API Bulletin: Characteristics of Dissolved Petroleum Hydrocarbon Plumes: Results From Four Studies.

Connor, Newell

Recent studies of over 600 groundwater contamination sites throughout the U.S. provide important information regarding the fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface. This API research summary examines the findings of four independent research studies and addresses several key technical issues regarding the assessment and remediation of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) plumes. On-going research regarding MTBE plume characteristics will be addressed in a future bulletin as data become available. Key Finding: Most BTEX groundwater plumes are less than 200 ft in length and are in a STABLE or SHRINKING condition.