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Soil Gas - Hazards and Solutions

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Don White
Don White

Monitoring of hazardous soil gases and use of the ECHO System in basement finishing.to alleviate soil gas problems.

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Indoor Air Technologies Inc www.indoorair.ca toll free (800) 558-5892 Soil gasSoil gas -- hazards and solutionshazards and solutions 'RXJODV 6 :DONLQVKDZ 3K' 3(QJ •Radon monitor gives real time reading. Hourly variations re- quire 4 days to obtain good picture of levels. •Lower explosive limit (LEL: methane, pentane...) and hydrogen sulph- ide (H2S) mon- itor organic matter decay gases. LEL, H2S monitorRadon monitor
VOC sampling identifies various soil gas problems including toxic waste offgasing and microbial offgasing. Sampling pump with sorbent volatile organic compound sampling tube 3 media VOC sorbent tube
Smoke pencil Used to identify air flow directions and approximate velocities. Micromanometer Used to measure pressure differ- ences (+/- 0.1 Pa) and air velocities. Micromanometer for measuring flows and pressure differences Smoke pencil for identifying air currents
SOIL GASES Methane Colorless, odorless, explosive. Produced by decaying vegetable matter. It is the main component of natural gas. Hydrogen sulphide Colorless, very poisonous gas produced by decaying animal or vegetable matter. Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Chloroform-like odor. Solvent. Soil gas originating in garbage. Formed by the combination of methane and chlorine. The chlorine is leached from paper. Affects the CNS. Causes anoxia. • methane • hydrogen sulphide • methylene chloride • gasoline VOCs • radon • pesticide toxins, Cl, HCn… • microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics...
SOIL GASES cont’d Gasoline Sweet odor, explosive. Causes sensory irritation and affects the CNS. Radon Colorless, odorless, radioactive, gas. Causes 5% of lung cancers. Exposure to 4 pCi/l equivalent to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes per day. Pesticides Highly toxic. e.g. chlordane C10H6Cl8 e.g. hydrogen cyanide (HCN) bitter almond smell - irritant, anoxia e.g. phosgene (Cl2CO) smokers exposed to pesticides at risk - irritation, anoxia, pulmonary edema. • methane • hydrogen sulphide • methylene chloride • gasoline VOCs • radon • pesticide toxins, Cl, HCn… • microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics; toxic propagules
SOIL GASES cont’d Mold Microbial VOCs are produced during the growth of a wide range of bacteria and fungi, forming complex molecules of alcohol's, aldehydes, esters, hydrocarbons, and aromatics. Earthy odours are sometimes markers. MVOC effects include nausea, malaise, stuffiness and wheezing. Microbial propagules (e.g. spores, NSI) from soil (e.g. crawl space; construction) can be toxigenic. e.g. Penicillium auranteogrisium (kidney disease), Penicillium brevicompactum (teratogenic, immunosuppressive), Stachybotrys chartarum (pulmonary haemorrhage in infants, lung disease in adults) • methane • hydrogen sulphide • gasoline • radon • pesticides • microbial microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics; toxic propagules Fungal colony
Case History # 1 Service station restaurant gasoline fumes Restaurant max LEL* TVOC April 28 Complaints of headache 65% 125 mg/m3 June 2 Blower installed to exhaust sump pit and weeping tile 14 mg/m3 June 4 3 mg/m3 * Lower explosive limit, LEL (pentane equivalent) low alarm 10% high alarm 20% Problem Gasoline fumes were above LEL high alarm level in air entering a service station restaurant. Venting above a sump pit where levels were highest did not solve the problem. Solution The sump pit was sealed tightly and then exhausted under pressure. This caused the under-ground fumes from a leaking tank to be drawn into weeping tile without entering the building.
Case History # 2 Basement petroleum fumes •A PID identified petroleum fumes on one of the basement foundation block walls, with highest readings (TVOC =20 mg/m3) in an adjoining interior abutment block wall. •Source possibilities included heating oil used in the furnace, possibly leaking from a line passing under the slab, and leaking gasoline from an underground tank at a nearby gas station up the hill from the house. •GC/MS headspace analysis vs. basement air findings identified the source as gasoline using benzene as a marker. Problem Strong petroleum fumes were noticed in a bungalow base- ment. The fumes were entering via an interior block wall bracing the peri- meter block wall. Solution The block wall was sealed and exhaust- ed outdoors continu- ously by a blower for several months until the odor disappeared.
