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Spatiotemporal variability of tetrachloroethylene in residential indoor air due to vapor intrusion: a longitudinal, community-based study

Abstract

The migration of volatile contaminants from groundwater and soil into indoor air is a potential health threat at thousands of contaminated sites across the country. This phenomenon, known as vapor intrusion, is characterized by spatial and temporal heterogeneity. This study examined short-term fluctuations in concentrations of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the indoor air of residential homes due to vapor intrusion in a community in San Antonio, Texas, that sits atop an extensive, shallow plume of contaminated groundwater. Using a community-based design, we removed potential indoor sources of PCE and then collected twelve 3-day passive indoor air samples in each of the 20 homes. Results demonstrated a one-order-of-magnitude variability in concentration across both space and time among the study homes, although all measured concentrations were below risk-based screening levels. We found that within any given home, indoor concentrations increase with the magnitude of the barometric pressure drop (P=0.048) and humidity (P<0.001), while concentrations decrease as wind speed increases (P<0.001) and also during winter (P=0.001). In a second analysis to examine sources of spatial variability, we found that indoor air PCE concentrations between homes increase with groundwater concentration (P=0.030) and a slab-on-grade (as compared with a crawl space) foundation (P=0.028), whereas concentrations decrease in homes without air conditioners (P=0.015). This study offers insights into the drivers of temporal and spatial variability in vapor intrusion that can inform decisions regarding monitoring and exposure assessment at affected sites.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Passport Foundation. We recognize the invaluable assistance of the Committee for Environmental Justice Action, Southwest Workers Union, Jessica Garcia, Sandra Garcia and Juan Rodriguez. We are grateful for the assistance of Harry O’Neill at Beacon Environmental Services, in addition to the assistance of Tyler Fitch, Dami Olagunju and Mandie Kramer.

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Correspondence to Jill E Johnston.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology website

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Johnston, J., Gibson, J. Spatiotemporal variability of tetrachloroethylene in residential indoor air due to vapor intrusion: a longitudinal, community-based study. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 564–571 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2013.13

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