Underground Construction - February 2018 - 36

REHABTECHNOLOGY
CUIRE to Evaluate Potential Release of Organic Chemicals
During Trenchless CIPP Pipe Rehab

S

Sewer rehabilitation using curedin-place pipe (CIPP) trenchless
technology has become an
increasingly common method to
preserve underground infrastructures due to its feasibility,
cost-effectiveness and reduced
social impacts. Since it was introduced in 1971 as an alternative to
digging up and replacing sewers,
hundreds of millions of feet of
rehabilitated pipe have been
installed around the world.
In response to this growing
use and recent industry reports,
NASSCO submitted requests for
proposals to facilitate a formal
review of potential health impacts
associated with CIPP. Of particular
interest is the use of polyester
resins in CIPP that result in
volatilization of styrene during the
curing process. Previous studies
have focused on the concentration of styrene present in the air of
residential homes tied to sanitary
sewers during pipeline renewal.
Very few studies, however, looked
into the impact that styrene
has on the safety and health of
construction workers and the
general public, when used for
rehabilitating sanitary and storm
sewer pipes.
Therefore, NASSCO saw a
critical need to study organic
chemical emissions (both in gas
and liquid-phase) associated with
the CIPP installation process, and
recommend methods to mitigate
any potential adverse impacts
on human health. After careful
consideration of all responses
received, NASSCO awarded the
review to the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research
and Education (CUIRE) at the
University of Texas at Arlington.
The overall goal of this
two-phase project is to evaluate
the potential release of organic
36

FEBRUARY 2018 | UConOnline.com

compounds during pipe rehabilitation using the steam cure CIPP
method. Phase I, which CUIRE
began in December 2017 and
expects to complete early April
2018, consists of the following:
* Task A: Review recent publication(s) that propose the
presence of organic chemicals
and other available literature
relating to emissions associated with the CIPP installation
process.
* Task B: Develop a scope of
services for additional sampling
and analysis of emissions
during the field installation
of CIPP using the steam cure
process.
Deliverables
In conducting Task A, CUIRE
researchers will develop a work
plan and schedule to verify findings from the literature review, as
well as gain additional data where
insufficient data is found. The
work plan will cover emissions

from steam-cure CIPP installation
sites, and will be peer-reviewed
by qualified professional environmental consultants.
The data collection and
analysis work plan will evaluate, in
addition to styrene, other volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) or
contaminants of concern generated during the curing process.
Data collection will quantify VOCs
to determine if there is an exposure concern, and will estimate
styrene emission per pound of
resin cured.
Sampling and analysis of
styrene and other VOC concentrations within the CIPP work area
will use an approved method for
VOCs or gaseous organics, such
as Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Method TO-17
Determination of Volatile Organic
Compounds in Ambient Air Using
Active Sampling Onto Sorbent
Tubes, ASTM-D5466 15 Standard
Test Method for Determination
of Volatile Organic Compounds

(VOCs) in Atmospheres (Canister Sampling Methodology), or
OSHA 09 Sampling and Analytical
Method for Styrene. Personnel
sampling will use personal
exposure monitors for parts per
million (PPM) level for VOCs over
an eight-hour shift.
The measured air concentrations will be compared values
from Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
Texas Air Monitoring Information
System (TAMIS) database, which
contains short-term and longterm effect screening levels and
air monitoring comparison values
for thousands of air pollutants,
including VOCs and hazardous air
pollutants (HAPs). Measured concentrations will also be compared
to other appropriate values from
agencies such as OSHA, ACGIH
and NIOSH. Organics in condensate will be evaluated, as well as in
simulated rainfall runoff.
The plan for Task B will include:
* Measurement of styrene and
other VOC concentrations
within the CIPP work area
* Collection of appropriate control/background samples
* Emissions analysis including
the steam exhaust and other
sources such as emission from
the termination manhole
* Condensate analysis
* Area air samples
Project Team
Mo Najafi, Ph.D., will supervise this project and identifies
sources of information related to
emissions from the CIPP process
for Task A. He will also provide expertise in field installation of CIPP
using the steam cure process for
development of the sampling
plan (Task B).
Najafi, professor and director
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