ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 describes the basis for accepted practice in site investigation and remediation and the gaps in that practice from which new contaminants can emerge. It explores the evolution of the factors that have influenced how we have defined environmental pollution, including: environmental regulations, analytical chemistry techniques, and the understanding of hazard and therefore risk. Regulatory programs discussed in this chapter with respect to how they define pollution or contamination include the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. This chapter also describes the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Chemical compounds used to illustrate key points in this chapter include: orthonitrochlorobenzene, gasoline and diesel oil, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and 1,2-dichloroethane.
