Follow-up: Perchloroethylene (PCE) Contamination in Downtown area. The MassDEP has recently conducted tests on groundwater and air samples at 8 Forest St and 5 High Street.
The results confirmed PCE contamination in these area’s. Four indoor samples at 5 High Street show the contamination has exceeded the State levels for building not using PCE. (PCE is commonly used in Dry Cleaning and machine shops). The levels discovered would not be in excess for building using these chemicals such as dry cleaners, however E&J Cleaners at 8 Forest Street is suspected of discharging higher levels of PCE than legally allowed. Currently, the DEP will be taking additional testing and will be working with E&J Cleaners to take Immediate Response Actions to remedy to current problem. For the past 10 days Congressman Markey’s office has remained closed due to the contamination issue. All calls should be made to his office in Framingham.
