Description:
Innovative and customized monitoring methods for air toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being developed for applications in exposure and trends monitoring. This task addresses the following applications of specific interest:
o Contributions to EPA Regional Monitoring Initiative (RMI) Program - Guidance on Monitoring for Vapor Intrusion of VOCs from Groundwater. The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), EPA's Region 8, and EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) have developed a supplement to the EPA Method referred to as Compendium Method TO-15 (TO denotes Toxic Organic) to provide guidance in lowering the detection limits for the air toxic compound 1,1 dichloroethene (1,1 DCE). This guidance is of interest in measuring low pptv concentrations of 1,1 DCE resulting from vapor intrusion into buildings and homes from contaminated groundwater. The Method TO-15 supplement has now been cleared as an EPA Report EPA 600/R-03/109 and is available to the public. This part of the task is completed.
o Methods for Measuring National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) Target Compounds New monitoring methods for the VOCs being monitored or scheduled to be monitored at the NATTS are being developed using small pencil-size badges filled with solid adsorbents. The emphasis in this effort is in using diffusive sampling onto the adsorbents, a sampling approach requiring nothing but the badge itself. This is proving to be a simple, user-friendly method for sampling VOCs. The work is a coordinated effort with the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and is proceeding in parallel with the next item below.
o Improvements in Passive Sampling Devices The new carbon-based adsorbent material Carbopack X is being used in diffusive sampling tubes and badges to investigate suitability for monitoring 1,3 butadiene and other VOCs. A method for monitoring of 1,3 butadiene in air using diffusive sampling was delivereded in June of 2004. The diffusive sampling tubes are scheduled for use in exposure studies beginning with the Detroit Exposure Assessment Research Study (DEARS) in June of 2004. As of December 2004, the DEARS, Phase I database was delivered for review. Preparations for DEARS, Phase II are in progress and a January 2005 start data is anticipated. Research to improve the passive sampling devices is continuing as indicated by the experience gained in DEARS, Phase I and the local comparison study performed just prior to Phase I.
o Survey of Methods for Air Toxics A survey of existing routine methods for air toxics monitoring will be prepared for use by NERL management in prioritizing tasks. The survey has been initiated by addressing the six compounds currently being monitoring in the NATTS network. The survey will be extended to other air toxic compounds listed in the EPA's Urban Air Toxics Strategy (UATS) as time and resources permit.
Keywords:
METHODS, AIR TOXICS, VAPOR INTRUSION, REGIONAL MONITORING INITIATIVE,
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Project Information:
Progress
:Contributions to the EPA Regional Monitoring Initiative (RMI) Program - Guidance on Monitoring for Vapor Intrusion of VOCs from Groundwater
In response to requests from EPA Region 8 through the Regional Monitoring Initiative (RMI) program, a supplement to EPA Compendium Method TO-15 has been written. This EPA report (EPA 600/R-03/109) describes the optimization of a GC/MS analytical approach using an ion trap mass spectrometer to measure 1,1-DCE and other VOCs at low pptv concentrations. The optimization is required to measure concentrations near the lifetime cancer risk level of 1,1-DCE with an intended application for monitoring the vapor intrusion of 1,1 DCE into buildings as a result of ground water contamination.
Methods for Measuring NATA Target Compounds
After finishing the TO-15 supplement, additional work was performed to determine the feasibility of using carbon-based adsorbents to achieve low detection limits by increasing sample volume. To do this a new system design for thermal desorption of VOCs from solid adsorbents was evaluated. Samples were generated with both a laboratory sample generation system and with a field system (spiked ambient air). The tube analysis system includes a water management (automated dry purge) system that has a basis in previous EPA work. The evaluation results indicate that new thermal desorption design works well but that water vapor collected with the air sample adversely affects analytical performance , even with the new water management system, unless a single hydrophobic solid adsorbent is used. Mixed bed adsorbents containing carbon molecular seives to capture less retentive compounds are incompatible with this requirement. The NATA program manager in OAQPS (Sharon Nizich) is continually informed about the progress on this subtask. Use of the diffusive sampling approach for sampling periods of up to 4 weeks at Regional and/or State monitoring sites are being considered.
Improvements in Passive Sampling Devices
The EPA on-site contractor has completed a series of experiments using a customized exposure chamber in which different environmental conditions can be simulated. The effects of temperature, humidity, sampling time, ambient ozone concentrations, and target compound variability have been examined for passive sampling tube badges containing Carbopack X solid adsorbent. Based on these tests, the use of diffusive sampling in human exposure studies and microenvironmental monitoring were projected. Research studies on this subtask led to the monitoring method used in the DEARS, Phase I (summer of 2004) and to a consolidation of scientific information in a manuscript accepted (Dec., '04) by the Journal of Environmental Monitoring. Weaknesses in the overall monitoring plan for VOCs in the DEARS has been identified and plans are in place to improve: (1) the quality of the commercial equipment being used; (2) the GC/MS approach; and (3) the data processing procedure for use in obtaining final ambient air concentrations in ppbv.
Survey of Methods for VOCs
An initial survey report on methods (for the six air toxic compounds being measured in the NATTS) has been completed and forwarded to HEASD management for use in program planning. A report on the more inclusive list of 17 air toxic compounds has been prepared and is in review. Work on the DEARS-related subtask (above) and other priority demands on manpower has delayed the survey reports significantly.
Relevance
:Investigations involving target compounds 1,3 butadience and 26 other VOCs has established a scientific basis for using 24-hour time-integrated diffusive sampling in health-related studies beginning with the Detroit Exposure Assessment Research Study (DEARS). At this point (Jan. 2005) the first batch of 700+ samples from the DEARS, Phase I have been analyzed and a database of concentrations completed. This data is being provided to other scientists within NERL to accomplish DEARS objectives. One spinoff from this effort is the projected use of the diffusive sampling approach/method in the Detroit Children's Health Study beginning in summer 2005. This task addresses the need to improve air toxics monitoring methods for VOCs to reliably document exposure at the one part in a million lifetime exposure risk level for cancer. Other applications for diffusive sampling include human health risk assessments for compounds transferred from contaminated ground water into the basements of houses and improved determinations of the prevalence and distribution of target compounds being monitored in the NATTS network. Based on recent requests for assistance to the States on air toxics monitoring, a survey of routine monitoring methods for the 33 compounds listed in the UATS is being prepared as a referernce for NERL management in setting priorities.
Clients
:Region 8 - Tom Aalto; OAQPS - Sharon Nizich; ORD/NERL
Project IDs:
ID Code
:15387
Project type
:OMIS