Use of On-Site GC/MS Analysis to Distinguish Between Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Sources of VOCs

Beckley, Lila; McHugh, Thomas E.; Gorder, Kyle; Dettenmaier, Erik; Rivera-Duarte, Ignacio

doi:10.21236/ada606283

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Past studies on BPC have used several approaches for attributing indoor air concentrations to either indoor or subsurface sources. For example, McHugh et al () and Beckley et al (, ) utilize both positive‐ and negative‐pressure conditions to assess VI risks and estimate contributions from background sources. Other studies have focused solely on negative pressure for assessing VI (USEPA ; Holton et al ).…”

Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much of the available literature on BPC is focused on applications in residential or small commercial buildings; however, there have been several applications in larger commercial and industrial buildings (Mosley et al ; McHugh et al ; Beckley et al , ; Lund ; Lund and Lind ). McHugh et al () did not obtain pressure control in the Parris Island New Dry Cleaning Facility, but this was attributed to building features (i.e., wall vents).…”

Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…McHugh et al () did not obtain pressure control in the Parris Island New Dry Cleaning Facility, but this was attributed to building features (i.e., wall vents). Beckley et al () claim that building depressurization is suitable for buildings with footprints up to 20,000 ft 2 (1858 m 2 ). This claim is primarily based on the successful depressurization of a 20,000 ft 2 (1858 m 2 ) warehouse and observed depressurization results at a 30,000 ft 2 (2787 m 2 ) warehouse.…”

Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Key Design Elements of Building Pressure Cycling for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion—A Literature Review

Lutes¹,

Holton²,

Truesdale³

et al. 2019

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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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 applications.

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Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion: Key Bpc Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Key Design Elements of Building Pressure Cycling for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion—A Literature Review

Lutes¹,

Holton²,

Truesdale³

et al. 2019

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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“…The on‐site GC/MS analysis investigation protocol consisted of measuring target VOC concentrations at multiple locations within each building using a portable HAPSITE GC/MS instrument, and following concentration gradients to locate sources of the target VOCs. The sampling protocol followed Beckley et al (). Prior to application of the on‐site protocol, the HAPSITE was used to screen indoor air and sub‐slab sampling points and estimate target VOC concentrations so that sampling parameters (e.g., sampling duration) could be developed for CSIA as described above.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utility of Compound‐Specific Isotope Analysis for Vapor Intrusion Investigations

Beckley¹,

McHugh²,

Philp³

2016

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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Different types of data can be collected to evaluate whether or not vapor intrusion is a concern at sites impacted with volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in the subsurface. Typically, groundwater, soil gas, or indoor air samples are collected to determine VOC concentrations in the different media. Sample results are evaluated using a “multiple lines of evidence” approach to interpret whether vapor intrusion is occurring. Data interpretation is often not straightforward because of many complicating factors, particularly in the evaluation of indoor air. More often than not, indoor air sample results are affected by indoor or other background sources making interpretation of concentration‐based data difficult using conventional sampling approaches. In this study, we explored the practicality of compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA) as an additional type of evidence to distinguish between indoor sources and subsurface sources (i.e., vapor intrusion). We developed a guide for decision‐making to facilitate data interpretation and applied the guidelines at four different test buildings. To evaluate the effectiveness of the CSIA method for vapor intrusion applications, we compared the interpretation from CSIA to interpretations based on data from two different investigation approaches: conventional sampling and on‐site GC/MS analysis. Interpretations using CSIA were found to be generally consistent with the other approaches. In one case, CSIA provided the strongest line of evidence that vapor intrusion was not occurring and that a VOC source located inside the building was the source of VOCs in indoor air.

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“…83 Second, MS-only mode can be used to detect ions associated with one or two specific target analytes. 84 This can be especially useful if target analytes have fragments with uncommon m/z values.…”

Section: Mass Spectrometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Deploying Portable Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to Military Users for the Identification of Toxic Chemical Agents in Theater

Leary¹,

Kammrath

Lattman

et al. 2019

Appl Spectrosc

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The use of portable gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is an important capability that has been available commercially for almost 25 years. These systems have been used within a variety of different industries, including their extensive use by environmental scientists for the analysis of hazardous air pollutants. Recently, these systems were deployed to conventional military forces for use in theater to detect and identify toxic chemicals including chemical warfare agents (CWAs). The challenges of deploying such complex analytical instruments to these military users are unique. Among other things, these organizations have considerable and variable mission strains, complex and difficult logistics and coordination needs, and variability in user backgrounds. This review outlines the value portable GC-MS systems offer to these warfighters in theater, discusses some important aspects of the design of portable systems that makes their deployment to this type of end user possible, and proposes methods that can be used to overcome challenges to successful deployment of portable GC-MS to non-scientists working within hostile environments.

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Use of On-Site GC/MS Analysis to Distinguish Between Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Sources of VOCs

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Key Design Elements of Building Pressure Cycling for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion—A Literature Review

Key Design Elements of Building Pressure Cycling for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion—A Literature Review

Utility of Compound‐Specific Isotope Analysis for Vapor Intrusion Investigations

Deploying Portable Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to Military Users for the Identification of Toxic Chemical Agents in Theater

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