Tree Sampling as a Method to Assess Vapor Intrusion Potential at a Site Characterized by VOC-Contaminated Groundwater and Soil

Abstract

Vapor intrusion (VI) by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the built environment presents a threat to human health. Traditional VI assessments are often time-, cost-, and labor-intensive; whereas traditional subsurface methods sample a relatively small volume in the subsurface and are difficult to collect within and near structures. Trees could provide a similar subsurface sample where roots act as the "sampler' and are already onsite. Regression models were developed to assess the relation between PCE concentrations in over 500 tree-core samples with PCE concentrations in over 50 groundwater and 1000 soil samples collected from a tetrachloroethylene- (PCE-) contaminated Superfund site and analyzed using gas chromatography. Results indicate that in planta concentrations are significantly and positively related to PCE concentrations in groundwater samples collected at depths less than 20 m (adjusted R2 values greater than 0.80) and in soil samples (adjusted R2 values greater than 0.90). Results indicate that a 30 cm diameter tree characterizes soil concentrations at depths less than 6 m over an area of 700-1600 m2, the volume of a typical basement. These findings indicate that tree sampling may be an appropriate method to detect contamination at shallow depths at sites with VI.

Department(s)

Mathematics and Statistics

Second Department

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Center for High Performance Computing Research

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. #1336877.

Keywords and Phrases

Forestry; Gas chromatography; Groundwater; Groundwater pollution; Health risks; Mercury (metal); Regression analysis; Soil surveys; Soils; Volatile organic compounds; Built environment; Contaminated groundwater; Labor intensive; Regression model; Soil concentrations; Subsurface methods; Superfund sites; Tetrachloroethylenes; Soil pollution; Ground water; Volatile organic compounds; Concentration (composition); Sampling; Site characterization; Soil pollution; Superfund; Trees; Vaporization; Article; Concentration (parameters); Vapor; Water pollution; Chemistry; Environmental monitoring; Humans; Soil

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0013-936X; 520-5851

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2017 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Aug 2017

Link to Full Text

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