[en] Traditional approaches to groundwater pollution risk assessment often rely on simplified mathematical models that primarily focus on pollutant concentrations. These models estimate leaching into groundwater and pollutant dispersion within the aquifer as separate processes, failing to account for the continuity of pollutant mass fluxes as they move from the soil to the groundwater system. Moreover, most models consider only degradation processes and overlook the risks posed by the degradation by-products, which can also pose environmental threats.
To overcome these limitations, we have developed a new analytical solution that integrates leaching and dispersion processes into a unified framework. This approach shifts the evaluation paradigm from concentrations to mass fluxes of pollutants in the subsurface, providing a more dynamic and comprehensive representation of pollutant migration. It allows for the simultaneous consideration of both parent pollutants and their metabolites or degradation products. By including these transformation products, the method accounts for the secondary risks that may arise even after the primary pollutants degrade, offering a more complete assessment of groundwater contamination risks.
This contribution outlines the development of this innovative solution, demonstrating its ability to address the limitations of traditional models. Through case studies of polluted sites, we show how the method can be applied to real-world scenarios. These case studies highlight the practical advantages of the mass flux-based approach, particularly in complex environments where pollutant behaviour is influenced by various physical and chemical factors. The integrated nature of this method also allows for more reliable predictions of pollutant spread and persistence in the groundwater system.
By addressing key gaps in traditional pollution risk assessments, this new solution sets a new standard for evaluating groundwater contamination, offering improved accuracy and better risk management tools for environmental protection.
