Drink Your Rocket Fuel?

A report released from the National Academy of Sciences in 2005 raises the safe allowable limits of rocket fuel pollution in drinking water by 20 times. The pollutant in rocket fuel is a chemical called perchlorate and environmentalists claim that no amount of it in drinking water or crops is acceptable. Everything is being pushed under the rug because no one knows how to get rid of it from the water supply. Environmentalists are accusing the government of not supporting safe drinking water.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group claims perchlorate affects thyroid function and says the government as set no limits on how much is safe and other groups are loudly proclaiming that it could harm wild animals, fish stock, animal and birds in the food chain and pregnant women and their babies.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the US sets guidelines for such things as contaminants found in drinking water. They were shocked to find that the National Academy of Sciences in their National Research Council report stated that people would be safe by drinking up to 0.0007 milligrams per kilogram of perchlorate without harm. This is 20 times the concentration suggested by the EPA.

The EPA produces risk assessment reports that try to keep populations safe. In their 2002 report, they suggest a safe dosage of 0.00003 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. This is essentially around 1 part per billion based on average body size and drinking water consumption.

Everyone seems to agree that perchlorate causes hypothyroidism and that it needs to be prevented but there is no clear support for a solution for removing it from the water supply. There is not enough evidence from any research that suggests this chemical could cause thyroid cancer.

The most alarming evidence from scientists is that perchlorate even at very low levels can harm babies health. They are shouting this evidence as loudly as they can as there are strong-arm tactics to shut up them up as politicians and bureaucrats try to bury their report. It is turning ugly politically.

Scientists are claiming that it is up to the government to protect the health of the population but it seems that the science is being skewed and the clean-up avoided. No one is accepting responsibility.
Apparently, perchlorate has been found in the drinking water in 35 states in concentrations as high as 4 parts per billion. In some areas it is even higher. It is estimated that more than 11 million people have water they should not even come in contact with.

It would be interesting to find out if people know their water is contaminated and whether they are taking it seriously. Since there are only 50 states in the union, there aren't many places left that don't have rocket fuel in the water. These days, the situation doesn't seem to be getting any better. Is there anywhere left where the water is even drinkable?