March 2003
Questions about chemical contaminants at Edwards AFB
Edwards AFB Stakeholders Forum


http://www.edwards.af.mil/penvmng/Documents/RTS/2003/MAR03/Mar03pg2.htm

Stakeholders ForumThe Stakeholders Forum answers questions from community members about the Edwards Air Force Base Environmental Cleanup Program. If you have a question about the environmental cleanup work being conducted on base, you may address it to Stakeholders Forum, Attn: Gary Hatch or Darlene Norwood, 5 E. Popson Ave., Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1130, or send an e-mail.

Q: What is trichloroethene , or TCE? Is it a threat to base workers and residents? What are some health effects?

A: Trichloroethene (TCE) is one of the major chemical contaminants found in groundwater — and to some extent, in soil — at Edwards Air Force Base, along with tetrachloroethene (PCE), jet fuel and diesel.

At the start of the cleanup process, TCE contamination at Edwards was much more prevalent than it currently is – a good sign that cleanup of this particular contaminant is heading in the right direction.

TCE is a nonflammable, colorless liquid with a somewhat sweet odor and burning taste. Primarily the chemical is used by industrial fabrication and repair facilities to remove grease from fabricated metal parts.

The general public is unlikely to be exposed to TCE or its degradation products because its use and accidental releases have occurred in the industrial areas of Edwards, which are concentrated in the vicinity of the flight line and the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate. The only potential exposure may be to military or civilian personnel who may use it as a solvent at maintenance and repair facilities. Base bioenvironmental engineers constantly monitor the chemical’s use and determine what protection is needed before anyone comes in contact with TCE contamination.

For those living in base housing facilities, there is no threat to health as far as drinking water is concerned. Most of Edwards’ drinking water, including all water supplied to housing, comes from the Antelope Valley-East Kern pipeline . Additionally, bioenvironmental engineers monitor and take samples of the drinking water on a weekly basis. The contaminant level of TCE in drinking water cannot exceed 5.0 parts per billion.

TCE may become a health hazard to people if exposed for a long period of time, or, if exposed to the chemical in large amounts. Some examples of the health effects of TCE if exposed in small amounts over a period of time include, but are not limited to, headaches, dizziness, poor coordination, lung irritation, liver and kidney damage, and impaired pregnancy. However, the extent of some of the effects mentioned is not yet clear. Exposure to TCE in large amounts may cause nausea, impaired heart function, unconsciousness and possibly death.

Some studies done with mice and rats have suggested that high levels of TCE may cause liver or lung cancer. Some studies of people exposed over long periods to high levels of TCE in drinking water or in workplace air have found evidence of increased cancer. However, results from the study are questionable because other chemicals could have caused the cancer.

For more information on TCE, visit the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry’s Web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov . The ATSDR can also be contacted by telephone at (888) 422-8737, or by mail at: Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry, Division of Toxicology, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-29, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Below is a list of trade names that may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or at work.

1,1, 2-trichloroethylene  Germalgene
Acetylene TCE Lethurin
Algylen Perm-a-chlor
Anameth Petzinol
Benzinol Philex
Chlorilen TRI-Plus M
CirCosolv Vitran



Edwards Air Force base


http://www.edwards.af.mil/
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Edwards AFB is situated in Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties, approximately 100 miles north of the city of Los Angeles. The base consists of approximately 301,000 acres of largely undeveloped or semi-improved land that is used predominantly for aircraft test ranges and maintained and unmaintained landing sites (i.e., dry lake beds).

Edwards AFB: The Mission
The Air Force Flight Test Center is tasked to support the Air Force Materiel Command mission by conducting and supporting research, development, test and evaluation of both manned and unmanned aerospace systems.

This mission involves not only all aspects of testing aerospace systems, but includes the flight evaluation and recovery of research vehicles, development testing of aerodynamic decelerators, and the operation of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

Edwards Flight Test Range
To support this testing, the Flight Test Center operates and manages the Edwards Flight Test Range. The Center also operates a fleet of test bed aircraft for early development and checkout of new avionics and Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) worldwide, in support of space and missile tests.

Mobile Range
The Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) travel the globe and serve as airborne tracking and telemetry data-recording and relay stations. They fly over land where ground tracking stations are limited by geographical constraints and over broad ocean areas where tracking stations do not exist.

The unit supports a variety of national and international customers, both military and commercial, including NASA and Department of Defense missions supporting unmanned space launches, cruise missile tests, Army, Navy and Air Force ballistic missile tests and space shuttle launches.

Weapons systems testing
However, the majority of the workload consists of testing total weapon systems, including all major subsystems...This includes both complete new weapons system testing, as with the B-2, C-17 and F-22. In addition, this extends to major modifications to existing systems, such as the F-16 Block 50 upgrade, and subsystem upgrades, for example, improving the B-1 battery system.

 


21 December 2002
Revolutionary Airborne Laser joins base arsenal
By ALLISON GATLIN
Antelope Valley Press


http://avpress.com/n/sasty2.hts 

EDWARDS AFB -- The storied home of transformational developments in modern air warfare gained yet another revolutionary tenant Thursday with the arrival of the YAL-1A, the Airborne Laser.

"This machine will change the face of warfare," said Gen. Doug Pearson, commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base. "We can do things literally at the speed of light."

The Airborne Laser is a weapons system under development that uses a high-energy laser to destroy a ballistic missile while it is still in the boost phase, shortly after launch. The laser and its various targeting systems will be mounted aboard the modified Boeing 747 freighter, dubbed the YAL-1A.

"This airplane is going to be a big deal sometime in the future," said Lt. Col. Keesey Miller, director of the ABL Integrated Test Force. "She's big, she's beautiful, she looks great." The ABL system, the nation's first directed-energy weapons system, will "transform the future of warfare," he said.

 


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