Results of water testing in 11 Naples homes are delayed

[unhappycamper]

Results of water testing in 11 Naples homes are delayed
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 8, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — The testing of water in 11 American-leased homes in Casal di Principe is taking longer than expected, the Navy said Friday.

The Navy decided to test the homes in early October after water samples from three other houses in the area were found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. The Navy thought the results of the testing of the 11 homes would take seven to 10 days.

"Not all the results are back yet, but we expect them very soon," said Cmdr. Jeff McAtee, spokesman for the Naples public health evaluation.

In mid-September, water samples from three homes in the area indicated the presence of VOCs, usually by-products of industrial cleaning solvents. Though the VOC levels found were very small and only posed long-term exposure risk, the Navy required those families to move because the chemicals are hazardous to inhale, according to Paul Gillooly from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center in Virginia, who is heading up the public health assessment under way in Naples.

The additional 11 homes that were tested were within a 500-foot radius of the three homes that tested positive for the contaminants. Two more homes in the area were supposed to be tested, but the American families living in them left before the testing took place.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58694