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PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire epidemiologist says test results show that children exposed to water from a contaminated Portsmouth well have higher levels of a chemical in their blood than children who weren't exposed.
The Haven well at the Pease International Tradeport was closed in May 2014 after contaminants were discovered at levels 10 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's acceptable levels.
Officials said at a meeting Wednesday that the levels for contaminants were all higher than a Texas study, which focused on 300 children without any known high exposure.
Officials suspect the chemicals came from firefighting foam used on the former Pease Air Force base runway.
The epidemiologist said exposure could affect the immune system and cause hormone dysfunction and cancer.
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This story has been corrected to clarify that the level of the chemical is higher in children who were exposed to the well water.
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