Naples families forced to move over water issue

[unhappycamper]

Naples families forced to move over water issue
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, November 16, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — Some American families living in Casal di Principe were forced to move from their homes because traces of the volatile organic compound PCE — a chemical used for cleaning solvents — were found in their tap water, Navy officials said Friday.

The water tested positive for tetrachloroethene (perchloroethene), or PCE, at "unacceptable levels in that they cannot be mitigated by the use of bottled water," Cmdr. Jeff McAtee, a spokesman for the Naples public health evaluation, said in an e-mail. He did not provide the actual levels of the chemical found in the water.

In July, after traces of bacteria turned up in residents’ tap water, Navy officials recommended that all personnel who live off-base in the Naples region use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth, regardless of whether homes are serviced by well water or city water. But because PCE is hazardous to inhale, the Navy required the affected families in Casal di Principe to move, McAtee said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines VOCs as gases from certain solids or liquids that include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects, according to the agency’s Web site.

VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products. They include paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58840