Case History # 2 cont’d Basement petroleum fumes • It was concluded that the fumes originated from gasoline discarded from a lawn mower a few weeks earlier in a depression in the lawn (TVOC = 30 mg/m3 in the soil here using PID). This depression marked a break in an old underground water drain leading from the basement. House stack effect drew air up the pipe to the basement. Problem Strong petroleum fumes were noticed in a bungalow base- ment. The fumes were entering via an interior block wall bracing the peri- meter block wall. Solution The block wall was sealed and exhaust- ed outdoors continu- ously by a blower for several months until the odor disappeared.
Case History # 3 Basement bedroom toxic mold Fungal aerosols March 11 CFU/m3 Species in order of colonies Basement bedroom 175 Penicillium auranteogrisium Penicilium brevicompactum penicllium sp. Cladosporium, NSI Crawl space TNTC Penicillia, Aspergilli, Stachbotrys chartarum Problem Concern about mold exposure of a daughter whose bedroom was in a ranch-style back split/bungalow basement led to fungal investigation. It identified toxigenic species in the bedroom air. The source was a nearby crawl space with a soil floor. Solution The crawl space was sealed and depressurized with a continuously operating blower exhausting to the outdoors.
Case History # 4 Radon exposure Problem Radon levels in an Ottawa Rockcliffe Park house basement exceeded 4 pCi/l. This exposure is equivalent to smoking 2 packs a day in terms of lung cancer risk. Solution The basement was finished with the ECHO System. It forms a ventilated and depressurized continuous subfloor and perimeter stud wall barrier to radon and any other soil gas entry. 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 3/11/99 0:00 3/21/99 0:00 3/31/99 0:00 4/10/99 0:00 4/20/99 0:00 4/30/99 0:00 5/10/99 0:00 5/20/99 0:00 5/30/99 0:00 6/9/99 0:00 Date, time of day Radon,pCi/l Video room Wrkshp Wi.ce Living rm Video room ECHO blowers on ECHO blowers on ECHO blow ers off Primary ECHO blow er on ECHO blowers off 2ndary ECHO blower on Action level = 4 pCi/l
Problem Sewer smell in basement Solution • Sump sealed and exhausted continuously outdoors with 65 watt blower Case History #6 Store basement Staff and patrons complained of sewer smell in the basement of the store. Recommended that sump be sealed and exhausted by a 110 CFM blower with a speed control. At 0,.5 Pa negative pressure, some sewer smell still observed in the basement. Sump was better sealed, so depressurization above 2 Pa. Problem solved.
ECHO System basement finishing The ECHO System prevents soil and envelope gases and vapour entry by depressurization - not by air circulation. It removes leakage water by drainage and evaporation.
Drained depressurized wall sub-slab Drained depressurized wall Sub-floor Depressurized walls and sub- floors prevent finished basement soil gas entry
Crawl space exhaust Crawl spaces can be strong sources of mold emissions and soil gases into the living space. Exhaust ventilation dehumidifies and warms the space with house air, while it depressurizes it.
Sub-slab depressurization Problem Soil gas entry through the slab cracks and openings. One solution Sub-slab depressurization • provided there is a gravel layer under slab • the foundation under- ground has fairly air tight boundaries. • SSD does not prevent soil gas entry through foundation wall cracks and cavities. • Minimize exhaust rate to avoid foundation problems (frost heave, soil drying).
