First in the Nation, Massachusetts Perchlorate Standards Take Effect

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 28, 2006 (ENS) - Massachusetts today became the first state in the nation to promulgate drinking water and waste site cleanup standards for the chemical perchlorate, setting the standard at 2 parts per billion (ppb). The new regulations require most public water systems to regularly test for perchlorate.

Since perchlorate was first detected in the aquifer under Bourne in 2002, the chemical has been detected in 10 other public water systems across the state.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) says the wide-scale production of perchlorate for use as a solid rocket propellant has led to the use of perchlorate compounds in common products, including airbag inflators, industrial chemicals, explosives, and fireworks.

Released into the environment by blasting contractors and fireworks operations, military operations or industrial processes, perchlorate is highly water soluble. Carried by runoff, the chemical can travel significant distances in groundwater, the state agency says.

The new standards are being adopted to protect public health, including sensitive populations such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and individuals with low levels of thyroid hormones.

Perchlorate has been found to interfere with thyroid function, which could lead to impaired human development and metabolism.

"Our goal from the beginning of this effort was to protect the health of our citizens, especially pregnant women and children, who could potentially be exposed to perchlorate in their drinking water," said Robert W. Golledge, Jr., commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). "Massachusetts' new standards ensure that the water is safe to drink, and the monitoring requirement protects water supplies into the future."

Perchlorate is a chemical that can be found in blasting agents, fireworks, military munitions and other manufacturing processes, and can be generated in small amounts within existing water treatment processes.

No federal standards regulating perchlorate levels in drinking water currently exist.

Besides the requirement for regular testing, the new regulations also require parties responsible for perchlorate contamination to notify MassDEP of the contamination and conduct appropriate environmental assessment and cleanup, and for all drinking water supplies to contain no more than 2 ppb of perchlorate.

Full copies of the regulation and the response-to-comment document are available online at: http://mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/percinfo.htm