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.
"Armed with the results from the NAS review, EPA will aggressively move forward"
on a new risk assessment of TCE, spokeswoman Jennifer Wood said Thursday. "EPA
will determine whether or not to address the drinking water standard once the
risk assessment is complete."
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 ...