Soil Gas Hazards Summary •Lung cancer - radon gas (concern in perhaps 1/5 houses, ? schools) • radon is present in all soil • radon levels cannot be predicted from site location alone • foundations on stone are high risk •Toxic effects: irritant, CNS affects, allergenic effects, kidney disease, cancer, anoxia... • toxigenic molds e.g. S. chartarum, P. auranteogrisum in crawl spaces • pesticides used in control of insects, rodents e.g. Cl, HCn... • CNS effects, explosions • underground gasoline leaks • waste disposal • natural gas leaks • contaminated fill • wet organic soil
Soil Gas Solutions Summary • Sump pits •seal and power vent outdoors, depressurizing weeping tile around perimeter of foundation • Slab •seal and power vent sub-slab air outdoors • needs gravel under slab • 50-150 cfm exhaust rate • does not eliminate foundation wall entry • Slab and foundation walls • use the ECHO System: seal sub-floors and perimeter stud walls against foundation and power vent cavity air outdoors •10 - 100 cfm exhaust rate, depending on system tightness • coincidentally solves finished basement mold problem • coincidentally provides leakage protection • coincidentally provides filtered house ventilation air • Crawl spaces • seal envelope and power vent outdoors • coincidentally dehumidifies crawl space

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Soil Gas - Hazards and Solutions

  • 1. Indoor Air Technologies Inc www.indoorair.ca toll free (800) 558-5892 Soil gasSoil gas -- hazards and solutionshazards and solutions 'RXJODV 6 :DONLQVKDZ 3K' 3(QJ •Radon monitor gives real time reading. Hourly variations re- quire 4 days to obtain good picture of levels. •Lower explosive limit (LEL: methane, pentane...) and hydrogen sulph- ide (H2S) mon- itor organic matter decay gases. LEL, H2S monitorRadon monitor
  • 2. VOC sampling identifies various soil gas problems including toxic waste offgasing and microbial offgasing. Sampling pump with sorbent volatile organic compound sampling tube 3 media VOC sorbent tube
  • 3. Smoke pencil Used to identify air flow directions and approximate velocities. Micromanometer Used to measure pressure differ- ences (+/- 0.1 Pa) and air velocities. Micromanometer for measuring flows and pressure differences Smoke pencil for identifying air currents
  • 4. SOIL GASES Methane Colorless, odorless, explosive. Produced by decaying vegetable matter. It is the main component of natural gas. Hydrogen sulphide Colorless, very poisonous gas produced by decaying animal or vegetable matter. Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Chloroform-like odor. Solvent. Soil gas originating in garbage. Formed by the combination of methane and chlorine. The chlorine is leached from paper. Affects the CNS. Causes anoxia. • methane • hydrogen sulphide • methylene chloride • gasoline VOCs • radon • pesticide toxins, Cl, HCn… • microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics...
  • 5. SOIL GASES cont’d Gasoline Sweet odor, explosive. Causes sensory irritation and affects the CNS. Radon Colorless, odorless, radioactive, gas. Causes 5% of lung cancers. Exposure to 4 pCi/l equivalent to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes per day. Pesticides Highly toxic. e.g. chlordane C10H6Cl8 e.g. hydrogen cyanide (HCN) bitter almond smell - irritant, anoxia e.g. phosgene (Cl2CO) smokers exposed to pesticides at risk - irritation, anoxia, pulmonary edema. • methane • hydrogen sulphide • methylene chloride • gasoline VOCs • radon • pesticide toxins, Cl, HCn… • microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics; toxic propagules
  • 6. SOIL GASES cont’d Mold Microbial VOCs are produced during the growth of a wide range of bacteria and fungi, forming complex molecules of alcohol's, aldehydes, esters, hydrocarbons, and aromatics. Earthy odours are sometimes markers. MVOC effects include nausea, malaise, stuffiness and wheezing. Microbial propagules (e.g. spores, NSI) from soil (e.g. crawl space; construction) can be toxigenic. e.g. Penicillium auranteogrisium (kidney disease), Penicillium brevicompactum (teratogenic, immunosuppressive), Stachybotrys chartarum (pulmonary haemorrhage in infants, lung disease in adults) • methane • hydrogen sulphide • gasoline • radon • pesticides • microbial microbial VOCs, ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics; toxic propagules Fungal colony
  • 7. Case History # 1 Service station restaurant gasoline fumes Restaurant max LEL* TVOC April 28 Complaints of headache 65% 125 mg/m3 June 2 Blower installed to exhaust sump pit and weeping tile 14 mg/m3 June 4 3 mg/m3 * Lower explosive limit, LEL (pentane equivalent) low alarm 10% high alarm 20% Problem Gasoline fumes were above LEL high alarm level in air entering a service station restaurant. Venting above a sump pit where levels were highest did not solve the problem. Solution The sump pit was sealed tightly and then exhausted under pressure. This caused the under-ground fumes from a leaking tank to be drawn into weeping tile without entering the building.
  • 8. Case History # 2 Basement petroleum fumes •A PID identified petroleum fumes on one of the basement foundation block walls, with highest readings (TVOC =20 mg/m3) in an adjoining interior abutment block wall. •Source possibilities included heating oil used in the furnace, possibly leaking from a line passing under the slab, and leaking gasoline from an underground tank at a nearby gas station up the hill from the house. •GC/MS headspace analysis vs. basement air findings identified the source as gasoline using benzene as a marker. Problem Strong petroleum fumes were noticed in a bungalow base- ment. The fumes were entering via an interior block wall bracing the peri- meter block wall. Solution The block wall was sealed and exhaust- ed outdoors continu- ously by a blower for several months until the odor disappeared.
