Emerging Contaminants and Federal Facility Contaminants of Concern

Technical Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets about Emerging Contaminants
Additional Information

Technical Fact Sheets about Contaminants of Concern at Federal Facilities

EPA published the following technical fact sheets, which provide brief summaries of contaminants of concern that present unique issues and challenges to the environmental community and EPA at contaminated federal facility sites. Each fact sheet provides a brief summary of the contaminant, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods. These fact sheets are intended for project managers and field personnel to use when addressing specific contaminants at cleanup sites and are updated annually to include timely information.

1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP)
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-007
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), including physical and chemical properties; environmental and health impacts; existing federal and state guidelines; and detection and treatment methods.

1,4-Dioxane
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-011
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of 1,4-dioxane, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-009
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Dinitrotoluene (DNT)
EPA Publication number: EPA 505-F-14-010
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of dinitrotoluene (DNT), including physical and chemical properties; environmental and health impacts; existing federal and state guidelines; and detection and treatment methods.

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-008
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), also known as royal demolition explosive, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA)
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-005
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA), including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Perchlorate
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-003
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of perchlorate, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-006
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Tungsten
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-004
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of tungsten, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Technical Fact Sheets about Emerging Contaminants at Federal Facilities

An emerging contaminant (EC) is a chemical or material characterized by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the environment or by a lack of published health standards. A contaminant also may be "emerging" because of the discovery of a new source or a new pathway to humans. EPA published the following emerging contaminant fact sheets, which provide brief summaries of contaminants that present unique issues and challenges to the environmental community. Each fact sheet provides a brief summary of the contaminant, including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods. Sources of additional information about each contaminant are also included in the fact sheets. These fact sheets are intended for use by project managers and field personnel in addressing specific contaminants at cleanup sites and are updated annually to ensure they include timely information.

Nanomaterials
EPA Publication Number: EPA 505-F-14-002
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of the emerging contaminant nanomaterials (NM), including physical and chemical properties, environmental and health impacts, existing federal and state guidelines, and detection and treatment methods.

Additional Information

Perchlorate Resources

Perchlorate is used in a wide range of applications, including military munitions (mortars, flares, grenades), solid rocket fuel, pyrotechnics and fireworks, blasting agents, matches, air bags, and certain types of fertilizers. It has been detected in the ground water at 54 federal facilities and 29 private (Superfund or RCRA) sites in 26 states. EPA and states are addressing the contamination at many of the sites through investigations and response actions (e.g., blending, providing alternative water supplies, remediating ground water contamination) or through enforcement actions against potentially responsible parties (PRPs). For additional perchlorate information, visit the following:

Vapor Intrusion

Vapor intrusion (VI) also is being examined as an emerging contaminant because of concerns about the VI pathway. Vapor intrusion generally occurs when there is a migration of volatile chemicals from contaminated ground water or soil into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings.

For additional information on vapor intrusion, visit EPA's Vapor Intrusion Web site.