The simple truth is that we live in amazing times. Amazing abundance, amazing life choices, and amazing change, not all for the better.
So it's good to see the state of Delaware making the hard choices quickly when faced with the fact that their water isn't up to world standards, and may even be a precursor to higher rates of leukemia in children as well as excess risks of kidney, liver, cervical and prostate cancers, as well as lymphomas.
Two water utilities would be affected immediately by the proposed lowering of allowable limits for perchloroethylene in drinking water to 1 part per billion from the current 5 ppb level. The chemical, often called PCE or "perc," is widely used in dry cleaning, and has turned up in groundwater across Delaware and around the country.
A similar tightening is under consideration for a related solvent, tetrachloroetheylene or TCE, and vinyl chloride. All three are considered probable carcinogens. TCE and PCE are widely used as cleaning solvents in industry, while vinyl chloride is used in making plastics.
"The bottom line for me is that Delawareans aren't going to be drinking in or bathing in water with PCE in it, once these improvements are made," said Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, who began urging state health officials to consider the changes last year. "From that perspective, it's an important step forward."
So it's good to see the state of Delaware making the hard choices quickly when faced with the fact that their water isn't up to world standards, and may even be a precursor to higher rates of leukemia in children as well as excess risks of kidney, liver, cervical and prostate cancers, as well as lymphomas.
Two water utilities would be affected immediately by the proposed lowering of allowable limits for perchloroethylene in drinking water to 1 part per billion from the current 5 ppb level. The chemical, often called PCE or "perc," is widely used in dry cleaning, and has turned up in groundwater across Delaware and around the country.
A similar tightening is under consideration for a related solvent, tetrachloroetheylene or TCE, and vinyl chloride. All three are considered probable carcinogens. TCE and PCE are widely used as cleaning solvents in industry, while vinyl chloride is used in making plastics.
"The bottom line for me is that Delawareans aren't going to be drinking in or bathing in water with PCE in it, once these improvements are made," said Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, who began urging state health officials to consider the changes last year. "From that perspective, it's an important step forward."
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