Talk:VOC contamination of groundwater

Here are just a couple of ideas for expanding this article:

Add some more information to the introduction about how groundwater contamination from volatile organic compounds occurs - these compounds are deposited into the soil from leaks, spills or improper disposal, are somewhat soluble in water, and do not bind tightly to soil. These are the reasons why VOC groundwater contamination warrants its own article.

The ATSDR has a list of the most important contaminants at hazardous waste sites. It might provide some perspective to the list of VOCs presented in this article to discuss them with respect to the ATSDR documentation.

There are other good examples of suspected disease clusters associated with groundwater contamination beyond Love Canal and Camp Lejeune (W.R. Grace facility in Woburn, MA; the Fairchild plant in Santa Clara, CA, etc.). In particular, if Camp Lejeune is going to be discussed, additional detail can be provided from the ATSDR report. The NAS report on environmental epidemiology (from 1991) talks more about these sites.

Just this year, the USGS published a comprehensive report of VOC groundwater contamination in the US. It would be a good addition to this article.

I'm not sure there is a "fetal toluene syndrome". If someone knows the source for it, we should mention it here.

Jlowe19 17:26, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Did some checking - There are studies describing fetal toluene syndrome. The patterns of exposure associated with it include inhalant abuse and occupational exposure (inhalation). If it's going to be mentioned, it might be useful to put it into perspective with regard to lower-level exposure through contaminated groundwater. Jlowe19 19:27, 22 November 2006 (UTC)