Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Volatile Organic Compounds are toxic organic chemicals with higher tendencies to change from liquid to vapor phase under typical earth pressures and temperatures, and usually have little-to-no water solubility characteristics. VOCs are commonly found within hydrocarbon-based fuel additives, industrial solvents, refrigerants, hydraulic fluids, degreasers, and more. These compounds are generally known to be toxic, and result in adverse health effects upon human exposure. For instance, a liquid-phase tetrachloroethene (PCE) contamination plume may volatilize over time, creating a soil vapor intrusion scenario to the buildings aboveground. As a result, workers inside the building become exposed to the colorless and odorless VOC, in the form of vapor inhalation.

VOCs Soil & Groundwater Contamination

When a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reveals “recognized environmental conditions,” professional geologists test the subsurface for VOC soil contamination. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Laboratory Analysis Method 8260B applies to test soil and groundwater samples underlying fuel underground storage tanks (UST), dry cleaners, underground hydraulic lifts, waste oil tanks, etc.

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments and Indoor Air Quality Tests can help identify VOC contamination. Afterward, each volatile organic compound detection is run across the applicable screening level. And Human Health Risk Assessments aim to determine toxicity thresholds upon exposure.

If soil and groundwater contamination is present, a remedial action plan aims to clean up the soil contamination at the source. Lastly, impervious vapor barriers mitigate VOC pollution hazards to building occupants during and after remediation. 

EPA List of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

The following list provides the names of each volatile organic compound on the EPA list, per EPA Laboratory Method 8260B.

  • Dichlorodifluoromethane
  • Chloromethane
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • Bromomethane
  • Chloroethane
  • Trichlorofluoromethane
  • Freon 113
  • 1,1-Dichloroethene
  • Iodomethane
  • Methylene Chloride
  • trans-1,2-Dichloroethene
  • 1,1-Dichloroethane
  • 2,2-Dichloropropane
  • cis-1,2-Dichloroethene
  • Bromochloromethane
  • Chloroform
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane
  • 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
  • Carbon tetrachloride
  • 1,1-Dichloropropene
  • BTEX
    • Benzene
    • Toluene
    • Ethylbenzene
    • Xylenes
  • Tetrachloroethene (PCE)
  • Trichloroethene (TCE)
  • 1,2-Dichloropropane
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Dibromomethane
  • Trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
  • 1,3-Dichloropropane
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • 2-Chloroethylvinyl ether
  • Bromoform
  • Isopropylbenzene
  • Bromobenzene
  • 1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB)
  • Chlorobenzene
  • 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
  • Styrene
  • 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
  • 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
  • n-Propylbenzene
  • 2-Chlorotoluene
  • 4-Chlorotoluene
  • 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
  • tert-Butylbenzene
  • 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
  • Sec-Butylbenzene
  • 1,3-Dichlorobenzene
  • p-Isopropyltoluene
  • 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
  • n-Butylbenzene
  • 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
  • 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane
  • Hexachlorobutadiene
  • Naphthalene
  • 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
  • Acetone
  • 2-Butanone (MEK)
  • 4-Methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK)
  • 2-Hexanone
  • Vinyl Acetate
  • Ethanol
  • Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)
  • Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE)
  • N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (DIPE)
  • tert-Amyl methyl ether (TAME)
  • T-Butyl Alcohol

Similar Posts

  • Extrusive Rocks

    ByGeo Forward

    Extrusive Rocks Extrusive Rocks: In the volcanology branch of geology extrusive rocks are igneous rocks that have been erupted onto the Earth’s surface, before forming and crystallizing. On the other hand, intrusive rocks form and crystallize under the Earth’s ground surface. Extrusive rocks are typically microcrystalline and aphanitic, because of the faster rate of cooling…

  • Passive Methane Mitigation

    ByGeo Forward

    Passive Methane Mitigation Passive Methane Mitigation: Passive systems refer to the non-mechanical and non-electric components of the methane mitigation process. These components remove the vapor intrusion risks of methane soil gas migration into buildings atop Los Angeles Methane Zones and Methane Buffer Zones. In fact, methane testing results typically indicate the necessity for a passive…

  • Facies

    ByGeo Forward

    Facies Facies: In the field of geology, the term “facies” represents a mappable, areally restricted part of a rock body that has different fossils or lithology from other contiguous beds deposited at the same time.

  • Biogenic Gas

    ByGeo Forward

    Biogenic Gas Biogenic Gas: In geology, biogenic gas refers to natural gas that is the byproduct of the microbial decomposition of biological and organic matter. For instance, methane soil gas on Earth is typically a biogenic gas resulting from the decomposition of organic soil zones, landfills, marshes, and swamplands. Alternatively, natural gas can be petrogenic…

  • Environmental Law

    ByGeo Forward

    Environmental Law Environmental Law refers to the various categories of law that are put in place to protect the quality and condition of the earth and the environment. This sect of law aims to protect the well being of people and to preserve the earth’s natural resources, reserves, and wildlife. In fact, environmental laws apply…