The potential effects of hazardous compounds released into the environment on human health and the environment are often difficult to define.
Understanding the transport and fate of contaminants in all environmental media (soil/sediment, atmosphere, and hydrologic systems) is critical for proper monitoring and assessment of contaminated sites (see Chapters 18 and 19).
The term fate refers to the disposition of a contaminant as it is transported through the environment.
There are many physical, chemical, and biological processes that influence the ultimate fate of a contaminant in the environment.
Some of the major processes will be briefly reviewed in the next section, based on material presented in a recent report published by NRC (2000).
Additional information regarding the factors and processes that influence the transport and fate of contaminants in the environment can be found in Pepper et al. (1996).