Accession Number:

ADA582252

Title:

Application of Advanced Sensor Technology to DoD Soil Vapor Intrusion Problems

Descriptive Note:

Cost and performance rept.

Corporate Author:

ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OFFICE (DOD) ARLINGTON VA

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2012-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

46.0

Abstract:

Vapor intrusion VI of groundwater contaminants like trichloroethylene TCE has become an issue of increasing concern over the past decade necessitating development of methods to appropriately evaluate it. Determination of TCE concentrations in indoor air can be a crucial part of VI assessments. The conventional and most commonly used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USEPA Toxic Organics-15 TO-15 gas chromatographymass spectrometry GCMS method is limited primarily by protracted turnaround times, multiple house visits, and per-sample cost. Near-real-time on-site analysis can address these concerns and identify potential interfering indoor sources as well. A commercially available portable GCMS provides a near-real time analysis, but has high capital costs, requires external carrier gas, and can have significant instrument downtime for costly maintenance. The overall project objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a micro-gas chromatograph GC prototype for detection of low-level TCE concentrations in indoor-air VI applications as a potential cost-effective alternative.

Descriptors:

• *VAPORS
• CONTAMINANTS
• DETECTORS
• INTRUSION
• SOILS
• TRICHLOROETHYLENE

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE