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In this updated and expanded second edition, new literature has been added on contaminant fate in the soil-subsurface environment. In particular, more data on the behavior of inorganic contaminants and on engineered nanomaterials were included, the latter comprising a group of “emerging contaminants” that may reach the soil and subsurface zones.New chapters are devoted to a new perspective of contaminant geochemistry, namely irreversible changes in pristine land and subsurface systems following chemical contamination. Two chapters were added on this topic, focusing attention on the impact of chemical contaminants on the matrix and properties of both liquid and solid phases of soil and subsurface domains. Contaminant impacts on irreversible changes occurring in groundwater are discussed and their irreversible changes on the porous medium solid phase are surveyed. In contrast to the geological time scale controlling natural changes of porous media liquid and solid phases, the time scale associated with chemical pollutant induced changes is far shorter and extends over a “human lifetime scale”.

In spite of many years of intensive study, our current abilities to quantify and predict contaminant migration in natural geological formations remain severely limited. The heterogeneity of these formations over a wide range of scales necessitates consideration of sophisticated transport theories. The evolution of such theories has escalated to the point that a review of the subject seems timely. While conceptual and mathematical developments were crucial to the introduction of these new approaches, there are now too many publications that contain theoretical abstractions without regard to real systems, or incremental improvements to existing theories which are known not to be applicable. This volume brings together articles representing a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art approaches for characterization and quantification of contaminant dispersion in heterogeneous porous media. Audience: The contributions are intended to be as accessible as possible to a wide readership of academics and professionals with diverse backgrounds such as earth sciences, subsurface hydrology, petroleum engineering, and soil physics.

This book combines soil science, earth science, and environmental geochemistry, providing comprehensive background information for specialists interested in chemical-induced changes in the soil-subsurface system. Readers are introduced to the chemistry of contaminants that often disturb the natural soil-subsurface equilibrium as a result of human activity. While the soil-subsurface system has in many cases been affected by human impact, the effects of chemical contaminants on the actual matrix and properties have been largely neglected. The major focus of the book is on changes to the soil-subsurface matrix and properties caused by chemical pollution. By integrating results available in the literature, we observe that chemical pollutants may lead to the irreversible formation of a new soil-subsurface regime characterized by a matrix and properties different than those of the natural regime. In contrast to the geological time scales dictating natural changes to the matrix and properties of the soil-subsurface system, the time scale associated with chemical pollutant-induced changes is far shorter and extends over a “human lifetime scale.” The numerous examples presented in the book confirm that chemical contamination should be considered as an additional factor in the formation of a contemporary soil-subsurface regime that is different than that of the pristine system.

Contaminant Geochemistry: Interactions and Transport in the Subsurface Environment combines the earth science fields of subsurface hydrology and en- ronmental geochemistry and aims to provide a comprehensive background for s- dents and researchers interested in protection and sustainable management of the subsurface environment. This book focuses on the upper part of the earth's crust, covering the region between the land surface and the groundwater zone; anthro- genic contamination occurs primarily in this well-defined geosystem. Water and land are limited natural resources, and it is incumbent on humankind to manage knowledge and technology in a way that avoids, or at least minimizes, deterioration of these resources. In this context, an understanding of the interactions between subsurface components (solid, liquid and gaseous phases) and chemical contaminants is required. Because the subsurface is an open system, contaminants may be transported, transformed, and redistributed in the subsurface under a variety of environmental influences. Contaminant interactions in the subsurface are subject to continuous changes, being affected by fluctuations in climatic conditions (p- ticularly precipitation) and microbiological activity. Additionally, these inter- tions are controlled by the structure and properties of the earth materials, the molecular properties of the contaminants, and the hydrogeology of each specific location. As a consequence, a multidisciplinary approach is fundamental to und- standing the governing processes.