Re: White House Delays Release of Study Showing Toxic Rocket Fuel In Most Americans


George a écrit dans le message ...

"Jo Schaper" <joschapern4ospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:120po5aivvbv01f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alan wrote:

WASHINGTON, March 3 ? Following a published report that the Bush
Administration is holding up a study that shows most Americans carry a
toxic rocket fuel chemical in their bodies at levels close to federal
safety limits, Environmental Working Group (EWG) is calling for the
immediate release of the study so EPA and state agencies can take steps
to protect the public.


Perchlorate, the explosive ingredient in solid rocket fuel, has
contaminated drinking water and soil in at least 35 states, with most of
the known contamination coming from military bases and defense
contractors. Tests by EWG, academic scientists in Texas and Arizona,
state officials in California and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
have found perchlorate in milk, produce and many other foods and animal
feed crops from coast to coast. Perchlorate is a thyroid toxin, and
animal tests show that even small amounts can disrupt normal growth and
development in fetuses, infants and children.

Um, a form of perchlorate is also used as dry cleaning fluid, and was the
solvent in the form of typewriter White-out called Sno-Pake, (which I
used 5 days a week from 1978 to 1986). Much of the groundwater
contamination has nothing to do with the military.

Perchlorate and its salts (e.g., ammonium perchlorate) are used in solid
propellant for rockets, missiles, and fireworks. Perchlorate has a number
of industrial uses, and it's used in matches, flares, pyrotechnics,
ordnance, and explosives. You are thinking of perchloroethane (known as
PERC), which is used in dry cleaning and used to be used in white-out
before it was reformulated.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/dryclean.htm

I should point out that the original poster's article doesn't make it clear
that although it perchlorate is used in solid rocket motor fuel, the more
prevelant uses are in the other applications I mention above, most
especially in matches and fireworks, which of course we all love to watch
on the 4th of July. Even more importantly, it is found in industrial
waste, which finds its way into our soil, rivers, streams and groundwater.
In addition,according to the EPA, perchlorate has also been found to occur
naturally in the environment. The EPA reports that perchlorate releases
have been detected in 25 states, so obviously NASA isn't the only culprit
here.

Here is an EPA report on the health risks associated with perchlorate and
perchlorate salts

http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/1007.htm

George

perchlorates or salts of perchloric acid are common chemicals in use.
Sodium perchlorate will be found in most
chemistry and biology laboratories.

For uses in testing "Preferred desiccants include, but are not limited to,
anhydrous calcium chloride, magnesium perchlorate" Joint FAO/WHO Expert
Committe on Food Additives (JECFA)
Potassium perchlorate is used in fireworks and road flares.
The "explosive" perchlorates are of course unstable and short lived in
nature.
Perchorates as a group are not considered a significant factor in ground
water pollution.


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