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<p>Groundwater contamination due to leaky underground fuel tanks is a common problem at
civilian and military sites worldwide. The U.S. EPA estimates that 35% of the U.S.'s
underground motor fuel tanks are leaking (1 ), which corresponds to approximately 2 million
tanks, and approximately 40% have resulted in groundwater contamination (2). Benzene,
toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (known collectively as BTEX) are water-soluble fuel
constituents that comprise 50 wt % of the water-soluble fraction of gasoline (3). The occurrence
of BTEX in groundwater is of concern due to the hazards that they pose toward human health.
For example, benzene is a confirmed carcinogen and toluene, while it is less toxic than benzene,
depresses the central nervous system. The EPA water quality criterion for benzene and toluene
in drinking water is 0.005 mg/Land 14.3 mg/L, respectively (4).
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<br>Subjects:</div>
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Pawlowski, Michael H.</div>
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