GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE OLD O-FIELD SITE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD.
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Date
2017-08
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
The United States military is known for unsafe practices in disposing of toxic
chemicals and materials. Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland is no exception. One of
the dumping sites located in the proving grounds is called the O-Field area. This site is
located on Edgewood area of the base in a location called Gunpowder Neck. The O-Field
area is only a few hundred meters east of Gunpowder River and two hundred meters
south of Watson Creek. The site was set up during World War II and was used through
the 1970’s. The contamination at the site includes but is not limited to, lead, arsenic,
DDT, organic and inorganic volatiles, PCB’s, cadmium, chlorinated hydrocarbons and
herbicides. This site is one of the most contaminated and dangerous sites the United
States military has. Dumping at this site since the 1940s has led directly to contamination
of the upper unconfined aquifer. The upper unconfined aquifer consists of alluvial sand
deposits with clay lenses. The contaminated groundwater in the unconfined aquifer
directly discharges into Watson Creek to the northeast. The military has made a large
push to try and clean up this Old O-Field area by installing a pump and treat system. This
was done to prevent the contamination or adjacent surface waters, which flow into
Chesapeake Bay only a few kilometers away.
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Keywords
ground water contamination