All of these North Carolina Superfund sites — as well as hundreds of other locations statewide — have been contaminated with TCE, which the EPA calls “an extremely toxic chemical” known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. TCE also damages the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and the developing fetus.
Yesterday the EPA announced it was proposing a ban on all uses of TCE, also known as trichloroethylene. If approved, the rule would take effect in one year for consumer products and most commercial uses and would implement stringent worker protections on the limited remaining commercial and industrial uses that would be phased down over a longer period, according to an EPA press release.
TCE is widespread in the environment, including in groundwater and soil at Superfund sites, dry cleaners, metal fabricators and other places where solvents were used. The chemical is present in many cleaning and furniture care products, degreasers and even tire repair sealants.
When TCE is present in the groundwater and soil, it can off-gas, and then contaminate the air inside buildings. This is known as vapor intrusion, and it’s common at many highly contaminated areas.
There are an estimated 1,500 contaminated dry cleaning sites in North Carolina, according to state records; the types of pollutants are as yet unknown at these locations. Only a third of contaminated dry cleaning sites participate in the Department of Environmental Quality’s voluntary cleanup program.
Read the original article on ncnewsline.com
