Current methods of subsurface contaminant delineation are expensive, time intensive and cause excessive ecological and environmental damage. Using a variety of analytical techniques, analyses can provide detection in the nanogram/liter range in plant tissues and can also provide accurate quantitative analysis. In-planta sampling can provide evidence of natural attenuation of contaminants by detecting degradation products. Concentrations in the transpiration streams of plants have been shown to follow a linear relationship to the groundwater, vapor phase or soil concentrations. The availability of trees to sample on a site can also allow for sampling in areas inaccessible to traditional methods of sampling groundwater and soil. Monitoring of sites, including the expansion and contraction of plumes, can also be supported with in-planta analysis. This would lead to decreased monitoring costs, which can comprise the majority of expenses at contaminated sites.

File Number: 07UMR120 

Web site: http://ecodevo.mst.edu

Other Information:

Case Manager: Keith Strassner (kdstrass@mst.edu)