Main TitleInvestigation of Indoor Air Sources of VOC Contamination; Final Report, Year 1
PublisherEnvironemntal and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, RWJMS/UMDNJ
Date Created2005-01-01
Subject (Geographic - Hierarchical) Country: United States State: New Jersey County: NA
Subject (Topical)air; air pollution; contamination; environmental data; environmental monitoring; pollution; pollution intervention; soils; water; water quality; groundwater; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); Currently Known Extents of groundwater contamination (CKEs); Classification Exception Areas (CEAs); Known Contaminated Site List (KCSL)
DescriptionOver the past several years, studies of indoor air quality in buildings overlying groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have indicated that the indoor air may contain significant levels of these contaminants. The accumulating evidence indicates that partsper-billion levels of contaminants in groundwater may result in indoor air concentrations in the micrograms/m3 range, and these indoor air concentrations may exceed recommended chronic exposure levels. The NJDEP Site Remediation Program has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of cases requiring evaluation of this exposure pathway as awareness of its existence has increased. When initial investigations of cases indicate that there are potential indoor air
concerns due to underlying contaminated groundwater, indoor air samples are frequently taken to determine if VOC concentrations are detectable and/or unacceptable. A complicating factor in this evaluation is the fact that several contaminants that are common groundwater contaminants also may have indoor sources from consumer products, building materials, or home furnishings.
Therefore, when indoor concentrations are measured, separating indoor sources from groundwater contributions may be problematic. Most studies of indoor air have been conducted in urban setting and not all volatile compounds typically contaminating ground water are measured. A study was therefore undertaken to collect indoor air samples in 100 homes in suburban and rural areas of NJ to fill
this data gap.
Note'Submitted to: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection SR03-033 Final Report Year 1, February 2005'
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