Skip to main content
Minnesota Department of Health logo
  • Main navigation

    • Home
    • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
    • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
    • Individual and Family Health
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Translated Materials

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
  • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
  • Individual and Family Health
  • About Us
  • News and Announcements
  • Translated Materials
MDH Logo

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Healthy Communities, Environment and Workplaces
  3. Environments and Your Health
  4. Hazardous Sites and Substances
  5. Topics Related to Hazardous Substances
Topic Menu

Hazardous Sites & Substances

  • Hazardous Sites & Substances Home
  • Hazardous Waste Sites
  • Topics
  • Choose Safe Places Minnesota
  • Environmental Exposures Grand Rounds
  • Exposure and Health Investigations
  • Contact us

Related Topics

  • Drinking Water
  • Fish Consumption Guidance
  • Skin Lightening Products
  • Water Contaminants and Your Health
  • Special Well and Boring Construction Areas
  • Wells and Borings
  • MDH Guidance
  • Air Quality by Topic

Environmental Health Division

  • EH Division Home

Hazardous Sites & Substances

  • Hazardous Sites & Substances Home
  • Hazardous Waste Sites
  • Topics
  • Choose Safe Places Minnesota
  • Environmental Exposures Grand Rounds
  • Exposure and Health Investigations
  • Contact us

Related Topics

  • Drinking Water
  • Fish Consumption Guidance
  • Skin Lightening Products
  • Water Contaminants and Your Health
  • Special Well and Boring Construction Areas
  • Wells and Borings
  • MDH Guidance
  • Air Quality by Topic

Environmental Health Division

  • EH Division Home
Contact Info
Site Assessment and Consultation Unit
651-201-4897
800-657-3908 (toll-free)
health.hazard@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Site Assessment and Consultation Unit
651-201-4897
800-657-3908 (toll-free)
health.hazard@state.mn.us

Vapor Intrusion

Image of how vapors can move through a building.Chemicals that have been spilled or dumped on the ground can pollute soil and groundwater. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily evaporate into air.

VOCs that evaporate from polluted soil and groundwater can create chemical vapors underground. If these vapors move and come in contact with a building, they may enter through cracks in the foundation, around pipes, or through a drain system. The VOCs can then contaminate indoor air. This process - when pollution moves from air spaces in soil to indoor air - is called vapor intrusion.

For more information about vapor intrusion investigations, see the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Vapor Intrusion webpage.

Information Sheets

Information used in vapor intrusion site investigations are listed below.

What is Vapor Intrusion?

What is Vapor Intrusion? (Residential Buildings)

Information sheet with general information about vapor intrusion in residential buildings

  • English: What is Vapor Intrusion? (Residential) (PDF)
  • Spanish: ¿Qué es la intrusión de vapor? (Residential) (PDF)
  • Somali: Waa Maxay Uumiga Aan la Rabin? (Residential) (PDF)

What is Vapor Intrusion? (Commercial Buildings)

Information sheet with general information about vapor intrusion in commercial buildings

  • English: What is Vapor Intrusion? (Commercial) (PDF)
  • Spanish: ¿Qué es la intrusión de vapor? (Commercial) (PDF)
  • Somali: Waa Maxay Uumiga Aan la Rabin? (Commercial) (PDF)
Your Health and Vapor Intrusion

Your Health and Vapor Intrusion (Residential Buildings)

Information sheet about who MDH considers more sensitive to vapor intrusion health risks

  • English: Your Health and Vapor Intrusion (Residential) (PDF)
  • Hmong: Koj Txoj Kev Noj Qab Nyob Zoo thiab Cov Pa Av Lwj Ncho Nkag Hauv Tsev (Residential) (PDF)
  • Spanish: Su salud y la intrusión de vapores (Residential) (PDF)
  • Somali: Caafimaadkaaga iyo Soo gelista Uumiga (Residential) (PDF)

Your Health and Vapor Intrusion (Commercial Buildings)

Information sheet about who MDH considers more sensitive to vapor intrusion health risks (in the workplace)

  • English: Your Health and Vapor Intrusion (Commercial) (PDF)
  • Spanish: La salud y la intrusión de vapor (Commercial) (PDF)
  • Somali: Caafimaadkaaga iyo Uumiga Aan la Rabin (Vapor Intrusion) (Commercial) (PDF)
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in Air

Information Sheet about TCE in Air - Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Air (PDF)

MDH is especially concerned about women in their first trimester when the contaminant trichloroethylene (TCE) is present.

Information Sheet about PCE in Air - Tetrachloroethylene (PCE, perc) in Air (PDF)

Information for Health Professionals

Information about health risks, what to know before talking to your patients, health care provider recommendations, and resources.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Exposures and Vapor Intrusion (PDF)

For More Information

For health-related questions regarding vapor intrusion or contaminated sites, please contact us.

Prepared in cooperation with the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Tags
  • environment
Last Updated: 10/20/2022

Get email updates


Minnesota Department of Health logo

Privacy Policy
Equal Opportunity
Translated Materials
Contact Us
About MDH
Minnesota.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube