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U.S. Department of Energy
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Cancer risks from soil emissions of volatile organic compounds at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/672321· OSTI ID:672321
The emission isolation flux chamber (EIFC) methodology was applied to Superfund investigations at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300 to determine if on-site workers were exposed to VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface and what, if any, health risks could be attributed to the inhalation of the VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface. During July and August of 1996, twenty, eighteen, and twenty six VOC soil vapor flux samples were collected in the Building 830, 832, and 854 areas, respectively using EIFCS. The VOC concentrations in the vapor samples were used to calculate soil flux rates which were used as input into an air dispersion model to calculate ambient air exposure-point concentrations. The exposure-point concentrations were compared to EPA Region IX Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs). Buildings 830 and 832 exposure-point concentrations were less then the PRGs therefore no cancer risks were calculated. The cancer risks for Building 854 ranged from 1.6 x 10{sup -7} to 2.1 x 10{sup -6}. The resultant inhalation cancer risks were all within the acceptable range, implying that on-site workers were not exposed to VOC vapors volatilizing from the subsurface soil that could have significant cancer risks. Therefore remediation in these areas would not be necessary.
Research Organization:
LLNL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
672321
Report Number(s):
UCRL-LR--130701; ON: DE98057877; BR: EW2010302
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English