Conducting Subsurface Environmental Investigations in Urban Watersheds - Urban Watersheds: Geology, Contamination, and Sustainable Development - page 118

• Lawn fertilizers (organophosphates)
• Some paints ( volatile organic compounds [VOCs])
• Oil
• Grease
In addition, some household products contain substances posing contamination risks to
the environment if discarded improperly. Some of the most common or recognizable prod-
ucts include
• Computer equipment (lead, cadmium, mercury)
• Televisions (lead, cadmium, mercury)
• Some electrical equipment (lead, copper)
• Most batteries (cadmium)
• Some building products (VOCs, e.g., formaldehyde and benzene)
• Wood with certain applied preservatives or coatings (arsenic)
The purpose for conducting any environmental investigation is to evaluate whether
there is an unacceptable environmental risk to a specific site or property being studied
(Jain et al. 1993).
Because we live in the midst of so many potentially harmful chemicals, some well-
informed and educated interpretation is necessary to evaluate the actual risk potential
when environmental contamination is identified at a site. Martin (2003) notes the trig-
gering mechanisms for conducting an environmental investigation at a property occur
when
• A property is involved in a real estate transaction.
• Contamination of some kind is released or suspected to have been released, such
as a tanker spill.
• A property is developed or redeveloped.
• A change in land use is proposed.
• A lending institution is involved with a property and requires an environmental
investigation before committing any financial resources.
• Something is observed at a property indicating contamination may be present.
Subsurface environmental investigations often begin at the ground surface—the intersection
of air, land, water, and human activity, and frequently involve hazardous materials and
remnants of contamination from the past. These characteristics of subsurface investiga-
tions impart a distinct set of rigorous requirements:
• Investigations focus on evaluating the potential existence of hazardous substances.
Therefore, the investigation must be conducted with great care to minimize the
potential risks of chemical exposure and other site hazards to investigators.
• The results of investigations may be used in a court of law, so the expertise level
of the investigator must be unimpeachable, and any method used—including
those for site investigation, quality control, and documentation must be expertly