The U.S. National Research Council reportedly has found higher risks of cancer from trichloroethylene solvent in drinking water.

The Los Angeles Times says the council was to report Thursday about TCE's risks for cancer and other human health problems. The findings are based on a detailed study of TCE, the most widespread industrial contaminant in U.S. drinking water.

The Times report says the report would allow federal regulators to raise TCE's risk assessment, which has not been possible because of disagreement among scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Defense Department.

The Times said California has some of the nation's worst TCE contamination, affecting the state's Superfund sites mostly in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties.

New federal guidelines would help to lower the limits of TCE in water and instituting tighter cleanups of hundreds of military bases and other polluted facilities.