U.S. Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr are pushing a measure that would force the Navy to hold off on disposing of claims about water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The amendment to a defense appropriations bill must still survive a conference with the House.

From 1957 to 1987, the water at Lejeune was contaminated with toxins at concentrations up to 280 times what is currently considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and may have contributed to health problems faced by Marines and their families, according to Hagan's office. As many as 1 million people may have been exposed to tainted water.

The bill would halt efforts to dispose of claims filed by those families until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention completes studies of the health effects of the water contamination.

"Our amendment makes the desire of the Senate perfectly clear: the Navy should not dispose of claims until the scientific studies are complete,” said Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Marines and their families, who were exposed to dangerous chemicals in the Camp Lejeune drinking water over several decades, deserve to know how that exposure impacted their health.”

In July, Burr and Hagan introduced a bill that would open access to Department of Veterans' Affairs health care for veterans and their family members that lived on the base during the years of water contamination.

Gov. Mike Easley has questions about the safety of manufactured homes.

Easley sent a letter Thursday to the head of the state Manufactured Housing Institute seeking information on formaldehyde levels in manufactured homes. The institute is an advocacy and lobbying group.

Easley sent the letter in response to a finding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that manufactured homes used to shelter Gulf Coast hurricane victims contain dangerously high levels of formaldehyde that can cause burning eyes and breathing problems for people with asthma.

Easley has asked the state Board of Education to direct school systems to check temporary classroom buildings for toxic fumes.

"I am sure you agree that no one, whether living in temporary government-issued housing or in a manufactured home purchased by private individuals, should be subjected to health threats in their homes," Easley wrote.

He speaks from experience. As a resident of the Executive Mansion, a more upscale example of "temporary government-issued housing," he had to deal with a serious mold problem in 2005.

Update: Brad Lovin, exeecutive director of the institute says that North Carolina mobile homes are safe. Formaldehyde is a common chemical in manufacturing, he said. Homes used for hurricane victims have particularly high levels possibly because the government called for a particular type of paneling that his high in the chemical. Homes in North Carolina have to pass a test for chemical fumes, Lovin said.

"The governor has expressed some concern," Lovin said. "We're more than willing to provide him with the expert information that he's asking for..I think we'll ease his concerns."

The N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund is aiming an anti-smoking ad campaign at 18- to 24-year-olds.

The new "Call it Quits" campaign includes TV, radio, print and interactive ads that promote Quitline NC. The toll-free phone service connects smokers with coaches for advice, support and referrals to local cessation services. Quitline NC (1-800-QUIT-NOW) is available every day, 8 a.m. to midnight.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 28 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in North Carolina smoke, and more than half have tried to quit in the past year, Jane Stancill reports.

The TV and radio ads started Monday. You can view them here.