PERCHLORATE: Occurrence is Widespread but at Varying Levels; Federal Agencies Have Taken Some Actions to Respond to and Lessen Releases

Perchlorate is both a man-made and naturally occurring chemical. It is used in rocket fuel, explosives, fireworks, and other products. Naturally occurring perchlorate is produced through atmospheric processes and then settles on surface water or land. Perchlorate can disrupt the uptake of iodide in the thyroid, potentially interfering with thyroid function and negatively affecting fetal and infant brain development and growth. As of June 2010, there is no federal regulatory standard for perchlorate in drinking water, and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA, which has the authority to regulate contaminants in public drinking water systems, had not determined whether to establish one. The Department of Defense DOD, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, and the Department of Energy DOE are the primary federal users of perchlorate.