PERC Exposure Risks Due to Vapor Intrusion and Other Pathways

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune recently published an article about indoor air quality testing that is being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over 100 residential homes, commercial properties and recreational facilities have been tested so far for chemical contaminants in the El Monte and South El Monte areas. All of this is a result of concerns about chemicals migrating into the air inside of overlying homes and buildings near the San Gabriel Area 1 Superfund Site.
 
The chemicals being tested for include tetrachloroethylene (PERC) and the EPA reports that at least five properties have had treatment systems installed following the tests. PERC is a manufactured liquid chemical that has been used widely for dry cleaning, as a chemical intermediate, metal degreaser and as a component of some consumer products.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that tetrachloroethylene may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a Group 2A carcinogen. Back in 1988, California designated PERC under Prop 65 as known to cause cancer.
 
“People can unknowingly be exposed to PERC thru a process known as vapor intrusion,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC).  “PERC vapors can enter a structure by migrating through contaminated soil or groundwater through cracks in the foundation and from contaminated bath, shower and drinking water. People can also be exposed if they use products containing the chemical or live or work in proximity to waste sites as is the concern in El Monte and South El Monte.”
 
CSC’s environmental consultants can identify PERC and a wide range of other chemical contaminants that may be present in residential and occupational settings to help prevent exposure risks. They have also sponsored an educational video about PERC and exposure risks that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/f2Mac3bRfE8
 
To learn more about this or other environmental, indoor air quality, occupational, health and safety testing services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
 

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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