IAQ Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, April 4, 2025

Vapor intrusion is described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as occurring when there is a migration of vapor-forming chemicals from any subsurface source into an overlying building. This subsurface source is often contaminated groundwater, soil, or both.

These vapor-forming chemicals can cause indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and pose a health concern for building occupants. The agency goes on to warn that in extreme cases, the vapors may accumulate in dwellings or occupied buildings to levels that may pose:

• Near-term safety hazards (e.g., explosion)
• Acute health effects

“In structures with lower concentrations of vapor-forming chemicals due to vapor intrusion, EPA reports the main concern is whether the chemicals may pose an unacceptable risk of health effects due to long-term exposure to these lower levels,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “EPA cautions that a complicating factor in evaluating the potential chronic risk from vapor intrusion is the potential presence of some of the same chemicals from emission sources within the building. Some examples include household solvents, gasoline, and cleaners that may pose separately, or in combination with vapor intrusion, a significant health risk.”

Back in 2023, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Vapor Intrusion (VI) Workgroup developed the Final Draft Supplemental Guidance: Screening and Evaluating Vapor Intrusion (Supplemental VI Guidance) for use with existing State guidance in conducting vapor intrusion evaluations in California. It provides a screening process to determine if buildings near known or suspected subsurface contamination by vapor-forming chemicals are potentially affected by vapor intrusion. The process focuses the investigation and sampling for early assessment of potential vapor intrusion health risks for building occupants.
 

To help identify these types of concerns, LA Testing offers comprehensive vapor intrusion laboratory testing services and sampling supplies from their California facilities. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about vapor intrusion and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/kkxtq1TfbnQ

 

To learn more about vapor intrusion or other environmental, occupational, health, and safety testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794.

 

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.