Phase I ESA
Wisconsin Soil Vapor Testing & Mitigation Service
Hire Hyde Environmental for Vapor Intrusion Remediation
Hyde Environmental offers comprehensive vapor intrusion assessment (VIA) through soil vapor testing to evaluate and address vapor encroachment conditions (VECs) discovered during Phase I Environmental Site Assessments or from response actions at nearby contaminated properties.
Hyde Environmental's vapor intrusion experts utilize proven technologies and methodologies to accurately identify vapor intrusion pathways and implement remediation solutions to protect your property and its occupants from harmful exposure. For the best in soil vapor intrusion and mitigation in Wisconsin and the Midwest, Hire Hyde Environmental.
What is Vapor Intrusion?
Vapor intrusion is the migration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under or near living and/or working spaces. VOCs are hazardous substances that can migrate through soil or in groundwater and may form gases (i.e., chemical vapors) that accumulate under and against structures. In certain conditions, the vapors can enter structures through cracks and gaps in basement floors, walls and openings from utilities and sump pits.
Why Does Vapor Intrusion Happen?
- Unintentional contaminants are released into the subsurface, even when following best practices:
- Unknown equipment damage or pipe leaks causing frequent small chemical releases into the ground
- Larger accidental releases from compromised or outdated containment units like underground storage tanks
- Intentional violations of environmental regulations by previous site owners:
- Directly discharging waste products into the ground
- Discharging waste into nearby surface waters
- Natural occurrence of vapors as a part of the subsurface composition:
- Vapors like methane and radon exist naturally underground and can migrate upwards into overlying structures
Why is Vapor Intrusion Dangerous?
If you own or occupy a property in an area where VOCs have entered soil or groundwater, there is a potential for the chemicals to travel as vapors into your home or business. Many chemical vapors are dangerous since they are nearly impossible to detect without specialized sampling equipment.
Choose Hyde Environmental for Soil Vapor Testing
The environmental professionals at Hyde Environmental have the tools and experience to test for chemical vapors from VOCs in the soil and groundwater of your home or business. Hyde Environmental has completed vapor intrusion assessments on industrial facilities and residential, commercial, and undeveloped properties in the Midwest.
Our vapor intrusion investigation services use comprehensive sampling methods to identify any vapor intrusion pathways. If an intrusion is detected, we design and implement an effective vapor intrusion mitigation system tailored to your site's unique conditions.
Ways We Test for Vapor Intrusion
- Groundwater Sampling
- Soil Sampling
- Soil-Gas Sampling
- Indoor Air Sampling
The Short-Term & Long-Term Health Effects of Vapor Intrusion
High concentrations of VOC vapors in enclosed areas can lead to long-term health problems. Whether or not a person experiences adverse health effects depends on several factors, including the duration of exposure, the concentration of the substance, the toxicity of the chemical, the location of the vapor within the living or workspace, and the individual’s sensitivity to the chemical.
Case severity varies, depending on the vapor entering the living space. Some vapors are easily detected due to their distinct odor, like petroleum, while other VOCs, such as vinyl chloride, exhibit a mild, sweet odor but are acutely toxic.
Regulations and Standards Surrounding Vapor Intrusion
The Phase I ESA standard (ASTM E1527-21) requires vapor impacts to be assessed when completing site investigations, and these impacts are typically investigated further during Phase II environmental site assessments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published an OSWER Draft Guidance, as a recommended framework for assessing vapor intrusion, that relies upon collecting and evaluating multiple lines of evidence to support risk management decisions on vapor intrusion.
Several Midwest states (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, etc.) require the vapor intrusion pathway to be evaluated like the soil and groundwater pathways for sites where environmental contamination or suspected contamination is present.
Indoor Air Contaminants – Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC)
Non- Chlorinated VOCs
Soil vapor extraction mitigates problems with vapor intrusion.- Benzene
- Toluene
- Ethylbenzene
- Xylene
- N-Hexane
- 1,3-butadiene
- Methane
- Petroleum VOCs
Chlorinated VOCs
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Methylene Chloride
- Carbon tetrachloride
- 1,4-dichlorobenzene
Hyde Environmental Serves Locations Throughout the Upper Midwest
Hyde Environmental, located in Germantown, WI, performs environmental consulting services, including vapor mitigation and remediation in the following states:
