[CPEO-BIF] Modesto, California PCE vapors

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Houses giving off toxic fumes
One home's PCE level 485 times higher than safe

By Garth Stapley
Modesto Bee (CA)
February 7, 2011


Dangerous vapors in houses near two former Modesto dry cleaners 
triggered notices from state overseers to local public health officials.

Some occupants say technicians indicated that levels of PCE detected in 
their homes were no big deal. These people appeared surprised that the 
state's formal letter to Stanislaus County leaders suggests otherwise, 
and said they received no formal notice.

"There is reason to believe that the illegal discharges are likely to 
cause substantial injury to the public health," reads the letter from 
Michael Vivas, project manager with the state's Department of Toxic 
Substances Control to county officials, dated Dec. 22.

Although 14 current or former Modesto dry cleaners have polluted 
groundwater, high concentrations in soil samples at two prompted state 
officials to request "emergency" action by the federal Environmental 
Protection Agency. Airborne perchloroethylene, or PCE, showed up in 
levels exceeding the state's limit in all 13 houses tested in May.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/3383307/houses-giving-off-toxic-fumes.html#

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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