NORCO, Calif. - Homes and schools near the former Wyle Laboratories military and aerospace test site are safe despite the presence of contaminants in and around the facility, according to the state agency overseeing an investigation and cleanup of the lab.

More than one thousand samples of air and soil around three schools and 27 homes west of the lab were tested, turning up low levels of toxic waste and one chemical that could cause health risks over long exposure, according to the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.

One known carcinogen, vinyl chloride, was found at one of the schools, but the chemical was not linked to Wyle.

In spite of the findings, Rafat Abbasi, a senior project manager for the state agency, maintained that the homes and schools were found to be safe.

Known cancer-causing chemicals have been detected in recent years in groundwater and soil near the complex, which operated from 1959 to 2004.

Residents living near the Wyle site blame contamination from the lab on cases of cancer and other health problems.

A link between the toxic substances at the lab and those health problems has not been found.

The state began investigating the possible environmental hazards posed by Wyle in 2005.

The agency is expected to issue a complete report in January that will detail the extent of ground contamination at and around the 429-acre site.

Meanwhile, plans are in place to clean up soil and block contaminated groundwater at the lab from leeching outside the site.