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g NO TECh ENTER RISES <br /> P . �- <br /> 2 September 2004 <br /> SE' <br /> To: Ms. Sung H. Pennington <br /> 9135 N. Hildreth Lane <br /> Stockton, CA 95212 <br /> (209) 931-9082 Phone (209) 476-4236 Cell <br /> From: Edward W. Finucane,PE, QEP, CSP, CIH <br /> Subject: Report#040901-L-F,concerning the measured levels of toxic chemicals in the septic <br /> tank located at the fenced back yard of the property identified as: <br /> 10285 N. Hildreth Lane <br /> Stockton, CA 95212 <br /> Sampling of the contents of the septic tank on the property listed above was completed on 3 August <br /> 2004. The analyses of the samples obtained were completed on 16 August 2004. These sampling <br /> and analytical efforts were accomplished by GeoAnalytical Laboratories,Inc. of Modesto, CA. The <br /> certified results of their analyses have been included in the Appendix to this Report, and have been <br /> identified as GeoAnalytical Laboratories,Inc.Report No. Q216-17. In every case, only very low <br /> concentration levels of four different solvent materials were determined to have been present in this <br /> septic tank. The following tabulation provides a summary of: (1) all of the previously listed non-zero <br /> solvent concentration results, (2)the septic tank's pH [i.e.,its acidity/alkalinity], and (3) its likely <br /> sodium chloride salt concentration level: <br /> Table#1 —Contents of the Septic Tank <br /> No. EPA Method Analyte Detection Limit Actual Results <br /> 1 EPA 150.1 acidity/alkalinity ± 0.01 pH = 6.80 <br /> 2 EPA 300.0 chlorides 0.1 mg/liter 47.0 mg/liter <br /> 3 EPA 8260B ethyl benzene 1.0 pg/liter 2.3 µg/liter <br /> 4 EPA 8260B toluene 200 µg/liter 2,940 pg/liter <br /> 5 EPA 8260B m,p-xylene 1.0 pg/liter 2.6µg/liter <br /> 6 1 EPA 82607p-isopropyltoluene 1.0 pg/liter 15.0 pg/liter <br /> Tests designated under EPA Methods 8260B employ a combination of gas chromatography and <br /> quadruple mass spectrometry. Please note that the units of concentration listed for the various ana- <br /> lytes as results are "pg/liter", a unit that is, in effect,micrograms per kilogram, or,basically, Darts per <br /> billion bwei ht or mass. Viewing these results from this perspective, it is clear that none of the <br /> listed non-zero results from this sampling is sufficiently high to cause any alarm; thus, it is my judg- <br /> ment that no additional remediation on the contents of these tanks is warranted at this time. <br /> The five solvent type chemicals that were determined to have been present in this septic tank appear to <br /> me to fall into a single class or category—common gasoline. In general and in order: ethyl benzene, <br /> toluene, m-xylene,p-xylene, and p-isopropyltoluene (aka p-cymene) are common components of <br /> virtually every brand of gasoline—each having a very low human toxicity. In my judgment,it is very <br /> unlikely that any of these materials arrived in this septic tank from any aspect of the manufacture of <br /> illicit drugs,particularly since I found no evidence at any location in the home at this address that <br /> volatile chemicals, acids or bases ofd type had been used or flushed into this septic system. In <br /> support of this conclusion, note that the pH of the septic tank was basically neutral, at a value of 6.80; <br /> had strong acids (HCl, HI) or strong bases (NaOH+)been flushed into this septic tank,I would al- <br /> most certainly have seen pH values either less than 5.50 or greater than 8.50. <br /> To place the laboratory mass concentration results in a more familiar context,please consider the fol- <br /> lowing set of calculations. The calculation relationship as well as all the Assumptions, Physical Pa- <br /> Address: <br /> Telephone: Post Office Box 7835 <br /> (209) 473-1113 Fax: (209) 473-1114 <br /> (800) 221-9595 E-mail:hi0htechted0jp5.net 5tockton,CA95267-0835 <br />