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Tell EPA to Protect Our Drinking Water

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Perchlorate, a chemical contaminant found in jet fuel, has been found in the drinking water supply of 35 states and the District of Columbia. The widespread exposure of the population to some level of perchlorate raises serious health concerns.

The EPA still hasn't decided whether or not to make a national primary drinking water rule for perchlorate -- even though 3 of their own science advisory committees urged them to do so!

So now, EPA is asking for comments on how they should regulate perchlorate in our water.

Scientists say perchlorate affects the thyroid’s production of hormones, which are important to the brain development and growth of infants and children. Pregnant women and small children are at greatest risk.

Please tell EPA that to ensure the public's health, they must issue a primary drinking water rule for perchlorate.

February 08, 2010

Subject:

Dear Administrator Johnson,

I am writing to urge you to make a national primary drinking water rule for perchlorate.

Perchlorate has been found in the drinking water supply of 35 states and the District of Columbia. Widespread human exposure to perchlorate was confirmed by the Center for Disease Control’s NHANES study, which found that 100 percent of the 2,820 randomly selected study participants had detectable levels of perchlorate in their urine. And according to your request for comment notice, dated August 5, 2009, the number of people served by water contaminated with high levels of perchlorate ranges between 53.4 and 16.8 million people.

Your decision to not request additional NRC review of issues relating to perchlorate is ill-advised. Additional NRC research may better elucidate the the health effect and exposure risk we presently face. Moreover, NRC research may provide better guidance in making a final regulatory determination, especially in determining the best health reference level (HRL).

As suggested by previous commenters, I believe that the Agency's proposed HRL, of 15 micrograms/Liter, is too high. The alternative HRLs presented in Table 2 of your request for comment notice, dated August 5, 2009, do not use the most appropriate data. The data in Table 2 uses mean ingestion rates from the CSFII. The CSFII is already several years out of date.

You also request comment on how the Agency should account for variation of perchlorate levels over time in public water systems. This is simple: the Agency should act with extreme precaution.

The widespread exposure of the population to some level of perchlorate raises serious health concerns. Perchlorate can inhibit the thyroid gland’s iodine uptake, potentially leading to hypothyroidism. Severe hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to abnormal fetal cognitive development, and even mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with subtle cognitive defects in children. Thus, perchlorate could alter fetal brain development, having lifelong cognitive effects for those affected.

EPA’s failure to regulate perchlorate in drinking water places consumers – especially children and pregnant women  – at risk. We urge the EPA to consider the regulation of perchlorate as an opportunity to protect our waterways and make our drinking water safe for all.

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