TITLE
Assessing Potential Exposures from Routine Use of VOC-Contaminated
Groundwater 

AUTHOR(S)
V. Ross Highsmith, Andrew B. Lindstrom, Timothy J. Budkley 

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC

SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC

ABSTRACT
     Three identical experiments were conducted in a single
residence to assess potential exposures that may result from the
routine household use of VOC-contaminated groundwater.  Each
experiment was based on a single 20-min shower using contaminated
groundwater containing 185-367 æm/þ benzene.  Study objectives
included:  assessing potential exposures that may occur throughout
the residence from routine household use of contaminated
groundwater; examining the relationships between short-versus long-
term exposure measurement techniques; and testing a
multidisciplinary protocol for total human exposure monitoring. 
Integrated 20-, 60-, and 240-min indoor VOC samples were collected
in the shower stall, bathroom, master bedroom, and living room
using Texax GC and/or SUMMA polished evacuated canisters.  Grab
syringe samples were collected over various times at each indoor
sampling location.  Personal Tenax GC samples and water samples
were also collected. Breath, blood, and urine samples were
collected from the shower-exposed subject.  Maximum benzene
concentrations in the shower stall ranged from 758-1673 æg/m3. 
Benzene concentrations in the bathroom and adjacent master bedroom
approached 500 æg/m3 and 125 æg/m3, respectively.  Potential 4-h
benzene inhalation doses, calculated using the 4-h integrated
samples, were estimated to be nearly 125 æg in the  bathroom, 100
æg in the bedroom, and 80æg in the living room.  Personal doses
estimated over the 6-h experiment for occupants of the bathroom and
living room were 135æg benzene and 80 æg benzene, respectively. 
The 20-min shower resulted in an estimated toal dose of 281 æg
benzene (113 æg for inhalation and 168 æg for dermal).  This
inhaled dose compares well with the 6-hr inhaled does received by
the bathroom technician.  Summary microenvironmental and exposure
assessment results of these experiments are presented herein.