Environmental Forensics

ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSICS             

                                                                

Author: Charan Tej Rayapu, 3rd Year B.Sc., Microbiology, Biotechnology & Biochemistry, SVKP & Dr.K.S.Raju Arts and Science College, Penugonda.

DEFINITION:

Environmental forensics is the systematic and scientific evaluation of physical, chemical, and historical information to develop defensible scientific and legal conclusions regarding the source or age of contaminant released into the environment.

It involves the application of principles from various fields such as chemistry, biology, geology, and environmental science to solve ecological problems.

Environmental forensics can be used to investigate various environmental issues, including contaminated sites, air pollution, water pollution, and water disposal.

TECHNIQUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSICS:

The main application of environmental forensics techniques is basically for contaminant age dating & source identification. Which include techniques like:

• Aerial photo interpretation and photogrammetry. 
• Association of unique chemicals with a discrete chemical process.
• Identification of a manufacturer with a particular product and formulation.
• The use of chemical additives and/or impurities.
• Chemical profiling.
• Chemical degradation modeling.
• Contaminant transport modeling (air, soil, soil vapor, groundwater). 
• Compound–specific isotropic analysis (CSIA).
• Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxin/furan congeners analysis.

CONTAMINANTS WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSICS IS USED 

• Petroleum hydrocarbons (refined/unrefined).
• PAHs
• Chlorinated solvents (PERC).
• PCBs /PCDDs /PCDF.
• Metals (selected).
• VOCs.
• Methane (cold bed methane).
• Pesticides (persistent/non-persistent).
• Other persistent organic pollutants.

INDICATOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSICS

Indicators are physical, chemical, or biological parameters that are used to detect and quantify environmental contamination. Indicators are used in environmental forensics to help identify the presence of contaminants and determine their sources.

Chemical fingerprinting: This can help to identify sources of pollution and maybe used as evidence in court.

Chemical composition of natural waters: The result of the water’s interaction with its environment.

Analytical chemistry: Can be used to analyze chemical reactions in the earth’s atmosphere.

Biological monitoring: Using living organisms to evaluate environmental quality can support data from physio-chemical measurements.

Determination of polychlorinated dioxins and furans: Dioxin and furan methods are generally more accurate and precise than PCB methods.

Ectotoxicology and environmental safety: Monitoring compounds that could be environmental contaminants is important to protect soil quality.

REFERENCES:

• https://www.slideshare.net/Abode7/environmental-forensicspptx
• https://aapaavani.com/environmental-forensics/#:~:text=The%20techniques%20that%20we%20use,a%20particular%20product%20and%20formulation
• https://www.google.com/search?q=indicators+of+environmental+forensics&oq=indi&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgAEEUYJxg7MggIABBFGCcYOzIICAEQRRgnGDsyDAgCEC4YQxiABBiKBTIMCAMQABhDGIAEGIoFMhMIBBAuGIMBGMcBGLEDGNEDGIAEMgwIBRAAGEMYgAQYigUyDAgGEAAYQxiABBiKBTIGCAcQRRg80gEIMjg
• zOWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8