Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume 51, Issue 18, Pages 10369-10378Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02667
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [1336877]
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- Directorate For Engineering
- Div Of Chem, Bioeng, Env, & Transp Sys [1336877] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Office Of The Director
- Office of Integrative Activities [1355406] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Vapor intrusion (VI) by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the built environment presents a threat to human health. Traditional VI assessments are often time-, cost-, and labor-intensive; whereas traditional subsurface methods sample a relatively small volume in the subsurface and are difficult to collect within and near structures. Trees could provide a similar subsurface sample where roots act as the sampler' and are already onsite. Regression models were developed to assess the relation between PCE concentrations in over 500 tree-core samples with PCE concentrations in over 50 groundwater and 1000 soil samples collected from a tetrachloroethylene- (PCE-) contaminated Superfund site and analyzed using gas chromatography. Results indicate that in planta concentrations are significantly and positively related to PCE concentrations in groundwater samples collected at depths less than 20 m (adjusted R-2 values greater than 0.80) and in soil samples (adjusted R-2 values greater than 0.90). Results indicate that a 30 cm diameter tree characterizes soil concentrations at depths less than 6 m over an area of 700-1600 m(2), the volume of a typical basement. These findings indicate that tree sampling may be an appropriate method to detect contamination at shallow depths at sites with VI.
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