Lab reports show elevated Xylene levels
March 13, 2014
Odessa American - Xylene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is used in fuels, solvents, and in chemical synthesis; is not only flammable, but can also cause irritation to the skin and birth defects, Texas Tech University Biology Professor David Birney said in a phone interview. While the levels were high, Birney said that the levels reported in the lab reports would not be known immediately.
The amount of Xylene found in the City of Odessa’s sewer system was above federal levels on two separate occasions, leading to a local investigation that ended with a lawsuit filed against a Houston-based company.
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Xylene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is used in fuels, solvents, and in chemical synthesis; is not only flammable, but can also cause irritation to the skin and birth defects, Texas Tech University Biology Professor David Birney said in a phone interview. While the levels were high, Birney said that the levels reported in the lab reports would not be known immediately.