Osami Nakasugi

Regional and Community Environment Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies
(16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki 305 Japan)

Abstract

Since it was revealed that groundwater is contaminated by chlorinated organic compounds all over the country, various chemical substances have been detected in the groundwater. Behaviors of pollutants in subsurface environments vary according to properties of chemical substances and conditions of subsurface environments. Chlorinated organic compounds, which are dense liquids, penetrate deeply and accumulate near the water table. Heavy metals adhere to soil particles in the shallow layer. It is necessary that appropriate countermeasures in response to behaviors of pollutants are considered.

Key words: soil, groundwater, contamination, hazardous substance, remedial action