Helpful Tips:

Toxicologists have specific training and perspective which differs from other environmental scientists. Their input is critical at all stages of a site investigation/remedial design program. Their involvement will save you time and money.

Remedial Design

• Comparing media concentrations to risk screens results in unnecessary remedial actions. Exposure pathways analysis is critical. If there are no potential exposures, there are no risks, and no remediation is required.

• Detailed analysis of regional background conditions for media of concern can eliminate or mitigate cleanup requirements.

• Relate risks to the specifics of the site. If groundwater has high salinity it will not be used as drinking water, and therefore, remediation is not required to protect human health.

• Strong background analysis of site media can eliminate cleanup requirements. This is often overlooked.

Toxicity Assessment

• Review of critical toxicity studies may indicate that data are weak and inappropriate for compounds driving site risks.

Site Sampling Plan

• Surface soils are the primary exposure medium at most sites, but are often overlooked in site sampling plans.

• Sensitive populations nearby may require off-site sampling.

• PAH analysis is required. TPH can not be used.

• Detection limits must be low enough to support risk targets.