&EPA
Uniied Slates
Environmental Protection
Agency
Want more information?
To learn more about the vapor
intrusion investigation or if you
have questions or comments about
the Tecumseh Products site cleanup,
please contact one of these team
members:
Community Involvement
Coordinator
Rafael P. Gonzalez
EPA Public Affairs Specialist
312-886-0269
gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov
For site information and cleanup
progress
Joseph Kelly
EPA Project Manager
312-353-2111
kellv.ioseph@epa.gov
For site vapor intrusion questions
Bhooma Sundar
EPA Vapor Intrusion Toxicologist
312-886-1660
sundar.bhooma@epa.gov
EPA toll-free: 800-621-8431,
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekdays
For vapor intrusion questions
Joseph Rogers
MDEQ Senior Geologist
517-284-6569
rogersi5@michigan.gov
For information about TCE and
other chemicals
Christina Bush
MDCH Toxicologist
517-335-9717
bushc6@michigan.gov
Pollution Investigation Looks
For Vapor Problems
Tecumseh Products Site
Tecumseh, Michigan	August 2014
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tecumseh Products Co.
(TPC) are conducting an investigation in an area near the former TPC
compressor manufacturing plant on Patterson Street in Tecumseh. Under
an EPA legal order, TPC has been performing groundwater and soil gas
tests related to the site's prior use and storage of solvents. "Groundwater"
is an environmental term for underground water, and soil gas is a term for
underground air.
The investigation is checking for a pollution problem called "vapor
intrusion." Vapor intrusion occurs when contamination in the underground
water gives off gases that can rise up through the soil and seep into
buildings through foundation cracks and holes, possibly causing unsafe
indoor air quality. A family of chemicals called "volatile organic
compounds," or VOCs, is especially prone to vapor intrusion. In this case,
investigators are concerned about a VOC called trichloroethene, or TCE,
which industries used as a solvent.
Soil gas, sub-slab and indoor air tests are used to find vapor intrusion
problems. In soil gas and sub-slab testing, probes are dug into the ground
or under building foundations to test for VOC vapors trapped between soil
particles. Air sampling measures the concentrations of hazardous gases in
the indoor air. For air tests inside a structure, a small canister is simply
placed on a table or counter for a few days and collects samples.
Purpose of investigation
The EPA legal order requires TPC to demonstrate that pollution from its
former facility is not a health risk to the community. TPC continues to
collect information to identify the contamination areas. Groundwater
sampling to date shows there are two narrow bands of contamination
coming from the former TPC property that may be underneath some
houses in the community. TPC needs to collect additional information
about the pollution situation in the neighborhood and may have to test in
and around houses that were not originally believed to be at risk.
The scientific understanding of both vapor intrusion and TCE has
increased in recent years. Scientists have now set lower acceptable
exposure limits for TCE. Also, many houses contain some VOC vapors
given off by household cleaners, solvents and paint. The challenge is to
make sure concentrations inside a structure don't rise above unsafe levels
due to pollution issues underground.
Samples of soil gas and indoor air will help answer the question of
whether vapor intrusion is occurring.

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Mitigation system
If vapor intrusion becomes a health concern inside a
structure, TPC can install "mitigation" systems free of
charge to homeowners that remove the gases or
pressurize crawl spaces to keep vapors from seeping in.
The company may also install mitigation systems in
some houses near the plant as a precaution, even if
indoor air pollution is not a problem. The mitigation
system is similar to the procedure for removing high
levels of radon gas from basements. TPC installed a
mitigation system in one house in the neighborhood in
2011 and additional mitigation systems will be installed
in some houses in 2014.
The installation of vapor mitigation systems will
provide protection in houses closest to the plant while
additional work is underway to find the contamination.
Please understand being contacted by TPC does not
mean vapor intrusion is occurring in your house, but
only that a potential health risk exists and sampling
may need to be done.
Drinking water not affected
Company investigations over the years have identified
contamination from the plant in the area. TPC has
made efforts to eliminate the health risks.
All residences in the target area are now served by
municipal water to eliminate health risks associated
with drinking contaminated supplies. As a preventative
measure, TPC located and disconnected drinking water
wells 011 the properties near the former plant. The
company also asked the city to pass a groundwater
ordinance that bars future use of drinking wells where
contamination may be present.
What does ail this mean?
The EPA, Michigan Department of Community Health
(MDCH) and Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) staff are working with TPC to obtain
the most accurate and up-to-date information. Agency
staff are available to assist with any questions you may
have regarding mitigation systems or sample results.
If samples are collected and it appears vapor intrusion
is occurring, health department toxicologists can help
you understand the results and tell you whether the
levels of TCE are likely to cause health effects. TPC is
prepared and required to stop or prevent any current
and future exposures to pollution released by its former
plant.
Homeowners should know that while TPC will install
mitigation systems free to them, the equipment
operation might result in small increases in electrical
costs.
Michigan Department
of Community Health
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