\/p>\n By combining SAW detectors with high-speed temperature programmed chromatographic columns, specificity over a wide range of vapors at the part per billion level in near real time (< 1 minute) has been achieved. The GC\/SAW offers the advantages of a low-cost solid state detector and the specificity of a temperature programmed GC column.<\/p>\n zNose\u00ae\u2019s Assistance to US EPA<\/strong><\/p>\n Expended ammunition and waste from the manufacture of military ordinance has led to the dumping of enormous quantities of explosives onto military bases for the past 100 years. This severe dumping has made explosives in soil and water, a significant problem for the U.S. government and the populous at large. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer a clean and safe environment has undertaken the task of\u00a0remedying\u00a0the contaminated sites by using new technologies, under the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program. Electronic Sensor Technology (EST) participated in two of these programs in the past several years. The first was the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils and the second was the well head monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater.<\/p>\n Furthermore the zNose\u00ae was used in a blind test sponsored by the U.S. EPA\u2019s ETV program and was qualified as an acceptable technology to participate in a comprehensive field study of explosives in soil and water.\u00a0The zNose\u00ae volatile organic compound detector provides a parts-per-trillion sensitivity and can detect odors and chemical vapors effectively and efficiently.<\/p>\n Since the protection of the environment is nowadays one of the highest priorities in most of the countries these days, the modern detection device like zNose\u00ae would offer a great help in protecting the ecosystem of Earth. Also, it would put enormous constraint not just on the advancements in the explosives manufacturing industry in any country, but also on the further degradation of soil and water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After undergoing the catastrophic phase of the 2 world wars, soil and water contamination has become a major problem faced by the countries globally. It has been estimated that there are hundreds of explosives-contaminated sites in the United States, and … Continue reading