News Coverage
Rocket fuel chemical poses health risk to kids
Published February 28, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set new health goals for a chemical that's found in the groundwater, but some groups are worried the goals aren't strong enough to protect infants and fetuses.
They're right to be concerned. For one thing, "goals" aren't the same as federal laws that protect the water supply. For another, the goals are based on adult exposure, but children are more harshly impacted.
The chemical perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel and explosives such as fireworks and missiles, is found in water and products that contain a lot of water, such as milk and lettuce.
It can harm fetuses and infants by supressing the uptake of iodide into the thyroid gland, leading to problems such as mental retardation, hearing and speech loss, as well as problems with motor skills.
A study published this month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology discovered 36 nursing mothers around the nation - including Maine - had levels of perchlorate in their breast milk that averaged five times higher than levels found in cow's milk. Most of the babies drinking milk that contained this much perchlorate would exceed the safe levels set by the EPA, the Environmental Working Group said.
Several things should happen. The federal and state governments should set enforceable drinking water standards for perchlorate that take into account the chemical's effect on infants.
Women should supplement their diets with iodide to help counter the effects of perchlorate they may be ingesting.
Lastly, the Department of Defense should be held to the same cleanup standards as private industry and made to eliminate the chemical from its contaminated sites.
The chemical is posing a danger to the nation's youngsters, and it's a problem that deserves immediate action.