MORE | Spring 2023

Background Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in Soils: Quantification and Implication for TPH Regulation

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution is a ubiquitous threat to public and environmental health. Current EPA regulations require measurements of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) for determining whether a contaminated site has been adequately remediated. State and federally mandated methods for measuring TPH are unable to discriminate between petroleum generated via drilling and distribution, and compounds generated from natural processes in the soil. This research aims to demonstrate the extent to which natural compounds found in soils such as soil organic matter, contribute to apparent TPH.