A Hydro‐Biogeochemical Tracing Method for Soil‐Groundwater Organic Contamination in Industrial Sites: Development and Validation of a Micro‐Disturbance System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT The heterogeneity of soil and groundwater media, combined with the complexity of contaminant hydro‐biogeochemical behavior, limits the effectiveness of traditional high‐disturbance, low‐density methods, such as drilling, for characterizing contaminant transport and transformation processes. To address this, we developed a micro‐disturbance detection and data interpretation method based on multiprocess coupling theory, focusing on key hydro‐biogeochemical processes of organic pollutants. Validation was conducted at a petroleum‐contaminated site in North China using a phased approach that integrated micro‐disturbance screening with drilling verification. The results showed that the micro‐disturbance screening successfully delineated a plume of approximately 1542 m 2 , consistent with shallow soil exceedances and groundwater contamination, thereby demonstrating a strong correlation between surface gas anomalies and subsurface biogeochemical processes. This study enhances source–plume delineation capability, provides technical support for tracing contaminant biogeochemical processes, and offers a scientific basis for implementing remediation strategies such as enhanced natural attenuation.
Source: Water Environment Research
DOI: 10.1002/wer.70255
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7127973712