Comments and Corrections to: “The Emperor's Old Clothes: An Inconvenient Truth About Currently Accepted Vapor Intrusion Assessment Methods,” and “Emperor's Old Clothes Revisited,” Two Recent Editorials by Mark Kram (original) (raw)
Related papers
Key Design Elements of Building Pressure Cycling for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion—A Literature Review
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, 2018
Building pressure cycling (BPC) is becoming an increasingly important tool for studying vapor intrusion. BPC has been used to distinguish subslab and indoor sources of vapor intrusion as well as to define reasonable worst case volatile organic compound mass discharge into a structure. Analyses have been performed both semi‐quantitatively with concentration trends and quantitatively with more rigorous flux calculation and source attribution methods. This paper reviews and compares the protocols and outcomes from multiple published applications of this technology to define the key variables that control performance. Common lessons learned are identified, including those that help define the range of building size and type to which BPC is applicable. Differences in test protocols are discussed, recognizing that the complexity of the test protocol required depends on the particular objectives of each project. Research gaps are identified and tabulated for future validation studies and a...
Remediation Journal, 2008
standard 24-hour sample collection methods may not adequately account for temporal variability and detect contamination best represented by long-term sampling periods. Henry Schuver of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste stated at the September 2007 Air & Waste Management Association vapor-intrusion conference that the US EPA may consider recommending longer-term vapor sampling to achieve more accurate time-weighted-average detections. In November 2007, indoor air at four residences was sampled to measure trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations over short-and long-duration intervals. A carefully designed investigation was conducted consisting of triplicate samplers for three different investigatory methods: dedicated 6-liter Summa canisters (US EPA Method TO-15), pump/sorbent tubes (US EPA Method TO-17), and passive diffusion samplers (MDHS 80). The first two methods collected samples simultaneously for a 24-hour period, and the third method collected samples for two weeks.
Building science approaches for vapor intrusion studies
Reviews on Environmental Health, 2019
Indoor air concentrations are susceptible to temporal and spatial variations and have long posed a challenge to characterize for vapor intrusion scientists, in part, because there was a lack of evidence to draw conclusions about the role that building and weather conditions played in altering vapor intrusion exposure risks. Importantly, a large body of evidence is available within the building science discipline that provides information to support vapor intrusion scientists in drawing connections about fate and transport processes that influence exposure risks. Modeling tools developed within the building sciences provide evidence of reported temporal and spatial variation of indoor air contaminant concentrations. In addition, these modeling tools can be useful by calculating building air exchange rates (AERs) using building specific features. Combining building science models with vapor intrusion models, new insight to facilitate decision-making by estimating indoor air concentrat...
Technical Basis for the Use of Indoor Radon Measurements for Chemical Vapor Intrusion Concerns
2016
Since the presentation of Chemical Vapor Intrusion ‘A Nucleus for Cultural Change?’ (Schuver, 2012) and Indoor Radon as an Option for On-going Screening/Monitoring of Chemical Vapor Intrusion (Schuver, 2014), the USEPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action program and Office of Research and Development (ORD) has been exploring the measurement of indoor radon (Rn) as an indicator for subsurface chemical vapors. The specific uses of Rn measurements being pursued were described in Indicators of VI: Evidencebased Hypotheses for Supplemental Tools for Assessing & Managing Low/Episodic ChlorinatedVI (Schuver, 2016). This presentation/paper will summarize the technical basis and further testing of these hypotheses for advancements in guidance implementing the use of Rn as a tool for addressing chemical vapor intrusion problems. In summary, Rn is proposed for classifying buildings for susceptibility to intrusion, and forming a ‘complete’ exposure pathway, or not....
Vapor Intrusion Investigations and Decision-Making: A Critical Review
Environmental Science & Technology, 2020
At sites impacted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), vapor intrusion (VI) is the pathway with the greatest potential to result in actual human exposure. Since sites with VI were first widely publicized in late 1990s, the scientific understanding of VI has evolved considerably. The VI conceptual model has been extended beyond relatively simple scenarios to include nuances such as biological and hydrogeological factors that may limit the potential for VI and alternative pathways such as preferential pathways and direct building contact/infiltration that may enhance VI in some cases. Regulatory guidance documents typically recommend initial concentration-or distance-based screening to evaluate whether VI may be a concern, followed by a multiple-lines-of-evidence (MLE) investigation approach for sites that do not screen out. These recommendations for detailed evaluation of VI currently focus on monitoring of VOC concentrations in groundwater, soil gas, and indoor air and can be supplemented by other lines of evidence. In this paper, we summarize key elements important to VI site characterization, provide the status and current understanding, and highlight data interpretation challenges as well as innovative tools developed to help overcome the challenges. Although there have been significant advances in the understanding of VI in the past 20 years, limitations and knowledge gaps in screening, investigation methods, and modeling approaches still exist. Potential areas for further research include improved initial screening methods that account for the site-specific role of barriers, improved understanding of preferential pathways, and systematic study of buildings and infrastructure other than single-family residences.
Air leakage in buildings - review of international literature and standards
Bedp Environment Design Guide, 2007
This paper reviews the information available internationally on air leakage and testing of buildings, and reviews the systems and standards available. This paper and its companion paper TEC 24, originate from a Victorian study which gives an understanding of the issues and metrics of air leakage, and builds a case for further Australian research into air leakage of buildings.
Air recirculation and sick building syndrome: a blinded crossover trial
American Journal of Public Health, 1994
OBJECTIVE. This study tested the hypothesis that recirculated air in mechanically ventilated buildings causes symptoms commonly referred to as the sick building syndrome and perceptions of poor indoor air quality. METHODS. A blinded, four-period crossover trial was carried out in two identical buildings, contrasting 70% return air (index phase) with 0% of return air (reference phase). Each period lasted 1 work-week. The study population comprised 75 workers who had reported symptoms related to the work environment or perceptions of poor indoor air quality. Participants reported their ratings of symptoms, their perceptions, and related information in a daily diary. The outcome criteria included aggregative symptom scores for mucosal irritation, skin reaction, allergic reaction, and general symptoms formed of ratings of component symptoms. Perceptions of unpleasant odor, stuffiness, or dustiness were additional outcome criteria. RESULTS. All 75 participants returned their diaries. For...
In-construction tests show rapid smoke spread across dwellings
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability
The paper discusses further proof for the use of diagnostic in-construction testing (iCT) developed by the lead author at Cardiff Metropolitan University as a framework of test methodologies for investigating incorrect installation of, missing, inappropriate or defective components within and connected to the building envelope and the fabric of new dwellings in the UK. Without rectification, these defects can affect thermal performance and thus energy efficiency and lead to increased carbon emissions than specified at the design stage. Use of iCT tests in 2014 and 2015 in collaboration with Sustainable Construction Monitoring and Research has identified a potentially far greater problem than reduced thermal performance, which may lead to complete building failure and occupant injury or death. The paper will discuss findings from three case study construction sites where during a multimethod iCT test approach, smoke spread occurred between dwellings and into means of escape in minute...