Overview
![](/assets/images/picto-drapeau-france-3a76576a5d60a512053b4612ab58dae5.png)
ABSTRACT
The industrialized world shows the growing desire to move towards a sustainable society and notably to take into account the impact of their activities on the environment and public health. The monitored natural attenuation (MNA) appears to be a solution that is able to meet this approach. This depollution technique is defined as all natural processes (biological, geochemical, hydraulic ...) capable of reducing or limiting contamination. However, in order for this approach to be competitive, the objectives must be met within a reasonable time.
Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.
Read the articleAUTHORS
-
Bart Vander VELPEN: Royal HaskoningDHV
-
Werner STAES: Haskoning Belgium
INTRODUCTION
Moving towards a sustainable society is becoming an increasingly important area of development in the industrialized world. Concepts such as industrial ecology and "Cradle to Cradle aim to ensure that the objectives of – activities, such as sanitation –, take into account the effects on the environment and public health during and after these activities. These concepts are finding increasing support in our society. The basis of all sustainable development concepts is the economic and socio-ecological factor.
This development requires a thorough assessment of the socio-ecological cost-benefit balance of the action or technique envisaged. This applies not only to new investments and techniques, but also to the correction of environmental and human situations resulting from an industrial legacy.
In France and other industrialized countries, the trend towards a balanced approach between clean-up costs and environmental and human benefits is becoming increasingly clear. In the past, it was found that active groundwater remediation up to certain remediation standards (intervention standards or reference standards) often failed and was often unfeasible. As a result, the BATNEEC principle (Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost) was not met. As a result, remediation is increasingly focused on human and environmental risk, using more extensive techniques. On the other hand, these techniques do not always restore the "pre-industrial" situation, but they do prevent unacceptable impacts on the environment and public health.
In this context, "Monitored Natural Attenuation" (MNA) is to be considered as a possible approach and an available remediation technique. Natural attenuation" is defined as all the natural processes (biological, geochemical, hydraulic and others) that are capable of reducing or limiting contamination or the risks associated with this contamination. The term "monitored natural attenuation" refers to reliance on natural attenuation processes. Far from being a laissez-faire philosophy, this technique can only be appropriate if its use is protective of human health and the environment, and if it is capable of achieving decontamination objectives within a reasonable timeframe compared with other alternatives.
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
KEYWORDS
pollution control | hydrocarbons | biodegradation
This article is included in
Environment
This offer includes:
Knowledge Base
Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees
Services
A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources
Practical Path
Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills
Doc & Quiz
Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading
Monitored natural attenuation of organic pollutants: a remediation technique
Bibliography
Regulations
(non-exhaustive list)
Directive 76/464/EEC of May 4, 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (OJEC of May 18, 1976).
Directive 2006/11/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of February 15, 2006 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the...
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference