Field Deployable Vapor Intrusion Monitor

描述（由申请人提供）：蒸汽侵入是挥发性化学物质从地下迁移到上覆建筑物，是大量人口暴露于危险化学品的主要原因之一。这些挥发性化学物质通常是埋藏的废物和/或受污染的地下水所产生的，这些废物和/或受污染的地下水会释放出蒸汽，这些蒸汽可能通过地下土壤迁移到上覆建筑物的室内空气空间。在极端情况下，蒸汽可能在住宅或有人居住的建筑物中积累到可能造成近期安全危害（例如爆炸）、急性/慢性健康影响或美学问题的水平。根据最近的一份报告，在污染场所最常发现的两种氯代化学物质是蒸汽侵入风险最高的两种氯化化合物三氯乙烯（TCE）和过氯乙烯（PCE）通常被发现是土壤或地下水的污染物。虽然它们在正常情况下以液体的形式存在，但它们可能会以蒸汽的形式从地面向上迁移进入建筑物。PCE和TCE对人体健康的影响在很大程度上取决于暴露的量、暴露的时间长短和频率。吸入少量的TCE可能会引起头痛、肺部刺激、头晕和注意力不集中动物研究表明，长期接触PCE和TCE与肾脏和肝脏损伤有关。其他研究表明，接触PCE和TCE与癌症之间存在关联对人类接触可能导致疾病或功能障碍的化学和生物制剂进行精确测量，将有助于开发治疗方法。目前，室内空气监测的蒸汽侵入是用summa罐或Tedlar袋进行的，这两种方法都收集空气样本，必须在现场外进行分析。另一种方法是使用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，但体积太大，需要放在专门的公交车上。这两种类型的室内空气蒸汽入侵分析都是耗时和昂贵的，并且需要多次进入住宅。因此，需要一种实时、手持式、直读式的空气监测装置来检测微量水平的蒸汽侵入。为了满足这一需求，Lynntech建议开发一种结构紧凑、重量轻、易于操作的蒸汽侵入监测仪，能够提供快速的测试结果。所提出的技术结合了：i)选择性捕获和预浓缩挥发性有机化合物的固相萃取，以及ii)用于分析物明确识别的红外指纹。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物质，如：TCE， PCE，多环芳烃和多溴二苯。

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.