Environ Health Toxicol.  2018 Dec;33(4):e2018019. 10.5620/eht.e2018019.

Fate and toxicity of spilled chemicals in groundwater and soil environment I: strong acids

• Shin D
• Kim Y
• Moon HS

• KMID: 2434044
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2018019

Abstract

We reviewed the chemical/physical properties, toxicity, environmental fate, and ecotoxicity of strong acids in soil and groundwater environments. We recommend that sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid be classified as chemicals of priority control based on volumes used, toxicity, carcinogenicity, and past significant spill events. Understanding the behavior and transport of spilled strong acids in soil and groundwater environments requires a multi-disciplinary approach, as they can undergo a variety of geochemical and biochemical reactions with complex geomedia. The toxicity of spilled acid is dependent on the characteristics of the geomedia exposed to the acid and the amount of residual protons following acid-substrate interaction. Soil texture, cation exchange capacity, mineral composition, bedrock type, and aluminum content may be important factors affecting the toxicity of spilled acid in soil-groundwater environments. We expect that the results of this study will contribute preliminary data for future research on chemical spills.

Keyword

Strong acid; Chemical spill; Environmental toxicity; Soil and groundwater; Sulfuric acid; Hydrofluoric acid

MeSH Terms

Aluminum
Groundwater*
Hydrofluoric Acid
Miners
Protons
Soil*
Sulfur
Aluminum
Hydrofluoric Acid
Protons
Soil
Sulfur