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What Chemicals Should be Sampled?
The type of contaminants found in brownfields are very site specific. Therefore it is important to establish the history of the site and to discover what chemicals and compounds were likely to have been used on the site. It is important that al of these contaminants are sampled. See Process Information for more industry specific information.Although site contaminants vary widely, there are some common chemicals that are often found at contaminated sites. The EPA maintains a list of common chemicals at superfund sites. These are also linked to Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) fact sheets. Some of the most common contaminants at brownfield sites are listed here.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (Definition)
- Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene (BTEX)
- Chlorinated solvents (e.g. 1,2-dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, tertachloroethylene)
- Alcohols and ketones (e.g. acetone, 4-methyl-isobutylketone)
- Gasoline additives (MTBE)
- Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) (Definition)
- Metals
- Antimony
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Beryllium
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Lead
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Selenium
- Thallium
- Others
- Asbestos
- Cyanide
- Nitrates/Nitrites
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs)
For more information on these contaminants and their health effects on humans, see Health Effects. Web Pages Created by Aaron Hula
The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, Michigan
State University.
Please contact us if you have any
comments or questions.