Basin Water, Inc - Perchlorate

The Dangers of Perchlorate

Perchlorate harms the thyroid gland, which controls our growth and development. The contaminant deprives the thyroid of iodide, which reduces the production of thyroid hormone. In adults, the thyroid helps to regulate metabolism.

Scientists have known for decades that high amounts of perchlorate can harm brain development in early childhood; it has also been linked to rare infant thyroid cancer. Perchlorate can have particularly severe effects on the brain development of a fetus if a mother is exposed to the contaminant while pregnant.

In children, the thyroid plays a major role in proper development of the nervous and reproductive systems in addition to metabolism. Possible consequences of low thyroid levels include mental retardation, vision, speech and hearing impairment, and abnormal gate. In older children, decreased thyroid levels have been linked to ADHD.

Perchlorate Findings

In April 1997, California's Department of Health Services tested for the occurence of Perchlorate in Southern California wells. Using a sensitive analytical method, DHS found perchlorate (up to 159 µg/L) in drinking water wells in Los Angeles County. Several aerospace facilities in Azusa, Santa Clarita, and Pasadena were identified as potential sources of contamination.

Sampling also showed perchlorate at low levels (5 - 9 µg/L) in the Colorado River, an important source of drinking and agricultural water in Southern California. The Colorado River's perchlorate is associated with contamination from ammonium perchlorate manufacturing facilities in Nevada.

DHS also found perchlorate up to 29 µg/L in drinking water wells in Riverside County, up to 325 µg/L in San Bernardino County drinking water wells, plus 24 agricultural wells ranging from 11 to 221 µg/L. Perchlorate at 270 µg/L was also found in an inactive well near a defunct fireworks site near Rialto.

Regulation

In 1999, EPA required drinking water monitoring for perchlorate under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). Under the UCMR, all large public water systems and a representative sample of small public water systems are required to monitor for perchlorate over the next two years to determine whether the public is exposed to perchlorate in drinking water nationwide.

On January 26, 2006, the EPA issued a preliminary remediation goal of 24.5 ppb for the cleanup of wter contaminated with perchlorate. California has promulgated a public health goal of 6 ppb for perchlorate as a guideline for water providers and consumers. California regulators are expected to set an MCL of 6 ppb or lower in the near future. In addition, Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and New York have set advisory levels for perchlorate ranging from 1 through 18 ppb.

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Perchlorate
Perchlorate Information Page 1 Perchlorate Customers Page 2 What is Perchlorate? Page 3 Dangers of Perchlorate Page 4 Theory Behind Ion Exchange Page 5 Advantages of Ion Exchange Page 6 The Basin Water System Other Contaminants The Dangers of Perchlorate > Next Page Perchlorate harms the thyroid gland, which controls our growth and development. The contaminant deprives the thyroid of iodide, which reduces the production of thyroid hormone. In adults, the thyroid helps to regulate metabolism. Scientists have known for decades that high amounts of perchlorate can harm brain development in early childhood; it has also been linked to rare infant thyroid cancer. Perchlorate can have particularly severe effects on the brain development of a fetus if a mother is exposed to the contaminant while pregnant. In children, the thyroid plays a major role in proper development of the nervous and reproductive systems in addition to metabolism. Possible consequences of low thyroid levels include mental retardation, vision, speech and hearing impairment, and abnormal gate. In older children, decreased thyroid levels have been linked to ADHD. Perchlorate Findings In April 1997, California's Department of Health Services tested for the occurence of Perchlorate in Southern California wells. Using a sensitive analytical method, DHS found perchlorate (up to 159 µg/L) in drinking water wells in Los Angeles County. Several aerospace facilities in Azusa, Santa Clarita, and Pasadena were identified as potential sources of contamination. Sampling also showed perchlorate at low levels (5 - 9 µg/L) in the Colorado River, an important source of drinking and agricultural water in Southern California. The Colorado River's perchlorate is associated with contamination from ammonium perchlorate manufacturing facilities in Nevada. DHS also found perchlorate up to 29 µg/L in drinking water wells in Riverside County, up to 325 µg/L in San Bernardino County drinking water wells, plus 24 agricultural wells ranging from 11 to 221 µg/L. Perchlorate at 270 µg/L was also found in an inactive well near a defunct fireworks site near Rialto. Regulation In 1999, EPA required drinking water monitoring for perchlorate under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). Under the UCMR, all large public water systems and a representative sample of small public water systems are required to monitor for perchlorate over the next two years to determine whether the public is exposed to perchlorate in drinking water nationwide. On January 26, 2006, the EPA issued a preliminary remediation goal of 24.5 ppb for the cleanup of wter contaminated with perchlorate. California has promulgated a public health goal of 6 ppb for perchlorate as a guideline for water providers and consumers. California regulators are expected to set an MCL of 6 ppb or lower in the near future. In addition, Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and New York have set advisory levels for perchlorate ranging from 1 through 18 ppb. > Next Page: Basin Water's Ion Exchange Technology
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