The toxic chemical compound used in manufacturing has made its way into the air inside at least five Brighton homes, state and county officials say.
And more homes could be affected.
Szpond’s home on South Seventh Street is one of 17 homes in her neighborhood that had been tested for trichloroethylene vapors by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, so far.
Rebecca Taylor of the MDEQ said she has identified about 40 homes within Brighton city limits and in Genoa Township that should have indoor air tested for trichloroethylene vapors.
The air inside Brighton High School has been tested and it’s fine, Taylor said.
In 2008, a groundwater treatment system was installed north of the high school to capture the plume.
However, the state had never tested air inside residences for the chemical until last year.
Boland said the health department back in the 1990s was very concerned by well water contamination.
"Residents were tied into the city water and then there was no more drinking water exposure to that chemical, at least, but more recent studies are concerned with breathing the air.
The contamination can go through the soil and up into people’s home," he said.