Evaluation of Long-Term Flow Controller for Monitoring Gases and Vapors in Buildings Impacted by Vapor Intrusion

Abstract

This study evaluated the use of a long-term capillary flow controller paired with an evacuated canister for indoor air exposure monitoring in a vapor intrusion (VI) environment with trichloroethylene in comparison to the traditional method utilizing a diaphragm flow controller. Traditionally, air sampling with 6 L evacuated canisters equipped with diaphragm flow controllers has been best suited for 8 to 24 h samples. New advances in capillary flow controllers can extend sampling to up to 3 weeks by reducing flow rates to 0.1 milliliters min−1. During six 2 wk sampling events, conventional diaphragm flow controller canisters were used to collect 24 h samples simultaneously with capillary flow controllers collecting 2 wk samples. Testing was performed at four indoor locations in buildings impacted by VI with co-located samples for each method at each location. All samples were analyzed using GC/MS, and the results were statistically analyzed to produce a direct comparison of the two sampling systems. Ninety-two percent of the 14 d capillary samples were within the 95% levels of agreement of the average concentration of the diaphragm flow controllers. The ability to collect 14 days of data, with less occupant disturbance, allows for improved exposure assessments and thus improved risk management decisions.