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Vapour Intrusion Analysis

Vapour intrusion pathway poses an unacceptable risk to human health and has received increased attention recently. Vapour intrusion is defined as the migration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the subsurface into overlying buildings. VOCs present in contaminated soil or groundwater can emit vapors that may migrate through subsurface soil into buildings through cracks in foundation, basement walls, or pipe lines. Such vapour intrusion can affect the indoor air quality and cause potential chronic health risks due to long term exposure of the chemical vapours.

Sources

Vapour intrusion into buildings can occur from contamination of soil and groundwater, which may happen due to leaks from underground storage tanks, pipe lines, contaminated soil gas, or surface spills. For example, petroleum fuel can leak from subsurface storage tanks at gas stations; run off from landfills and spill from a train derailment can contribute to contaminant contents in the soil.

Possible signs of Vapour Intrusion:

  • Unknown chemical odour in the basement
  • Health issues (eye, throat and skin irritations; headaches, allergic reactions)

CASSEN Provides the testing of the following common analytical packages:

Hydrocarbons – Gasoline
Benzene
Cyclohexane
Decane
Ethylbenzene
Heptane
Hexane
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
Isooctane
m/p-Xylene
o-Xylene
Toluene
Hydrocarbons – Fuel Oil
Benzene
Ethylbenzene
Toluene
Dodecane
Naphthalene
Tridecane
1-Methyl Napthalene
2-Methyl Naphthalene
m/p-Xylene
o-Xylene
TVOC
Hydrocarbons – BTEX
Benzene
Ethylbenzene
Toluene
m/p-Xylene
o-Xylene
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
1,1-Dichloroethane
2-Dichloroethane
1,1-Dichloroethene
1,2-Dichloroethene, cis-
1,2-Dichloroethene, trans-
Tetrachloroethylene
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene
Vinyl chloride
CCME Petroleum Hydrocarbons (F1 & F2 – 8 Sub-Fractions) In Air
Aliphatic Fractions
CWS Aliphatic (>C6 to C8)
CWS Aliphatic (>C8 to C10)
CWS Aliphatic (>C10 to C12)
CWS Aliphatic (>C12 to C16)
Naphthalene
Toluene
Ethyl Benzene
Aromatic Fractions
CWS Aromatic (>C6 to C8)
CWS Aromatic (>C8 to C10)
CWS Aromatic (>C10 to C12)
CWS Aromatic (>C12 to C16)
Benzene
m,p,o-Xylene

Other target compounds or packages are available upon request.