DISH — Texas health officials cotton dishcloths are now waiting on lab results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,bib apron having selected 28 residents at Cotton Tea Towels random for biological sampling that could determine whether they have been exposed to toxic substances.

Representatives of the Department of State Health Services released the information Thursday during a public meeting about natural gas drilling in Lantana.

More than 200 residents attended the meeting, many increasingly concerned about exposure to toxic substances since state environmental officials this week confirmed findings of elevated levels of benzene at some natural gas facilities.

Dr. John Villanacci, chairman of the department’s Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee, said the battery of tests was completed between Jan. 22 and Monday. From 65 homes in the Dish area, health officials selected 28 residents at random for testing.