.....As part of a proposed $42 million study to assess the occurrence of 26 contaminants in drinking water [see related story, here], the USEPA will try to determine the extent of damage done to drinking water supplies by perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel—another step toward possible federal regulation of the chemical.
.....Why the concern? Researchers know that at high levels, perchlorate can inhibit thyroid function and hormone production and may be responsible for neurological and behavioral problems in children [see one report, here].
.....Perchlorate in drinking water is widespread—perchlorate is found in water and soil in at least 400 sites—more than half of which are in California and Texas. The AwwA (American Water Works Association) reported that perchlorate is found in water supplies in 26 states [see related story, here].
.....This new study will not automatically assure perchlorate's regulation because the EPA must also consider health risks and whether regulation would reduce those risks, a process that will take longer than three years.
.....EPA took a first step toward potential regulation of the perchlorate in February when it announced a "reference dose" following recommendations made by an NAS (National Academy of Sciences) report [see related story, here].
.....The NAS (National Academy of Sciences) report, demanded by the Pentagon and defense industry, put the acceptable level of perchlorate consumption both from food and water at 0.0007 mg/kg (milligrams/k