[CPEO-MEF] PERCHLORATE: NRDC slams EPA's proposed drinking water standard

[Lenny Siegel]

Press Release
Natural Resources Defense Council
May 23, 2019

EPA Plan on Rocket Fuel in Drinking Water Will Make You Sick


WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed standard to limit perchlorate in drinking water that will gravely threaten public health.  The agency’s plan comes after a decade of delay and a lawsuit by NRDC compelling it to set a standard.  Perchlorate, a toxic chemical that is a component of rocket fuel, has been detected in the drinking water systems that serve up to 16.6 millions Americans.  Even at low levels, it can present serious health risks to children and pregnant women.

The following is a statement by Erik Olson, senior director for Health and Food at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“This is enough to make you sick—literally.  As a result, millions of Americans will be at risk of exposure to dangerous levels of this toxic chemical in their drinking water.  Fetuses and infants are especially vulnerable to harm from perchlorate. EPA has more than tripled the amount of perchlorate it now recommends allowing in water.  Scientists recommend a limit that is 10 to more than 50 times lower than what the agency is proposing.  This is another Trump administration gift to polluters and water utilities that have lobbied to be off the hook for cleaning up the problem.”

…

For the entire release, see
https://www.nrdc.org/media/2019/190523

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650/961-8918 
<lsiegel at cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org