How could I be exposed to chemicals through soil vapor intrusion?
Humans can be exposed to contaminated soil vapor when vapors from beneath a building are drawn through cracks and openings in the foundation and mix with the indoor air. These vapors may be inhaled along with the indoor air. Both vapor intrusion that is documented in an occupied building and potential future vapor intrusion (when volatile chemicals are present, or are accumulating, in the vapor phase beneath a building but have not affected indoor air quality) must be evaluated. Potential vapor intrusion may also exist when there is a chance that contaminated soil vapors may move to existing buildings not currently affected or when there is a chance that new buildings will be built over existing subsurface vapor contamination. In general, inhaling a volatile chemical does not necessarily mean that a person will experience health effects. Whether or not a person experiences health effects depends on several factors, including the length of time a person is exposed, the number of times a
