Soil tests clean for 12 of 14 homes in Wake Forest

Soil around 12 of 14 homes in a Wake Forest subdivision have tested negative for dangerous levels of a cancer causing chemical, state officials said Wednesday.

Posted 10:05 p.m. Oct 31, 2012 — Updated 10:05 p.m. Oct 31, 2012

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Soil around 12 of 14 homes in a Wake Forest subdivision have tested negative for dangerous levels of a cancer causing chemical, state officials said Wednesday.

But the testing, conducted earlier this month by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, found underground soil vapors at two of the homes along Stony Hill Road contained unacceptable levels of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, or TCE and PCE.

The chlorinated solvents were found in previous tests on private wells in Stony Hill Road. The chemicals are believed to have come from small circuit board assembly companies that were in the area.

One of the two properties is an empty lot adjacent to a home where officials could not get access to test. The other is a home that had received a clean result from crawl-space testing.

A soil-vapor test at another of the 14 properties showed the presence of rubbing alcohol, a contaminant. Officials said they will conduct follow-up test at that home.

Officials said all homeowners were notified Tuesday of the results.

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