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| A molecule of 1,2,3-TCP, which is known to cause cancer in humans |
“A scientific panel that recommends safe drinking-water standards will issue a new recommendation on the regulation of a carcinogenic chemical in coming months. That measure is likely to be adopted by New Jersey officials, the panel’s chairman said on Wednesday.”
Tom Johnson reports for NJ Spotlight that:
Dr. Keith Cooper, chairman of the Drinking Water Quality Institute, said the body is gathering new evidence on the occurrence, treatment, and health effects of 1,2,3-TCP, a chemical that may cause cancer in humans, after first recommending a safety limit for its presence in drinking water in 2009.
Speaking after the latest meeting of the DWQI in Lawrenceville, Cooper called the institute’s work on the chemical “unfinished business” after it recommended a limit that was not adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection six and a half years ago.
Cooper said he did not know why the DEP didn’t act on the panel’s recommendation at the time, but predicted that officials will accept it this time because of strong evidence of the chemical’s threat to public water supplies.
He said the new investigation was recently requested by DEP Commissioner Bob Martin following an independent decision by the DWQI to reopen the probe.
DEP officials could not immediately be reached to comment on why the department did not accept the DWQI’s earlier recommendation.
Video: State Assemblyman Herb Conaway’s bill to speed regulation of 1,2,3-TCP
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