Kaatje Touchant - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kaatje Touchant

Science of The Total Environment, 2016

Large river catchments with mixed land use capture pesticides from many sources, and degradable p... more Large river catchments with mixed land use capture pesticides from many sources, and degradable pesticides are converted during downstream transport. Unravelling the contribution of pesticide source and the effect of degradation processes is a challenge in such areas. However, insight and understanding of the sources is important for targeted management, especially when water is abstracted from the river for drinking water production. The river Meuse is such a case. A long-term monitoring data set was applied in a modelling approach for assessing the contribution of waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) and tributaries (sub-basins) to surface water contamination, and to evaluate the effect of decay on the downstream concentrations of glyphosate and AMPA at the point of drinking water abstraction. The results show that WWTPs are important contributors for glyphosate and AMPA in large river catchments with mixed land uses. In the studied area, the river Meuse in the Netherlands, the relative contribution of WWTP effluents is above 29% for glyphosate and around 12% for AMPA. Local industries are found to be potentially big contributors of AMPA. Glyphosate entering the river system is gradually converted to AMPA and other degradation productions, which results in downstream loads that are considerably lower than the sum of all influxes. In summer when the travel time is longer due to lower discharge, the first order decay of glyphosate in the river Meuse is estimated to result in about 50% reduction of the downstream glyphosate concentrations over a river stretch of 250km. The contribution of glyphosate decay to the observed AMPA concentrations ranges between 2% and 10%. Contributions are sensitive to seasonal variations in discharge that influence the concentrations through dilution and degradation.

Background, aim, and scope The membrane interphase probe (MIP™) from Geoprobe Systems ® has frequ... more Background, aim, and scope The membrane interphase probe (MIP™) from Geoprobe Systems ® has frequently been applied in different countries for the characterization of soil contaminated with volatile organic carbons (VOCs). Experience shows that misinterpretation of the collected data is common. This is mainly due to the lack of understanding and knowledge related to the detectors used, their detection limits, and the sensitivity of the MIP system. It has been noticed that the sensitivity of the system given by the producer and by different users are rather optimistic, e.g., the values given are lower ( = better) than those actually experienced in the field. A need for a better understanding of the MIP system sensitivity, combined with a more scientifically based inter-pretation of the collected data, exists.

NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, 2008

The investigation of sites polluted with NAPLs (non aqueous phase liquids) such as BTEX (benzene,... more The investigation of sites polluted with NAPLs (non aqueous phase liquids) such as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene) and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAH) is a real challenge. It has been demonstrated that the use of so called “conventional” field measurement techniques (drilling, placement of observation wells, ex-situ analysis of soilgroundwater samples) does not guarantee that a NAPL pollution

NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, 2009

... ILSE VAN KEER*, RICHARD LOOKMAN, JAN BRONDERS, KAAT TOUCHANT, JOHAN PATYN, INGEBORG JORIS, DA... more ... ILSE VAN KEER*, RICHARD LOOKMAN, JAN BRONDERS, KAAT TOUCHANT, JOHAN PATYN, INGEBORG JORIS, DANNY WILCZEK, JOHAN VOS VITO (Flemish ... However, due to these problems, and because of a long period of severe frost in the following months, the ...

accuracy, vapour, intrusion, model, soil, groundwater

Brownfield; risk management plan; groundwater contamination; volatile organic hydrocarbons; natur... more Brownfield; risk management plan; groundwater contamination; volatile organic hydrocarbons; natural attenuation; risk based

Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2008

Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2009

Background, aim and scope Vapours of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from contaminate... more Background, aim and scope Vapours of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from contaminated soils may move through the unsaturated zone to the subsurface. VOC in the subsurface can be transported to the indoor air by convective air movement through openings in the foundation and basement. Once they have entered the building, they may cause adverse human health effects. Screening-level algorithms have been developed, which predict indoor air concentrations as a result of soil (vadose zone) contamination. The present study evaluates seven currently used screening-level algorithms, predicting vapour intrusion into buildings as a result of vadose zone contamination, regarding the accuracy of their predictions and their usefulness for screening purpose. Screening aims at identifying contaminated soils that should be further investigated as to the need of remediation and/or the

Our results show that the application of a river model allows to asses fate and transport of pest... more Our results show that the application of a river model allows to asses fate and transport of pesticides in a catchment in spite of monitoring data scarcity. Furthermore, the model provides insight in the contribution of different sub basins to the pollution level. The modelling results indicate that the effect of local measures to reduce pesticides concentrations in the river at points of drinking water abstraction, might be limited due to dominant transboundary loads. This emphasizes the need for transboundary management strategies on a river catchment scale.

Recent gepubliceerd onderzoek bevestigt dat lood in de bodem ook bij lage blootstelling een risic... more Recent gepubliceerd onderzoek bevestigt dat lood in de bodem ook bij lage blootstelling een risico kan zijn voor de gezondheid van jonge kinderen (lagere IQ). Bovendien blijkt dat bij hogere blootstellingsniveaus aan lood dit ook bij volwassenen gezondheidsproblemen kan veroorzaken. Voorbeelden zijn nierfalen en hart- en vaatziekten. Het is daarom belangrijk om met maatregelen de blootstelling te verkleinen op plekken waar lood in de bodem zit. De wetenschappelijke literatuur bevestigt de uitgangspunten waarop het Nederlandse en Vlaamse bodembeleid voor lood is gebaseerd. Waar het niet mogelijk is om de bodem schoon te maken of af te graven, krijgen mensen adviezen over hoe zij de blootstelling kunnen verminderen. Bijvoorbeeld over hoe ze hun huis kunnen schoonmaken (vaker en met een dweil in plaats van statische doekjes). Aanbevolen wordt om verder te onderzoeken welke maatregelen hiervoor effectief zijn. Zo kan het toevoegen van compost aan de grond ervoor zorgen dat het lood aan ...

When drinking water is abstracted from surface water, the presence of pesticides may have a large... more When drinking water is abstracted from surface water, the presence of pesticides may have a large impact on the purification costs. In order to respect imposed thresholds at points of drinking water abstraction in a river catchment, sustainable pesticide management strategies might be required in certain areas. To improve management strategies, a sound understanding of the emission routes, the transport,

NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, 2008

A recent review and evaluation of risk assessment tools in Europe, performed within the HERACLES ... more A recent review and evaluation of risk assessment tools in Europe, performed within the HERACLES network, showed that many different human health based risk assessment tools are available in Europe, as equations, models, graphs, protocols or databases. Many of these tools are incorporated in legal frameworks, either as procedures or incorporated in soil screening values (SSV). As a consequence, SSVs and site specific assessment criteria differ throughout Europe. The anticipated E.U. Soil Framework Directive (COM(2006)232, 2006) will encourage convergence in procedures among Member states to ensure neutral conditions of competition and a coherent soil protection regime. CABERNET’s Environment Group endorsed Risk Based Land Management, as promoted by CLARINET, but lamented the variable uptake of RBLM across Europe. The diversity of approaches, lack of skills and insufficient training opportunities were held up to be major factors inhibiting RBLM in Europe. Brownfields do not HAVE to b...

NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, 2009