Example of a Site Conceptual Model Schematic

This is an example site conceptual model schematic. It shows oil drums as the contamination source and uses arrows to show the connection from the source to different elements in various exposure pathways. One group of arrows shows the drums (source) going to a release mechanism (volatilization), then to the environmental medium (air), then to the exposure route (inhalation), and then to the exposure point (humans). Another group of arrows shows an exposure pathway that begins with the oil drums (source) going to a release mechanism (spill), then to the environmental medium (soil), and then to the exposure point (food chain – shown with a cow eating crops); this also shows the spill going to another environmental medium (soil gas) and then entering a home (exposure point). Another exposure pathway shows the drums (source) going to a release mechanism (leaching into the water table), then entering an environmental medium (groundwater) and going from a groundwater well into a faucet in a home (exposure point), where a person is drinking the water (exposure route of ingestion).