  • 9. Case History # 2 cont’d Basement petroleum fumes • It was concluded that the fumes originated from gasoline discarded from a lawn mower a few weeks earlier in a depression in the lawn (TVOC = 30 mg/m3 in the soil here using PID). This depression marked a break in an old underground water drain leading from the basement. House stack effect drew air up the pipe to the basement. Problem Strong petroleum fumes were noticed in a bungalow base- ment. The fumes were entering via an interior block wall bracing the peri- meter block wall. Solution The block wall was sealed and exhaust- ed outdoors continu- ously by a blower for several months until the odor disappeared.
  • 10. Case History # 3 Basement bedroom toxic mold Fungal aerosols March 11 CFU/m3 Species in order of colonies Basement bedroom 175 Penicillium auranteogrisium Penicilium brevicompactum penicllium sp. Cladosporium, NSI Crawl space TNTC Penicillia, Aspergilli, Stachbotrys chartarum Problem Concern about mold exposure of a daughter whose bedroom was in a ranch-style back split/bungalow basement led to fungal investigation. It identified toxigenic species in the bedroom air. The source was a nearby crawl space with a soil floor. Solution The crawl space was sealed and depressurized with a continuously operating blower exhausting to the outdoors.
  • 11. Case History # 4 Radon exposure Problem Radon levels in an Ottawa Rockcliffe Park house basement exceeded 4 pCi/l. This exposure is equivalent to smoking 2 packs a day in terms of lung cancer risk. Solution The basement was finished with the ECHO System. It forms a ventilated and depressurized continuous subfloor and perimeter stud wall barrier to radon and any other soil gas entry. 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 3/11/99 0:00 3/21/99 0:00 3/31/99 0:00 4/10/99 0:00 4/20/99 0:00 4/30/99 0:00 5/10/99 0:00 5/20/99 0:00 5/30/99 0:00 6/9/99 0:00 Date, time of day Radon,pCi/l Video room Wrkshp Wi.ce Living rm Video room ECHO blowers on ECHO blowers on ECHO blow ers off Primary ECHO blow er on ECHO blowers off 2ndary ECHO blower on Action level = 4 pCi/l
  • 12. Problem Sewer smell in basement Solution • Sump sealed and exhausted continuously outdoors with 65 watt blower Case History #6 Store basement Staff and patrons complained of sewer smell in the basement of the store. Recommended that sump be sealed and exhausted by a 110 CFM blower with a speed control. At 0,.5 Pa negative pressure, some sewer smell still observed in the basement. Sump was better sealed, so depressurization above 2 Pa. Problem solved.
  • 13. ECHO System basement finishing The ECHO System prevents soil and envelope gases and vapour entry by depressurization - not by air circulation. It removes leakage water by drainage and evaporation.
  • 14. Drained depressurized wall sub-slab Drained depressurized wall Sub-floor Depressurized walls and sub- floors prevent finished basement soil gas entry
  • 15. Crawl space exhaust Crawl spaces can be strong sources of mold emissions and soil gases into the living space. Exhaust ventilation dehumidifies and warms the space with house air, while it depressurizes it.
  • 16. Sub-slab depressurization Problem Soil gas entry through the slab cracks and openings. One solution Sub-slab depressurization • provided there is a gravel layer under slab • the foundation under- ground has fairly air tight boundaries. • SSD does not prevent soil gas entry through foundation wall cracks and cavities. • Minimize exhaust rate to avoid foundation problems (frost heave, soil drying).
  • 17. Soil Gas Hazards Summary •Lung cancer - radon gas (concern in perhaps 1/5 houses, ? schools) • radon is present in all soil • radon levels cannot be predicted from site location alone • foundations on stone are high risk •Toxic effects: irritant, CNS affects, allergenic effects, kidney disease, cancer, anoxia... • toxigenic molds e.g. S. chartarum, P. auranteogrisum in crawl spaces • pesticides used in control of insects, rodents e.g. Cl, HCn... • CNS effects, explosions • underground gasoline leaks • waste disposal • natural gas leaks • contaminated fill • wet organic soil
  • 18. Soil Gas Solutions Summary • Sump pits •seal and power vent outdoors, depressurizing weeping tile around perimeter of foundation • Slab •seal and power vent sub-slab air outdoors • needs gravel under slab • 50-150 cfm exhaust rate • does not eliminate foundation wall entry • Slab and foundation walls • use the ECHO System: seal sub-floors and perimeter stud walls against foundation and power vent cavity air outdoors •10 - 100 cfm exhaust rate, depending on system tightness • coincidentally solves finished basement mold problem • coincidentally provides leakage protection • coincidentally provides filtered house ventilation air • Crawl spaces • seal envelope and power vent outdoors • coincidentally dehumidifies crawl space