Analysis of Underground Water Contamination Caused by a Refilling Station: A Case Study
Eduardo Antonio Maia Lins, Arminda Saconi Messias, Alex Gabriel Rodrigues Martins, Bruna Souza da Silva
Abstract
Awareness on underground water contamination caused by leakage in gas stations has experienced recent
increases both in lay people as well as in environmental regulation agencies. The most aggressive pollutants,
both to the environment and to living beings, are present in gasoline, namely: benzene, toluene, etilbenzene and
xylene, commonly called by the acronym BTEX. The present case-study aims to assess the contamination of
underground water by a gas station located in the urban area of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The study was
carried out through environmental investigation and step definitions of the preliminary investigation and
confirmatory investigation, offering technical orientations throughout the process. Analyzing the highest values
from the VOC table, three water samples were collected and submitted to chemical analysis. Based on the results
obtained, it was concluded that two samples had BTEX results above the upper limited defined by the regulation
IN005. Therefore, a RCBA tier 2 risk analysis was recommended. The mentioned investigation determines the
intensity of the contamination, the approximate area of extension and the risk it brings to human health and
environment. Based on this result, it was determined whether there is need of intervention in the studied area
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