VAPOR INTRUSION - A NEW THREAT? YOU BET! You have probably heard the term, "vapor intrusion" at some point. You may have already been affected by it or know someone who has. While many states are lagging in finalizing guidance documents to address it, one national organization has very recently published a standard for assessing and addressing vapor intrusion issues. Because of the significance and status of the organization publishing the new standard, and due to the growing litigation associated with vapor intrusion, the new standard is going to immediately affect the environmental and commercial real estate industries in a big way. What happens when volatile or rapidly evaporating chemicals are emitted from contaminated soil or groundwater and make their way to the indoor air of nearby buildings, similar to the way radon enters homes? Depending upon the concentrations entering a building, vapor intrusion may cause a wide range of potential health issues such as eye irritation, respiratory problems, and over time and in severe circumstances, cancer. Vapor intrusion therefore, can be either be a nuisance or a serious potential health concern. Imagine how such circumstance affect property values and expose building owners and responsible parties to liability. When given consideration, it's easy to understand how so much attention has been paid to this issue by the environmental, legal and regulatory communities particularly as it relates to commercial property transactions. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) in April 2008, published Guidance ASTM E2600-08: Standard Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions. This new standard, commonly referred to as the "Vapor Intrusion Standard," sets out to define vapor intrusion and other specific events or conditions related to the migration of volatile chemicals of concern, and provides steps to address and mitigate adverse conditions associated with vapor intrusion. The new ASTM standard establishes at tiered approach to assess the potential for vapor intrusion. This tiered approach involves four levels, beginning with the potential for conditions whereby soil and/or groundwater are affected by the release of a volatile chemical of concern, such as benzene from gasoline or drycleaning solvents. Based upon the distance from the source or groundwater plume, and the concentrations in soil and/or groundwater in the vicinity of a potentially-affected building, a vapor intrusion condition (VIC) may exist. According to ASTM, a VIC is:
Similarly, a potential VIC (pVIC) may exist as defined by ASTM as:
The application of the ASTM standard by any user, and particularly by prospective purchasers of commercial or industrial properties, is specifically stated in the guidance document to be voluntary, and at present, there are few if any statutory requirements requiring any party to assess for the potential for vapor intrusion. However, any organization with the weight of ASTM can and likely will have a huge influence on the standard practices of the environmental industry, and legal precedence associated with vapor intrusion will assure that prudent environmental management professionals and practitioners take notice. MIDWEST's Consulting Services Division has the experience and expertise to assist you and your company with its understanding of the Vapor Intrusion Standard and its application. We can also assist you with compliance to the myriad environmental or safety regulations affecting your business. If you would like to discuss the new ASTM Vapor Intrusion Standard and its potential to affect your business, or any other guidance and/or regulatory issues, contact Midwest at (502) 491-0991, or our corporate offices at (800) 388-5160. MIDWEST continually works to improve our professional services to help ensure that our valuable clients receive prompt, professional attention.
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