Contaminant Monitoring

Contaminants of Concern

In an environmental investigation, contaminants of concern (COC) are the primary substance or substances that have the potential to be harmful to the environment and human health. For this reason, COC concentrations in soil, water, and air are often highly regulated in order to reduce their exposure risk. The identification and monitoring of contaminants of concern are essential for public health protection and environmental conservation.

Contaminants of concern can come from various sources, such as industrial activities, agricultural practices, transportation, waste disposal, and natural processes. They can be found in the air, groundwater and surface water, and soil. Some common examples of contaminants of concern include:

• Chemical pollutants
• Biological contaminants
• Radioactive contaminants
• Nutrient pollutants
• Air pollutants

Contaminants of concern are often subject to regulatory limits and monitoring requirements to mitigate any potential impacts. Identifying and addressing these contaminants is crucial for responsible site ownership and maintenance.

The Importance of Contaminant Monitoring

Identifying the source of a contaminant is important when trying to track its potential impacts and pathways. Migration pathways determine how the contaminants move through media and how they may impact receptors, such as the environment and human health. Evaluated media includes soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, vapor, and air.

Following the identification of potential contaminants, it is the investigator’s responsibility to provide a detailed characterization of the site. This would include, but not be limited to answering the following:

• What contaminants are actually present on the site?
• Where is the contamination?
• What is the volume/area/mass of contamination?
• Is the contamination in soil, groundwater, sediment?
• Is the contamination likely to migrate?
• Where would it migrate?

Characterization of contamination may come from a new investigation or the pairing of past investigations with supplemental investigations where needed to close existing data gaps.

Contaminant Monitoring with AEL environment

AEL offers a range of innovative solutions for identifying and remediating contaminants of concern, including:

• Environmental Site Assessments
• Risk Assessments
• Environmental Due Diligence and Testing
• Records of Site Condition (RSC)
• Site Remediation
• Fill Estimates and GIS Mapping

AEL employs a dedicated team of engineers, geoscientists, chemists, risk assessors, GIS and technology professionals, and related specialists through existing staffing and contracting arrangements. AEL’s track record of successfully completed projects, ranging in value from thousands to millions, is a result of expertise and innovation in the environmental engineering industry.