OT: Common Pollutant Eyed in Cancer Study

July 27, 2006

Top News

Common Pollutant Eyed in Cancer Study

By JOHN HEILPRIN (Associated Press Writer)

From Associated Press

July 27, 2006 1:27 PM EDT

WASHINGTON - Growing scientific evidence suggests the most widespread

industrial contaminant in drinking water - a solvent used in adhesives, paint

and

spot removers - can cause cancer in people.

The National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday that a lot more is known

about the cancer risks and other health hazards from exposure to

trichloroethylene than there was five years ago when the Environmental

Protection Agency

took steps to regulate it more strictly.

TCE, which is also widely used to remove grease from metal parts in

airplanes and to clean fuel lines at missile sites, is known to cause cancer in

some

laboratory animals. EPA was blocked from elevating its assessment of the

chemical's risks in people by the Defense Department, Energy Department and

NASA,

all of which have sites polluted with it.

TCE is a colorless liquid that evaporates at room temperatures and has a

somewhat sweet odor and taste. It is one of the most common pollutants found in

the air, soil and water at U.S. military bases. Until the mid-1970s, it also

was used as a surgical anesthetic.

TCE also has been found at about 60 percent of the nation's worst

contaminated sites in the Superfund cleanup program, the academy said.

Its 379-page report recommends that EPA revise its assessment of TCE's risks

using " currently available data " - so no more time is wasted.

That's a step that could lead to stricter regulations. EPA currently

requires limiting TCE to no more than 5 parts per billion parts of drinking

water. A

stricter regulation could, in turn, force the government to require more

thorough cleanups at military and other sites.

A committee of academy experts said " a large body of epidemiologic data is

available " on TCE showing the chemical is a possible cause of kidney cancer,

reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function and

autoimmune disease.

" The committee found that the evidence on carcinogenic risk and other health

hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene has strengthened since 2001, " the

report said. " Hundreds of waste sites are contaminated with

trichloroethylene, and it is well documented that individuals in many

communities are exposed

to the chemical, with associated health risks. "

In 2001, EPA issued a draft document saying the risks of TCE causing cancer

in humans were higher than previously thought. But that pronouncement was

dropped after other federal agencies accused EPA of inflating the risks.

To mediate the issue, the Bush administration asked the academy to study the

issue.

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National Academies: http://www.nationalacademies.org

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Russell B.Olinsky, M.S.

Environmental Specialist

HEILPRIN (Associated Press Writer)