Vapor intrusion forcing people out of their homes

Toxic chemicals from contaminated soil can find their
way inside homes and affect the residents.

Whenever homes, schools or other buildings are constructed on top of previously contaminated land, toxic chemicals and gases may find their way inside, where they can affect people’s health and well-being.

This is supposedly what happened in a Scottish neighborhood near Glasgow.

Built on a site that was used by industrial plants from the 1940s until the 1970s, homes that were tested showed high levels of toxic chemicals in the ambient air.

The toxins were

• Trichloroethylene (an industrial solvent)
• Tetrachloroethylene (dry-cleaning fluid)
• Polychlorinated biphenols
• Polyaromatic carbons

The air inside 25 homes was tested in June and July 2011 and found levels of the chemicals at much higher levels than deemed acceptable by WHO standards. Apart from the high levels of chemicals, experts also worried about the mixture of toxins people are exposed to.

One family moved away after the wife developed nose bleeds, headaches and nausea a few years after moving there.

The family is suing the landlord over the toxic fume exposure in a test case that may be of interest to more than 40 families living in the area.

The plaintiffs allege that a required remediation of the place did not take place.

The chemicals in question have been linked to irritations, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and developmental disorders.

Source: The Scotsman

Air cleaners for vapor intrusion and environmental concerns

Soil vapor intrusion is a common concern in buildings atop contaminated sites, and the right air cleaners with deep-bed activated carbon filters can help reduce gaseous pollutants inside those homes.

Electrocorp, an industry leader in air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications, works with environmental consultants to help improve the indoor air quality in single- and double-family dwellings.

The air cleaners from Electrocorp feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas, and the company also offers more than 40 different carbon types and blends to address specific chemical concerns.

The air cleaners are portable, affordable and long-lasting, and the carbon filters can be refilled according to need.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.