When vapor-forming chemicals seep from the ground, vapor intrusion becomes a problem. In vapor form, these volatile chemicals can easily invade nearby

How Soil Vapor Extraction Works

submited by
Style Pass
2024-11-10 20:00:04

When vapor-forming chemicals seep from the ground, vapor intrusion becomes a problem. In vapor form, these volatile chemicals can easily invade nearby homes and businesses, exposing residents and customers to harmful chemicals with dangerous side effects. Fortunately, environmental experts have honed several methods to eradicate these soil vapors. Soil vapor extraction is one such method. Read on to find out how soil vapor extraction works.

When certain chemicals are spilled at a factory or leaked from a storage tank, they can easily seep into soil and groundwater. And when those chemicals evaporate, they often form chemical vapor, or gases with harmful chemical properties. These gases can travel through soil and infiltrate indoor air through cracks in building foundations. This is a cause for concern, as these chemicals can sneakily contaminate indoor air. Many types of chemicals can evaporate into gas, including v olatile organic compounds (VOCs). Examples of VOCs are certain industrial products, petroleum products like gasoline, and dry cleaning chemicals. In vapor form, these chemicals can have serious side effects.

While health effects vary depending on exposure levels, chemical vapors are never a good thing. As chemicals build up in indoor air, side effects might include nausea, headache, or  respiratory irritation, particularly in individuals with compromised lungs or conditions like asthma. While the side effects typically go away when the person leaves the compromised area, long-term exposure to some chemical vapors can be extremely harmful. For example, long-term low-level exposure to some VOCs may raise a person’s lifetime risk for developing cancer. This is why soil vapor remediation efforts are so important.

Leave a Comment