Vapor Intrusion, an Invisible Threat to Building Occupants

April 16, 2012 - PRLog -- In 1970, over a dozen railroad cars left their tracks in Leroy, New York.  Several ruptured containers held trichloroethylene, also known as TCE.  An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 gallons of the chemical spilled to the ground.

The TCE that spilled has made its way into the ground across the area prompting officials to perform vapor intrusion testing in a number of homes decades later.  Vapor intrusion generally occurs when there is a migration of volatile chemicals from contaminated groundwater or soil into an overlying building. Volatile chemicals can emit vapors that may migrate through subsurface soils and into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings in ways similar to that of radon gas.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene can affect the human central nervous system (CNS), with symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, confusion, euphoria, facial numbness, and weakness.  Liver, kidney, immunological, endocrine, and developmental effects have also been reported in humans.  A recent analysis of available epidemiological studies reports trichloroethylene exposure to be associated with several types of cancers in humans, especially kidney, liver, cervix, and lymphatic system.”

“Unfortunately in the past, chemical spills and disposal practices of many toxic chemicals left much to be desired,” reported Brian Mcfarland, Vice President from Legends Environmental Insurance, a leading provider of insurance coverage for environmental and emergency spill responders.  “Today, properties in many parts of the country face problems due to vapor intrusion issues.  Fortunately there are indoor air quality and environmental professionals who specialize in testing and remediating these types of problems.  Legends has been providing insurance coverage for these professionals that provide this critical service for years,” he continued.

To help industry deal with today’s spills, Legends introduced SpillConnect in 2011.  Industry and emergency spill responders can connect via SpillConnect when an immediate response is needed to prevent these types of environmental problems.    Emergency spill responders can register at no charge to begin receiving the benefits offered by SpillConnect by completing a short registration form at http://legends.spillcenter.net.

An educational video, sponsored by Legends, about the dangers of vapor intrusion in indoor environments can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TLCXmehOwE



To learn more about Legends Environmental Insurance Services please visit: www.Legends-enviro.com, call (800) 992-6999 ext 164 or email BrianM@Legends-enviro.com.

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About Legends Environmental Insurance Services, LLC
Legends Environmental Insurance Services is nationally recognized as an innovator in providing environmental and restoration insurance programs. The company has over 30 years experience providing these services in all 50 states.