June 16, 2022
When a contaminated site is located near a surface water body, there is a risk of contaminants in groundwater migrating into a lake or stream. If this is a potential route of conveyance, the Groundwater Surface Water Interface (GSI) pathway is taken into consideration during an exposure pathway evaluation. Since contaminant concentrations in groundwater do
June 8, 2022
Common practice for soil sampling is to collect a discrete sample (soil from a known location and depth) from a few points and compare the analytical data to exposure criteria. In particular situations, discrete sampling is biased and not reproducible. For instance, if a soil sample is analyzed for arsenic and the aliquot of soil
May 24, 2022
During an environmental investigation, contaminant exposure risk is evaluated through several pathways. These exposure pathways include: drinking water, direct contact, groundwater/surface water interface (GSI), and particulate or vapor inhalation. A conceptual site model (CSM), which is used to visualize the various exposure pathways that are applicable to a facility, is constructed through site characterization via
May 2, 2022
Gas stations were once an important fixture of major intersections, thoroughfares, and rural communities across the United States. Over the past few decades, however, the number of stations has steadily been declining, in part because of decreasing gasoline profit margins and stricter environmental regulations. There was also a need historically for more gas stations as
March 17, 2022
There has been a lot in the news lately regarding how we generate electricity to power our lives. It has become apparent that the energy sector is pivoting away from the reliance on coal for electricity while emphasizing other power sources such as natural gas and wind. Political perspective notwithstanding, many coal-fired power plants have
February 22, 2022
Advances in testing and research have discovered chemicals in our environment that were previously thought to be absent. These chemicals are referred to as emerging contaminants (ECs). ECs encompass many different categories of synthetic and naturally occurring chemicals including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, persistent pollutants, pesticides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, nanomaterials, and various other substances. These
February 10, 2022
Today’s construction industry faces a multitude of new and potentially challenging issues. One such challenge is the use and repurposing of contaminated land for building and development. When performing construction and demolition planning, and implementation activities on these properties, it is imperative that the potential for environmental hazards and chemical exposures associated with this work
September 9, 2021
Regulated underground storage tanks (USTs) are required to be decommissioned if they are out of service for more than one year. USTs that are discovered during site redevelopment should also be promptly removed to eliminate the owner’s liability for potential contamination. Envirologic has developed a full-service UST management program that is designed to help clients
August 31, 2021
Lead is a naturally occurring, but toxic metal that has been used in paint, ceramics, caulk, pipe solder, and various other products. The U.S. government banned the consumer use of lead-based paint in residential structures in 1978. It’s important to note, any building constructed before 1978 is at risk of containing lead-based paint. With over
August 10, 2021
Environmental work inherently involves unknown conditions that require sampling and data collection to understand the nature of contamination and determine how best to address associated risks. Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) enable environmental professionals to clearly define data needs, the purpose of the data, and the decisions that will be made based on the data generated.
