Finding hidden underground sources of harmful vapors in city neighborhoods
E1 - Building Aboveground Strategies to Identify and Address Belowground Hot Spots for VOC Vapor Intrusion in Complex Urban Settings
Using plant and aboveground data to locate underground pockets of volatile chemical vapors that can seep into homes in post‑industrial cities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11122262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses plants growing around neighborhoods to help find hidden underground pockets of volatile organic chemicals that can enter basements and indoor air. Researchers will test chemicals in plant tissues across a mapped area and use GIS tools to highlight likely contamination hot spots. They will trace the water sources plants use to better pinpoint where contaminants originate and then take soil and indoor air samples near suspected sites to confirm vapor intrusion. The goal is to create a cost‑effective way to find and focus testing on areas that may put residents at risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who live or work in older post‑industrial urban neighborhoods (for example Detroit) with basements or ground‑floor spaces that might be affected by soil vapor intrusion.
Not a fit: People who live in rural areas, in newer construction without ground‑level exposure, or far from the study neighborhoods are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify neighborhoods at risk for vapor intrusion so residents can get targeted testing, warnings, and mitigation to reduce indoor air exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Plant biomonitoring has been useful in environmental science to flag contamination, but using plant signals to directly predict indoor vapor intrusion and guide household testing is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hood, Glen Ray — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Hood, Glen Ray
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.