Step 1.1 Identifying Exposure Pathway Categories

Examples

Eliminated pathway: Arsenic was found in groundwater near a landfill. People who live near the landfill get their drinking water from an uncontaminated municipal water supply. Private wells were not found in the area. No point of exposure is present.

Completed pathway: A residential community was built near a closed landfill. Acetone and methylene chloride were found in soil gas at the landfill and in air in the neighborhood. The residents are breathing these chemicals in the air.

Potential pathway: Soil gas samples collected at the landfill and in the nearby community contained concentrations of acetone and methylene chloride. It is possible that these chemicals could get into indoor air. No indoor air samples were collected.