Vapor Intrusion - What Is It?
A relatively new field known as vapor intrusion has recently emerged. Now properties that were redeveloped before 2005 on land that had been contaminated need to be reevaluated. Vapor intrusion evaluators are being hired across the country. Their job is to look for the possibility that vapors which are seeping into buildings from groundwater and soil contamination could have potentially adverse health effects on people who are working in those buildings.
Vapor intrusion is rather common throughout the U.S. Various carcinogenic gases, such as methane and radon have been found in ground water and in the soil from the east coast to the west. In addition, quite a few commonly used substances and solvents that create toxic gases once they are in the ground have been found.
A lot of toxic substances have been used as part of the daily operations of a huge number of commercial businesses in the United States. Sometimes these chemicals have not been properly disposed. At other times these chemicals escaped from the facilities they were stored in.
Common contaminants that cause vapor intrusion include tetrachloroethylene (dry cleaning fluid), perchloroethylene (PERC or PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), natural gas, gasoline ground contamination (petroleum hydrocarbons), as well as methane and radon gas.
Vapor intrusion happens when pollutants such as these intrude into a commercial property either from ground water or from contaminated ground.
Property owners, tenants, employees and residents are concerned with possible liability, health and/or financial concerns on the properties that need to pass these "new" environmental conditions. While some are concerned about their health, others are worried that sites that were developed under a Brownfield agreement, even those that met all of the covenants of agreement, could be adversely affected. In addition, some people are concerned that sites that were previously "closed" could now be reopened.
How Does Vapor Intrusion Work?
VI (vapor intrusion) happens when noxious chemicals seep into a commercial property in the form of vapors. These noxious vapors are naturally drawn into the buildings because of the difference in pressure that exists between the building and the ground.
As the vapors build up below ground level they "look" for the easiest path from which to escape. Sometimes the path of least resistance leads directly to the interior of commercial properties. Consequently, the vapors could enter the buildings through minute openings that are located close to the building's entry point(s) or through cracks in the buildings' foundations.
Over time these vapors could build up and eventually they could put the health of the employees that work on these properties at risk. Vapor intrusions could literally cause employees to be subject to life threatening illnesses and diseases such as cancer, along with a wide number of respiratory diseases. That is why it is imperative that businesses hire vapor intrusion specialists to analyze their properties and to remove any toxic vapors that have intruded into their buildings.
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Next, to find out more about vapor intrusion and how to mitigate vapor intrusion risk go to http://www.edrnet.com/environmental-services/environmental-applications/vapor-intrusion-application-vec-app
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