Environmental Science
How Petrochemical Spills Persist in Groundwater
Quick fact
A single liter of gasoline can render a million liters of groundwater undrinkable, and fuel spilled decades ago can still be leaching chemicals into water today because the oil forms a separate layer that remains trapped underground.
Why this is interesting
You might think that a fuel spill near a river would wash away, but decades after an oil tanker accident, groundwater can still be contaminated. How does that happen?