Nitroaromatic (TNT) and nitramine (RDX, HMX) compounds used in military and industrial explosives, with documented soil and groundwater contamination at manufacturing plants, demolition ranges, and impact areas. Several are classified as probable human carcinogens and are regulated in drinking water.
Trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) are the dominant legacy military explosives. RDX is the most groundwater-mobile and drives most remediation decisions at training ranges; the U.S. EPA Lifetime Health Advisory for RDX in drinking water is 2 micrograms per litre.
Remediation routes include in-situ chemical reduction with zero-valent iron, in-situ bioremediation under anaerobic conditions (RDX dechlorinates and ring-cleaves under reducing conditions), composting (effective for TNT), and ex-situ thermal treatment for source zones. The U.S. Department of Defense's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) has funded a large body of energetics-remediation research that informs current practice.
Also known as: explosives, energetics, RDX, TNT, HMX, nitroaromatics.
Munitions & Energetics (UXO/MEC): treatment approach
The chemical and physical legacy of military training ranges and munitions manufacturing — cyclic nitramines (RDX, HMX), nitroaromatics (TNT, DNT), and perchlorate — treated by anaerobic bioremediation and alkaline hydrolysis, with intact-item hazards managed through UXO clearance and detonation.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: a class of more than 12,000 synthetic compounds built around exceptionally stable carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS is the family name, not a single chemical. PFOA and PFOS are two specific members of this class.
Perfluorooctanoic acid: a specific eight-carbon long-chain PFAS compound, historically used in non-stick coatings and AFFF firefighting foam. Classified by IARC in 2023 as Group 1, carcinogenic to humans.
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid: a specific eight-carbon long-chain PFAS compound, historically the active surfactant in 3M Scotchgard and AFFF firefighting foam. Classified by IARC in 2023 as Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and related furans: highly persistent, fat-soluble chlorinated compounds formed as unintended byproducts of combustion, chlorine-based manufacturing, and herbicide production, with TCDD among the most toxic substances ever characterized.