ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

COLLAGE OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION INDIVIDUAL ASSINGMENT

Name ID NUMBER
1. Samuel Derjew ETS1325/10

Summitted to summation date

Dr. Tsedekech G. may 23-2022
 1. For toluene, a 95% lower confidence limit on the benchmark dose (BMDL) of 238
mg/kg-day was used as the point of departure, based on increased kidney weight in a 13-
week gavage study in rats (NTP, 1990). USEPA has applied the following uncertainty
factors (UF) to this effect level: 10 for extrapolation for interspecies differences (animal
to human), 10 for consideration of interspecies variation (human variability), 10 for use
of a sub chronic study to estimate chronic effects, and 3 for database insufficiencies.
Calculate the oral reference dose (RfD) using the information provided.
Solution 1: Total UF =10* 10* 10 *3 = 3000

Using Equation 3.1, RfD =BMDL/ Total UF = 238/3000

=0.08mg/kg-day
2. What is the prerequisite for deciding the type of methods for site remediation?
A complete site assessment and characterization in terms of the type of contaminants, the extent
of the contamination, the magnitude of the contamination, and the concentration distribution on-
site and/or off-site. The need for an active remediation will depend on the risk and threat from
the contamination to human health and the environment.
3. In what circumstances is the natural attenuation method best used?
Natural attenuation is used most effectively when the contaminant concentrations are not very
high, preferably used in the “polishing stage” of the cleanup. Another situation might be at a site
having physical constraints for active cleanup methods, for example, under a building. It is also
desirable where another project would be cost prohibitive, or at a polluted site that is not
completely accessible, or where other remedial methods may not be feasible.
4. Site characterizations yield the following information. Groundwater is about 120 ft deep
(40 m), soil contamination is most distributed about 60 ft deep in a fine-grained material
layer, contaminants are primarily aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
and xylene [BTEX]), and contamination delineation is adequate. What will the choice of
soil cleanup method be? Justify your answer.

The best choice is the natural attenuation method. The reasons are:
(1) aromatic contaminants are naturally biodegradable (bio prone);
(2) soil excavation is almost impossible or very costly to a depth of 60 ft;
(3) soil vapor extraction does not work well with fine-grained material soil;
(4) groundwater is relatively deep, and the chance of its being impacted may be small.