Monitored Natural Attenuation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-017721",
  "term": "Monitored Natural Attenuation",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The term monitored natural attenuation refers to the remedial approach that allows natural processes to reduce concentrations of contaminants to acceptable levels. Monitored natural attenuation involves physical, chemical, and biological processes that act to reduce the mass, toxicity, and mobility of subsurface contamination. Physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in monitored natural attenuation include biodegradation, chemical stabilization, dispersion, sorption, and volatilization.\n\n2. Refers to the reliance on natural attenuation processes (within the context of a carefully controlled and monitored site cleanup approach) to achieve site-specific remediation objectives within a time frame that is reasonable compared to that offered by other more active methods. The natural attenuation processes that are at work in such a remediation approach include a variety of physical, chemical and biological processes that, under favorable conditions, act without human intervention to reduce the mass, toxicity, mobility, volume or concentration of contaminants in soil or groundwater.\n\n3. Remedial approach that allows natural processes to reduce concentrations of contaminants to acceptable levels. Monitored natural attenuation involves physical, chemical, and biological processes that act to reduce the mass, toxicity, and mobility of subsurface contamination. Physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in monitored natural attenuation include biodegradation, chemical stabilization, dispersion, sorption, and volatilization.",
  "abbreviation": "MNA",
  "subject": "Land, waste and cleanup",
  "references": [
    "Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary",
    "RCRA Corrective Action Terms and Acronyms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/monitored-natural-attenuation/"
}