Field Deployable Vapor Intrusion Monitor

描述(申请人提供)：蒸汽侵入是挥发性化学物质从地下迁移到上面的建筑物，这是导致大量人口接触危险化学品的主要原因之一。这些挥发性化学物质往往是掩埋的废物和/或受污染的地下水的结果，这些废物和/或受污染的地下水可能会释放出蒸汽，这些蒸汽可能会通过地下土壤迁移到上面建筑物的室内空气空间。在极端情况下，蒸气可能积聚在住宅或被占用的建筑物中，达到可能构成近期安全危害(如爆炸)、急性/慢性健康影响或美观问题的水平。根据最近的一份报告，造成蒸汽入侵风险最高的两种氯化化学品是最常在受污染的地点发现的。2两种氯化化合物三氯乙烯(TCE)和全氯乙烯(PCE)通常被发现为土壤或地下水污染。虽然它们在正常情况下以液体的形式存在，但它们可能会随着水蒸气从地面侵入建筑物而向上迁移。四氯乙烯和三氯乙烯对人类健康的影响在很大程度上取决于一个人接触的量以及接触的时间和频率。吸入少量的三氯乙烯可能会导致头痛、肺部刺激、头晕和注意力不集中。3动物研究表明，长期接触四氯乙烯和三氯乙烯与肾脏和肝脏损害有关。其他研究表明，四氯乙烯和三氯乙烯暴露与癌症之间存在联系。4精确测量人类暴露于可能导致疾病或功能障碍的化学和生物制剂将有助于制定治疗方法。目前，对蒸汽入侵的室内空气监测是使用SUMMA罐或特德拉袋进行的，两者都收集空气样本，必须在非现场进行分析。另一种方法是使用美国环保局的痕量大气气体分析仪，它可以提供实时的室内空气读数，但它太大了，以至于要装在一辆专门的巴士上。这两种类型的室内空气蒸汽侵入分析都是耗时和昂贵的，并且需要多次进入住宅。因此，需要一种能够在痕量水平上检测蒸汽入侵的实时、手持、直读的空气监测设备。为了满足这一需求，Lynntech建议开发一种紧凑、轻便且易于操作的蒸汽入侵监测仪，能够提供快速测试结果。该技术结合了：i)固相萃取用于VOCs的选择性捕获和预浓缩，以及ii)红外指纹图谱用于分析物的明确识别。该装置可用于建筑物内外监测挥发性和半挥发性有毒化学品，如TCE、PCE、多环芳烃和多溴联苯。 与公共健康相关：蒸汽侵入是挥发性化学物质从地下迁移到上面的建筑物；这是导致大量人口接触危险化学品的主要原因之一。在极端情况下，蒸气可能积聚在住宅或被占用的建筑物中，达到可能构成短期安全危害(如爆炸)、急性/慢性健康影响或美观问题的水平。Lynntech正在提议开发一种现场可部署的蒸汽入侵监测仪，该监测仪能够提供基于固相萃取的快速测试结果，以进行选择性捕获和预浓缩，并通过红外指纹对分析物进行明确识别。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Vapor intrusion is the migration of volatile chemicals from the subsurface into overlying buildings, one of the major causes for a large population exposure to hazardous chemicals. These volatile chemicals are often the result of buried waste and/or contaminated groundwater that can emit vapors that may migrate through subsurface soils and into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings. In extreme cases, the vapors may accumulate in dwellings or occupied building to levels that may pose near-term safety hazards (e.g., explosion), acute/chronic health effects, or aesthetic problems. According to a recent report, the two chlorinated chemicals that pose the highest risks from vapor intrusion are the ones that are most frequently found at contaminated sites.2 The two chlorinated compounds trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) are commonly found as soil or ground-water contamination. Though they exist as liquids under normal conditions, they may migrate upward as vapor intrusion from the ground into buildings. The effect of PCE and TCE on human health depend greatly on how much one is exposed to, and the length and frequency of exposure. Breathing small amounts of TCE may cause headaches, lung irritation, dizziness, and poor concentration.3 Animal studies have shown that long-term exposure to PCE and TCE is connected to kidney and liver damage. Other studies have shown an association between PCE and TCE exposure and cancer.4 Precise measurements of human exposure to chemical and biological agents that may lead to disease or dysfunction will facilitate development of remedy for it. Currently the indoor air monitoring for vapor intrusion is performed with summa canisters or Tedlar bags, both of which collect an air sample that must be analyzed off- site. Another method uses EPA's Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer, which gives real-time indoor air readings but is so large it is contained in a specialized bus. Both types of indoor air vapor intrusion analyses are time- consuming and costly, and require multiple entries into a residence. Thus, there is need for a real-time, hand- held, direct-reading air monitoring device that can detect vapor intrusion at trace levels. To address the need, Lynntech proposes to develop a compact, light weight and easy to operate vapor intrusion monitor capable of providing rapid test results. The proposed technology combines: i) solid phase extraction for selective capture and pre-concentration of VOCs, and ii) IR fingerprinting for the unambiguous identification of the analytes. The device can be used both inside and outside of a building to monitor volatile and semi-volatile toxic chemicals such as: TCE, PCE, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polybrominated diphenyls. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Vapor intrusion is the migration of volatile chemicals from the subsurface into overlying buildings; one of the major causes for a large population exposure to hazardous chemicals. In extreme cases, the vapors may accumulate in dwellings or occupied buildings to levels that may pose near-term safety hazards (e.g., explosion), acute/chronic health effects, or aesthetic problems. Lynntech is proposing to develop a field deployable vapor intrusion monitor capable of providing rapid test results based on solid phase extraction for selective capture and pre-concentration, and IR fingerprinting for the unambiguous identification of the analytes.