Vapor intrusion a concern at toxic spill sites

Vapor intrusion can happen in any home.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned last week that 10 homes in the Phoenix area of a polluted toxic spill site had concerning levels of chemicals indoors.

The original source of the pollution is a former Motorola plant that accidentally leaked chemicals (including trichloroethylene, or TCE) from industrial solvents into the ground in the 1980s.

TCE is a known carcinogen and scientists say it could be harmful even at relatively low concentrations.

The EPA and others are monitoring the levels of chemicals in the area, but last year, they measured for the first time the ambient air inside nearby homes to check for vapor intrusion.

Vapor intrusion is what happens when chemicals and gases from contaminated groundwater and land enter homes through cracks and fissures in the foundation or building. Once inside the home, they can build up and become an even bigger health hazard.

The homes that measured concerning levels of TCE will be equipped with special machines, which circulate outdoor air inside the home and prevent vapor intrusion by utilizing pressure.

Source: Arizona Republic

Clean the air with portable air cleaners

An industrial-strength air cleaner with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA as well as other filters can help keep the ambient air clean and prevent a buildup of toxic substances.

Activated carbon is one of the safest and most trusted filter media for the removal of airborne chemicals, gases, fumes and odors (including VOCs such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene and more).

With other filters like HEPA and UV, the air cleaners also remove airborne particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.

Electrocorp offers air cleaners for environmental consultants (to be used in single and double-family homes at certain Superfund sites) as well as air cleaners for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.

Find out more about our government buyer program as well as selected clients, or contact Electrocorp for more information.
  

TCE more dangerous than previously thought

TCE contamination is a public health risk.

The industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) just got an upgraded risk assessment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which found that it causes kidney and liver cancer, lymphoma and other health problems.

As one of the most widespread groundwater contaminants in the nation, TCE may thus be more dangerous than previously thought.

The findings could lead to higher cleanup costs and a new federal drinking-water standard for the contaminant, which currently stands at 5 parts per billion in water and 1 microgram per cubic meter in the air.

According to EPA officials, the new risk assessment could affect cleanup strategies at 761 Superfund sites. TCE has been found in almost every state, but a lot of it is in California, including two Superfund sites on military bases Camp Pendleton and Edwards Air Force Base.

Underground plumes of TCE often lead to high ambient levels of the chemical in the air and affect people in their homes, at work or on the move. Soil vapor intrusion in homes above contaminated groundwater is a major concern, experts say.

What is TCE?

The chlorinated solvent was developed by chemists in the late 19th century and was widely used after the Second World War as a metal degreaser, as a chemical intermediate and extractant, and as a component of some consumer products.

TCE is designated as a Hazardous Air Pollutant, is a common groundwater contaminant, and has been found at more than 1,500 hazardous waste sites, according to EPA.

TCE can be released to indoor air from the use of TCE-containing consumer products, volatilization from water supplies, and vapor intrusion through walls and floors from contaminated soil and groundwater.

Air cleaners for better indoor air quality

RAP 204:
Strong air cleaner

Only an industrial-strength air cleaner with a large activated carbon filter can remove airborne chemicals, odors, gases and fumes that contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Electrocorp’s portable air treatment systems are equipped with the largest carbon filters in the industry as well as HEPA and other filters to capture the widest range of contaminants from the ambient air.

Electrocorp works with environmental consultants and government agencies to provide cleaner air in many indoor spaces and also offers residential air purifiers with carbon + HEPA filtration for single- or double-family units that may be affected by soil vapor intrusion or other IAQ concerns.

Contact Electrocorp today for more information on our air cleaners, our exclusive carbon blends to target specific contaminants and other available options.

Source: Los Angeles Times, EPA
  
Related posts:

• TCE in Havertown Superfund site
• Vapor intrusion in Ohio spurs health concerns
• Vapor intrusion: Danger seeping out of forgotten wells

  

Living close to a Superfund site – the long road to remediation

Superfund sites take years to clean up
and redevelop.

When a hazardous waste sites are abandoned, they are often called Superfund sites.

“Superfund” is also the name of the fund established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, which was meant to curb toxic waste dumps.

The fund helps with the remediation of such sites or helps to hold companies and individuals accountable.

The cleanup process of a Superfund site involves a variety of steps, including site assessment, placement on the National Priorities List and the implementation of an appropriate cleanup plan. The actual process can take many years and is monitored with regular samplings that are taken.

The contamination on those sites can be in the ground, the groundwater and in the air in form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Environmental consultants and authorities often have to deal with soil vapor intrusion near those sites, where VOCs and other toxins enter nearby buildings through cracks and tiny fissures in the foundation.

Contamination can occur in nearby homes as well as businesses.

Is there a Superfund site close to you?

If you want to find out if there is a remediation going on close to where you live, you can check out the official EPA Superfund website.

The website details all the steps that need to be taken to start an official assessment and remediation process in case you are concerned about a possible contamination in your area.

During the Risk Assessment stage, the investigator will examine the possible health risks of the toxins at the site. Each Superfund site is unique in terms of the contaminants present and their potential health effects. Therefore, EPA conducts risk assessments on a site-by- site basis.

Minimize vapor intrusion risks with portable air cleaners

Electrocorp works with environmental consultants, consulting firms, environmental agencies and companies to provide industrial air cleaners that safely remove chemicals, gases, vapors, fumes and odors in indoor environments.

The powerful, portable air filters come equipped with the deepest beds of granular activated carbon on the market and provide a cost-effective indoor air quality solution with proven technologies to help reduce human exposure to contaminants.

Electrocorp’s small footprint, high-performance air filtration systems become efficient mitigation allies for challenging vapor intrusion and soil remediation projects that involve single- or two-family dwellings.

Recommended air filtration systems include:

• RAP Series
• RSU Series
• Numerical Series (5000, 6000, 8000) for single family dwellings

Contact Electrocorp today for more information; toll-free: 1-866-667-0297.