LAYTON -- "Our focus is to give people the most accurate and best information we could give them with what we know now," says Charles Freeman, environmental affairs public relations official at Hill Air Force Base.
He was referring to information that was shared about pollution control efforts at a recent Info Fair in Layton. "We had an excellent turnout, between 40 and 50 families. That was quite a jump from last time,"he said.
"The folks that came out stayed longer. Sometimes people get their questions answered, and leave. We had folks this time who were really concerned, took the time to speak with some of the experts we had there, who tried to make sure they were clear with what answers they received."
Tables were set up for community resources, restoration advisory board members, OU-8 information and contamination information, as well as vapor mitigation.
There was also an air sampling station which provided results of indoor air sampling which took place this past winter, and a health effects station, where a physician was available to talk about how chemicals could affect health. He is an expert in toxicology TCE from Colorado attended. Representatives from the Davis County Health Department were also on hand.
The fairs are held at least once a year in communities surrounding Hill Air Force Base.
They have been held for the last decade, or so, because of contamination to groundwater, in particular, that was discovered in the 1980s.
Of a 440-home focus area in Layton, 218 requested air samples, or just under half. Just over one-quarter, 26 percent or 56, recorded TCEvapors. TCE is tirchloroethene, a degreasing solvent commonly used until the mid 1970s. It is the most common groundwater contaminant at HAFB.
While it has been suspected of causing cancer in people, the experts said 12 percent of homes tested, or 27, were "above action level."
Chemical vapors get into homes via water to soil, with chemicals such as TCE preferring air to being dissolved in water.
"Based on what was learned from recent indoor air sampling, it's possible some people are being exposed to low, but not dangerous levels of chemical contaminant,"those attending the fair were told.
Those attending were also told that it is safe for children to play in dirt "since contamination is underground, children playing in dirt are not being exposed."
The highest TCE concentration found in a Layton amount, and the amount of TCE in the air showed "an average lifetime cancer risk change" to men and women of increase of 0.012 percent.
Systems are available to remove vapors from the home.
For more information, call Bob Elliott, restoration division chief, 775-3647; Steve Hicken, remedial project manager, 775-3648; Layton City planner Peter Matson, 336-3781 or Gerald Everett, Layton community restoration representative, 544-1183.