Environmental, Health and Safety Consulting

Vapor intrusion (VI) is one pathway for building occupants to come in contact with chemicals of concern, occurring when vapors from contaminated soil and/or groundwater migrate into the indoor air of overlying structures. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions E 2600-08 has been developed based on an industry need to address the VI pathway. Prospective property owners and investors are concerned with VI because in several cases, sites that have been closed are being re-opened since remediation activities did not consider the VI pathways. Owners also are dealing with liability from tenant or third party lawsuits and devaluation of property due to the stigma associated with VI. Phase One Environmental Site Assessment consultants have become concerned with the VI issue based on increasing amount of litigation against environmental professionals who did not consider the possibility of VI when conducting their Phase 1 Site Assessment. Should VI be within the scope of a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment? ASTM has determined it is not, thus the development of the VI standard.

To learn more about VI, click here to read an article by an environmental assessment consultant at August Mack Environmental.