One of my overseas correspondents points this out:
The Pentagon stalled efforts to clean water supplies contaminated by a carcinogenic chemical despite evidence that it posed a significant health risk to millions of people, it was reported yesterday.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated the solvent, trichloroethylene, extensively used on military bases, after significant quantities were found in water supplies. In its report, published in 2001, the EPA found it to be 40 times more likely to cause cancer than had been previously thought, and recommended tough safety standards to limit public exposure. There was also evidence the chemical played a role in birth defects.
1,1,1-trichloroethlyene is (or at least was) used to clean automobile parts before they are turned into cars.
It’s nasty stuff; when I was using it, we had to stack the parts to be cleaned, lower them about 15′ and then spray them. Everone was cautioned not to get it on them.
And that was ca. 1979, so the “40 times more likely” is from a relatively HIGH likelihood at the start.