Vapor Intrusion

Answers to Frequently Asked Health Bureau of Environmental Health Questions and Radiation Protection

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What is vapor intrusion? air quality. Common products such as paint, Vapor intrusion refers to the vapors paint strippers and thinners, hobby supplies produced by a chemical spill/leak that make (glues), solvents, stored fuels (gasoline or their way into indoor air. When chemicals home heating fuel), aerosol sprays, new are spilled on the ground or leak from an carpeting or furniture, cigarette smoke, moth underground storage tank, they will seep balls, air fresheners and dry-cleaned clothing into the soils and will sometimes make their all contain VOCs. way into the groundwater (underground drinking water). There are a group of Can you get sick from vapor chemicals called volatile organic compounds intrusion? (VOCs) that easily produce vapors. These You can get sick from breathing harmful vapors can travel through soils, especially if chemical vapors. But getting sick will depend the soils are sandy and loose or have a lot of on: cracks (fissures). These vapors can then  How much you were exposed to (dose) enter a home through cracks in the  How long you were exposed (duration). foundation or into a basement with a dirt  How often you were exposed floor or concrete slab. (frequency).  General Health, Age, Lifestyle VOCs and vapors: VOCs can be found in petroleum products Young children, the elderly and people with such as gasoline or diesel fuels, in solvents chronic (on-going) health problems are used for industrial cleaning and are also more at risk to chemical exposures. used in dry cleaning. If there is a large spill or leak resulting in soil or groundwater VOC vapors at high levels can cause a strong contamination, vapor intrusion may be petroleum or solvent odor and some persons possible and should be considered a may experience eye and respiratory potential public health concern that may irritation, headache and/or nausea (upset require further investigation. stomach). These symptoms are usually temporary and go away when the person is Although large spills or leaks are a public moved to fresh air. health concern, other sources of VOCs are found in everyday household products and Lower levels of vapors may go unnoticed and are a more common source of poor indoor a person may feel no health effects. A few

Last Updated 06/30/2016 1 individual VOCs are known carcinogens homes with ongoing radon problems, ODH (cause cancer). Health officials are suggests these systems remain in place concerned with low-level chemical exposures permanently. that happen over many years and may raise a person’s lifetime risk for developing cancer. What can you do to improve your indoor air quality? Because a variety of VOC sources are present As stated before, the most likely source of in most homes, testing will not necessarily VOCs in indoor air comes from the common confirm VOCs in the indoor air are from VOC items that are found in most homes. The contamination in soils at nearby spill site. following helpful hints will help improve air But if additional sampling is recommended, quality inside your home: samples may be taken from beneath the  Do not buy more chemicals than you home’s foundation (called sub-slab samples), need and know what products contain to see if vapors have reached the home. VOCs. Sub-slab samples are more reliable than  If you have a garage or an out building indoor air samples and are not as affected by such as a shed, place the properly stored other indoor chemical sources. If there was a VOC- containing chemicals outside and need for additional sampling on a private away from your family living areas. property, homeowners would be contacted  Immediately clean and ventilate any VOC by the cleanup contractor or others working spill area. on the cleanup site and their cooperation and  If you smoke, go outside and/or open consent would be requested before any the windows to ventilate the second- testing/sampling would be done. hand, VOC- containing smoke outdoors.  Make sure all your major appliances and What happens if a vapor intrusion fireplace(s) are in good condition and not problem is found? leaking harmful VOC vapors. Fix all If vapor intrusion is having an effect on the appliance and fireplace leaks promptly, air in your home, the most common solution as well as other leaks that cause is to install a radon mitigation system. A moisture problems that encourage mold radon mitigation system will prevent gases in growth. the soil from entering the home. A low  Most VOCs are a fire hazard. Make sure amount of suction is applied below the these chemicals are stored in appropriate foundation and the vapors are vented to the containers and in a well-ventilated outside. The system uses minimal electricity location and away from an open pilot and should not noticeably affect heating and light (flame) of a gas water heater or cooling furnace. efficiency. This Radon Mitigation system  Fresh air will help prevent both buildup mitigation of chemical vapors in the air and mold system also growth. Occasionally open the windows prevents and doors and ventilate. radon from  Test your home for radon and, if levels entering the are elevated, install a radon mitigation home, an system. added health benefit. References: Usually, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family party Services, Environmental Health Resources, responsible for Vapor Intrusion, electronic, 2004. cleaning up the contamination is also responsible for New York State Department paying for the installation of this system. of Health, Center for Once the contamination is cleaned up, the Environmental Health, April system should no longer be needed. In 2003.

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Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, Indoor Environment Program, 2004.

Where Can I Get More Information? Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection Radiological Health and Safety Section 246 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: (614) 644-2727

This fact sheet was developed in cooperation with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

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