The validity of total organic carbon (TOC) or total organic halide (TOX) measurements as surrogate analyses to detect harmful emissions of leachate from landfills is examined. Correlations of analyses from over 1400 random samples obtained between 1984 and 1987 were interpreted. TOC frequently includes high background levels of natural organic materials in the soil and should only be used when reliable measurements of this background exist. TOX provides a qualitative indication of the presence of halogenated pollutants, but is unreliable as a quantitative indicator due to the complexity of leachate chemistry. Neither indicator is capable of detecting small quantities of highly toxic substances.
Ahern, J. & Grabowski, J.J. (1984), Inaccurate water-quality data in ground-water studies, Proceedings of the Third National Symposium on Aquifer Restoration and Ground-Water Monitoring , Water Well Journal Publishing Company, OH.
2.
Choudry, G.G. (1983), Humic Substances. Part IV: interactions with environmental chemicalsToxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 6, 127-171.
3.
Environmental Testing and Certification ETC ( 1986), RCRA OverviewEnvironmental Testing and Certification, NJ.
Lee, G.F., & Jones R.A. (1984), Water-quality monitoring at hazardous waste disposal sites: is public health protection possible through monitoring programs? Proceedings of the Third National Symposium on Aquifer Restoration and Ground-Water Monitoring, Water Well Journal Publishing Company, OH.
6.
Levine, A.D., Tchobanoglous, G. & Garzonetti, G. (1985), Improved industrial wastewater treatment through particle size management using leachate treatment as a case study, Proceedings of the Fortieth Industrial Waste Conference, Purdue University, Butterworth Publisher, MA.
7.
Montgomery, R.H., Loftis, J.C. & Harris, J. (1987), Statistical characteristics of ground-water quality variables, Ground Water25, (2), 176-184.
8.
Plumb, R.H., Jr. (1985), Disposal Site Monitoring Data: Observations and Strategy Implications. Presented at the Second annual Canadian/American conference on hydrogeology: hazardous wastes in ground water-a soluble dilemma.
9.
Small, R.A., Lowry, T.W., & Ejzak, E.M. (1986), Oxidation and detection techniques in TOC analysis , American Laboratory, 182-189.
10.
Sorrell, R.K., Daly, E., Boyer, L. & Brass, H.J. (1985), Monitoring for volatile organohalides using purgeable and total organic halide as surrogates, Water Chlorination, Chemistry, Environmental Impact, and Health Effects, vol. 5 Jolley, R. L., Bull, R. J., Davis, W. P., Katz, S., Roberts, M. H. Jr. & Jacobs, V. A. Lewis Publishers, Inc.
11.
Tate, C.H., Chow, B.M., Clark, R.R., Grams, N.E. & Hashimoto L.K. (1985), EPA Method Study 32: Method 450. I-Total Organic Halides (TOX), National Technical Information Service PB86-136538.
12.
Usa (1987), Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR, Subchapter I, parts 261-265.
13.
Williams, D.T., Coburn, J.A. & Bansci, J.J. (1984), Study of Total Organic Halogen as a Means to Detect Groundwater Contamination. Environmental International, 10, 39-43.
