Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program Manual.pdf

Common Contaminants of Concern:
Two of the most common contaminants that are typically found in the soil of former industrial properties
and may pose a risk for direct human contact are lead and arsenic. Some common site contaminants
that readily volatilize and have indoor air health risks at low contaminant concentrations include
trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC), and benzene. TCE has historically been
utilized as a degreaser solvent, but is also found in spot removers, adhesives, and paint removers.
PCE was also used as a degreaser and is the principal chemical used in most laundry dry-cleaning.
Benzene is a component in gasoline, but is also used in the manufacture of some plastics, detergents,
drugs, and pesticides. Other contaminants that are not as volatile, but still could be a concern at low
indoor air concentrations include pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, and selected
semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) found in diesel and fuel oil. Each of these contaminants
and their medium-specific concentrations (MSCs) can be found in the regulations at 25 Pa. Code
Chapter 250.
On some contaminated sites, it may be necessary to perform a leaching potential and/or fate and
transport study to address concerns with the use of questionable material near an environmentally
sensitive area or to determine the feasibility of a stormwater infiltration BMP. The Synthetic
Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP-EPA Method 1312 of SW-846) is acceptable to evaluate the
potential for leaching metals into ground and surface waters. It provides a realistic assessment of
metal mobility under actual field conditions, particularly during precipitation events — please refer to25
Pa. Code §250.308(a). Contaminant concentrations in leachate should be compared to residential
drinking water MSCs for user aquifers (TDS