Priority control list of volatile organic compounds at organic-contaminated sites

ObjectiveA priority control list of pollutants is an essential prerequisite and foundation for the effective management and environmental remediation of organic-contaminated sites, which can provide scientific guidance for the precise prevention and control of organic-contaminated sites. MethodsThe average detection rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater and the vadose zone of typical organic-contaminated sites in China were obtained through literature search and data collection. Additionally, the complex environmental behaviors of pollutants were parameterized, and key parameters including the mobility, degradation effects, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of pollutants in different media were selected to establish the screening system for the priority control list. The scores of multiple assessment factors were obtained through logarithmic transformation and normalization, then the weights of the assessment factors were determined using multiple statistical linear regression. Ultimately, the priority control ranking list of VOCs across multiple environmental media at contaminated sites was established. ResultsThe results indicated that trichloroethylene and ethylbenzene had high scores in groundwater and vadose zone, indicating that they should be controlled first. In addition, trichloroethylene and its hydrogenolysis reaction products, including 1,1-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, all exhibited high scores. Therefore, more intensive attention should be paid to the environmental behaviors of trichloroethylene in different media of organic-contaminated sites. ConclusionThis study provides theoretical and methodological support for the environmental governmence of organic pollutants at organic-contaminated sites and the formulation of priority control lists.