Assessment of pollution risk ascribed to Santa Margarida Military Camp activities (Portugal)

• Published in: Environmental Geology Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 1227 - 1235
• Main Authors: Matias, M. J, Marques, J. M, Figueiredo, P, Basto, M. J, Abreu, M. M, Carreira, P. M, Ribeiro, C, Flambó, A, Feliciano, J, Vicente, E. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 2009; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental assessment; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Environmental risk; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geology; Groundwater; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Military; Military bases; Military training; Mineralogy; Original Article; Pollution effects; Pollution, environment geology; Risk assessment; Silicates; Surface water; Waste disposal; Water geochemistry; Water pollution; Iberian Peninsula; Southern Europe; Portugal; Europe; Environmental impacts; Soils; Military training activities; Portugal; Waters; impact statements; risk assessment; stable isotopes; tritium; O-18/O-16; till; waste disposal; tracers; ground water; pollution; human activity; contamination; surface water; environment impact; aquifers; hydrochemistry; water quality; Military training activities . Environmental impacts . Waters; soils
• ISSN: 0943-0105; 1866-6280; 1432-0495; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s00254-008-1222-3

Santa Margarida Military Camp (S.M.M.C.) is the only one Portuguese military training area, including firing ranges for tactical military manoeuvres of mechanised divisions. For this reason, various negative effects on the environment were expected due to the military activities, as the Military Camp's area is classified as a high vulnerability area to pollution of its multilayer porous aquifers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise local/regional geochemical impacts caused by the continuing military training activities performed at S.M.M.C. in the course of 52 years. An overview of the geochemical research issues as a basis for risk assessment is presented. A special attention has been put on the quality of local and regional surface waters, shallow groundwaters and groundwaters. Local soils and sediments as well as fragments of shells and bullets were sampled and analysed. The results so far obtained, indicated that none pollution effects were a consequence of the military training activities. Till now, the geochemical signatures such as, high levels of K, Cl and NO₃ in waters, detected in particular sites, should be faced as tracers of diffuse pollution ascribed to urban waste disposal and cattle breading.