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ENGINEERING ISSUE: CHALLENGES IN BULK SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS FOR VAPOR INTRUSION SCREENING OF SOIL
Dawson, H., T. McAlary, C. Lutes, and D. Carr.
EPA 600-R-14-277, 14 pp, 2014

This engineering issue paper discusses the benefits and limitations of using bulk soil samples to assess vapor intrusion (VI) risks from soil containing VOCs. Analyses of factors controlling the VOC concentration distribution in soil and the sensitivity of current laboratory methods are used to show that while bulk soil sampling and analysis may help delineate source areas and determine the gross mass of contamination present in a source area, they cannot adequately assess potential VI exposures for most VOCs in undisturbed soil or in soil remaining after excavation. To address this information gap, this paper also describes alternatives for monitoring soil VOCs and for enhancing remedies at sites where excavation is being considered or used for VOC-contaminated soil. http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P100NDQL.TXT



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