What chemicals are associated with vapor intrusion?
A class of chemicals known as “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs) is the most common cause of vapor intrusion. Several components of gasoline are included within this classification. Gasoline VOCs include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (known together as BTEX). Other common sources of vapor intrusion are chlorinated compounds. These are used in dry cleaning and industrial operations. These chemicals include PCE (also known by its chemical name tetrachloroethene) and TCE (also known by its chemical name trichloroethene). Both PCE and TCE can breakdown into other chemicals which can also cause vapor intrusion problems.
