Vapors at Google's Whisman Campus Hazardous to Employee Health

Google could be liable for the health of employees at its Whisman Road campus—called The Quad—under Proposition 65 if they didn't know they had been exposed to toxic vapors, the Bay Citizen reported Monday.

The campus, located within the Middlefield-Ellis-Whisman (MEW) Superfund site, has become vulnerable to high levels of trichloroethene (TCE), a chemical that can affect the human central nervous system. Long-term exposure can cause cancer in humans; especially prone are the kidney, liver, cervix, and lymphatic system, according to the EPA.

The children of pregnant women are particularly at risk, according to a 2011 EPA report.

The TCE vapors rise from the groundwater into the air in buildings.

"The health and safety of our employees is Google’s number one priority, and we take several proactive measures to ensure the healthiest indoor air environments possible in our workplaces," said company spokesperson Katelin Todhunter-Gerberg.

At The Quad, which has more than 1000 employees, the EPA had historically found TCE levels below acceptable limits. However, in 2012, "hot spots" were identified in the area—including nearby on Evandale Avenue—that tested slightly higher.

According to the Bay Citizen, Google made efforts to improve the air quality of the four buildings in the project once a valve in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was fixed.

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