TCE Contamination Concerns Still an Issue at New York Industrial Park

In August, New York’s WBNG broadcasted a report about continued concerns over the presence of trichloroethylene at an industrial park in Endicott.  According to the news report, there was a significant spill of the toxic chemical back in 1979 that has caused lingering contamination and exposure concerns.  

That same month, the Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment – New York State Department of Health released a new fact sheet about TCE in indoor and outdoor air.  It announces that, “After considering the potential health effects of TCE, the background concentrations of TCE in air, and the ability and reliability of the analytical techniques used to measure TCE in air, NYSDOH recommends that the TCE concentration in air not exceed 2 mcg/m3. This determination also considers continuous exposure for months or as long as a lifetime and sensitive populations (for example, children, pregnant women). Three other ways of expressing this guideline are 0.002 milligrams per cubic meter of air (0.002 mg/m3), 0.4 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.0004 parts per million (ppm). This replaces the previous guideline of 5 mcg/m3 (NYSDOH, 2006).”

TCE is a type of volatile organic compound (VOC) that is used mainly as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts and is also used in some adhesives, paint removers and spot removers. “TCE breaks down slowly in soil and water and has been found in numerous contaminated underground water sources and surface waters across the country,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc., one of the nation’s leading TCE and VOC testing laboratories.  “Due to this fact, TCE can migrate from soil and groundwater to the indoors of overlying buildings in areas with contamination through a process known as vapor intrusion.”  

EMSL offers sampling supplies and testing services to identify TCE from indoor environments and from soil and water samples.  These services are essential to identify exposure risks and to help monitor and assess remediation efforts. EMSL also recently sponsored a video about trichloroethylene and exposure risks that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/DetCE36YMHs.

To learn more about TCE testing or other occupational, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of indoor air quality, environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.  
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) (856) 303-2503

Contact via E-mail