Rocket Fuel Chemical Found In Water - Perchlorate

In 2008, melamine was found in Chinese baby formula which caused death of innocent babies from acute kidney failure and more than 6,200 others have fallen ill while at least 158 are in critical condition after consuming baby formula that contained the dangerous chemical melamine.

As in 2009, shocking news released by ATLANTA (AP or Associated Press which is the backbone of the world's information system serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television and online customers with coverage in all media and news in all formats. It is the largest and oldest news organization in the world, serving as a source of news, photos, graphics, audio and video.) — Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula!

The scary fact that it could exceed what's considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient! Question is, how to effectively remove Perchlorate

The chemical concerned has turned up in several cities' drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most of its contamination has been tied to defence and aerospace sites.

What is Perchlorate?

Perchlorate (the scientific terms is ClO4) is both a naturally occurring and manmade contaminant increasingly found in groundwater, surface water and soil. Another way to describe is that this an anion that originates as a contaminant in ground water and surface waters from the dissolution of ammonium, potassium, magnesium, or sodium salts. Most of this chemical is manufactured in the U.S. is used as an ingredient in solid fuel for rockets and missiles. In addition, perchlorate-based chemicals are also used in the construction of highway safety flares, fireworks, pyrotechnics, explosives, common batteries, and automobile restraint systems and its contamination has been reported in at least 20 states. This chemical has greatly impacts human health by interfering with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. In adults, the thyroid gland helps regulate the metabolism by releasing hormones, while in children, the thyroid helps in proper development. Perchlorate is becoming a serious threat to human health and water resources.

In January 2009, EPA issued an interim health advisory to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of C104 chemical in drinking water.  The interim health advisory level of 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb), is based on the reference dose recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).  The Agency is also seeking advice from the NAS before making a final regulatory determination on whether to issue a national regulation for perchlorate in drinking water. 

When Perchlorate issue was being raised?

There have been large volumes of perchlorate being disposed of since the 1950's and perchlorate has been detected in at least 14 states, every state having a confirmed perchlorate manufacturer or user. It had since widespread in drinking water contaminant since 1997, occurring in several hundred wells, mostly in southern California.  These C104 chemical was also found in the Colorado River, an important source of water for drinking and irrigation, where its presence resulted from contamination from ammonium perchlorate manufacturing facilities in Nevada.  In 2001 the EPA began requirement for monitoring this contaminant in the nation's drinking water and in 2002 the US EPA submitted a proposed reference dose of 1 part-per-billion (ppb) for C104 chemical in drinking water based on perceived changes in infant rat brain structure at a dose equivalent to 300 ppb for a 150 pound human adult or as low as 45 ppb for a bottle-fed infant.

Effect of Perchlorate on human

Scientists have said significant amounts of this contaminant can affect thyroid function, which helps set the body's metabolism. Studies shed light on how dangerous the C104 chemical in baby formula, likely to impact fetus and infant brain development.

Earlier 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of C104 chemical that would be acceptable in drinking water. A few states have already set their own limits. The EPA has checked nearly 4,000 public water supplies serving 10,000 people or more. About 160 of the water systems had detectable levels of perchlorate, and 31 had levels high enough to exceed a new safety level the EPA is considering.

Are We Safe?

The EPA, under pressure from the White House and the Pentagon, is poised to rule as early as today that it will not set a drinking-water safety standard for perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel that has been linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children across the nation. Final step in a six-year-old battle between career EPA scientists who advocate regulating the chemical and White House and Pentagon officials who oppose it. The document estimates that up to 16.6 million Americans are exposed to this contaminant at a level many scientists consider unsafe; independent researchers, using federal and state data, put the number at 20 million to 40 million. Unfortunately, there was still no suggestion on how to remove perchlorate from drinking water.

Some perchlorate occurs naturally, but most C104 chemical contamination in U.S. drinking water stems from improper disposal by rocket test sites, military bases and chemical plants. A nationwide cleanup could cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars, and several defence contractors have threatened to sue the Defence Department to help pay for it if one is required.

The new EPA proposal -- which assumes the maximum allowable perchlorate contamination level is 15 times what the EPA had suggested in 2002 -- was heavily edited by officials of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

How can we remove perchlorates?

Drink only filtered water with multi-stage water filtration system which can effectively remove perchlorates

Contact local drinking water authorities and follow their advice.

Prevent children from playing in dirt or eating dirt if you live near a waste site that has perchlorates.