title: Evaluation of site-specific lateral inclusion zone for vapor intrusion based on an analytical approach.
abstract: In 2002, U.S. EPA proposed a general buffer zone of approximately 100 feet (30 m) laterally to determine which buildings to include in vapor intrusion (VI) investigations. However, this screening distance can be threatened by factors such as extensive surface pavements. Under such circumstances, EPA recommended investigating soil vapor migration distance on a site-specific basis. To serve this purpose, we present an analytical model (AAMLPH) as an alternative to estimate lateral VI screening distances at chlorinated compound-contaminated sites. Based on a previously introduced model (AAML), AAMLPH is developed by considering the effects of impervious surface cover and soil geology heterogeneities, providing predictions consistent with the three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulated results. By employing risk-based and contribution-based screening levels of subslab concentrations (50 and 500 μg/m(3), respectively) and source-to-subslab attenuation factor (0.001 and 0.01, respectively), AAMLPH suggests that buildings greater than 30 m from a plume boundary can still be affected by VI in the presence of any two of the three factors, which are high source vapor concentration, shallow source and significant surface cover. This finding justifies the concern that EPA has expressed about the application of the 30 m lateral separation distance in the presence of physical barriers (e.g., asphalt covers or ice) at the ground surface.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: Yijun_Yao@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Mengling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Jianjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Brown University, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Suuberg
authors.affiliation: Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: jliue@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005544:Forecasting; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Analytical approach; Lateral inclusion zone; Layering; Surface cover; Vapor intrusion