Volatile Organic Carbons (VOC)
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as benzene,
toluene, xylenes, dichloromethane, trichloroethane
and trichloroethylene, are common soil pollutants in
industrialised and commercialised areas. One of the
more common sources of these contaminants is leaking
underground storage tanks. Improperly discarded
solvents and landfills, built before the introduction
of current stringent regulations, are also significant
sources of soil VOCs.
In Table 18.1 a list of typical inorganic and organic
substances present in industrial effluents is presented.