EPA Tests Find Rocket Fuel in Nation's Milk, Lettuce

**ruthie** · 12-03-2004, 03:25 PM

Salad, anyone? Got milk? Is this how Popeye got all that strength? (I know, he ate spinach). Rocket fuel is in our food? I bet they wil find all sorts of interesting things in our food if they bother to look.

EPA Tests Find Rocket Fuel in Nation's Milk, Lettuce
Greenwatch Today

Wednesday 01 December 2004

Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests released this week have confirmed the presence of perchlorate - an explosive additive in solid rocket fuel - in almost every sample of lettuce and milk taken in a nationwide investigation. Perchlorate, leaking from military bases and defense contrator's facilities, is known to cause regional water pollution, resulting in serious health effects.

The FDA investigation found the toxic additive in 217 of 232 samples of lettuce and milk from 15 states, including areas not previously known for perchlorate contamination. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's perchlorate coordinator for the southwest and Pacific region, Kevin Mayer, the FDA results show that this regional pollution problem is now exposing people across the entire U.S. to the toxin. [1]

"This is surprising new evidence that rocket fuel is getting into the food supply in places we never would have suspected. It means that perchlorate exposure is not just a problem in areas where the drinking water is contaminated, but a concern for everyone, every time we visit the grocery store," Bill Walker, West coast vice president of Environmental Working Group (EWG) told BushGreenwatch.

Problems associated with perchlorate include impaired thyroid function, tumors, cancer, and decreased learning capacity and developmental problems - such as loss of hearing and speech - in children. [2]

BushGreenwatch reported last December on the stalling tactics of the Bush Administration and the Defense Department regarding a national standard for safe drinking water. [3] The EPA's preliminary risk assessment found that perchlorate should not exceed 1 part per billion (ppb) in drinking water for protecting developing fetuses, but industry and Defense Department scientists claim that as much as 200 ppb is safe for human consumption. [4]

The EPA's suggested safe level of 1 ppb is below levels found in several drinking water sources, including the Colorado River. Since perchlorate pollution stems largely from military sites, costs for clean-up would be the responsibility of the Defense Department.

"With these results, it's time for health officials, perchlorate polluters and food producers to stop stalling by saying we need more studies," said Renee Sharp, a senior analyst at EWG. "Rocket fuel is in our water, in vegetables, in milk. How much more evidence do we need?"

SOURCES:
[1] "Chemical Problems Widen," Press-Enterprise, Nov. 30, 2004.
[2] Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet.
[3] BushGreenwatch, Dec. 11, 2004.
[4] Press-Enterprise, op. cit.

from truthout

**Everose** · 12-03-2004, 03:59 PM

Tetrachloride, Atrazine and now Perchlorate.........what will show up next?

We receive CCR's (consumer confidence reports) annually from our water provider. These show the exact amounts of certain chemicals found in the water tested by state labs, using strict collection protocal monitored by the state.

Although a lot of the chemicals are in minute amounts, and said to not be harmful at these amounts.........I would like to know how they are so sure?

**ruthie** · 12-03-2004, 04:16 PM

I don't think they are sure. Remember when the administration raised the arsenic levels permissable in our drinking water?

**tesco** · 12-03-2004, 04:28 PM

and i eat\drink a LOT of lettuce and milk.

i''m going to die.

**Everose** · 12-03-2004, 04:37 PM

I know they aren't sure. They may think they are sure for a certain amount of the population.......but I don't see how they could be. Babies, kids, and those immune compromised individuals? We won't know until damages already exist.

I imagine they will keep raising those atrazine levels .... can't sacrifice the food supply for the water supply?

And what about all the chemicals that are not quite showing up yet?

I just hope people that have their private wells do regular testing. If they did, they wouldn't drink unfiltered water and they would give a second thought to bathing little ones in it.

It is bad enough to have to worry about the water that exists. I worry, also about a shortage of it.

Do you suppose whiskey or scotch mixed in will kill these chemicals?

Ruthie...maybe Rossco will be our first volunteer for the whiskey or scotch antidote?

**ruthie** · 12-03-2004, 04:44 PM

how bout it, Rossco?

**Everose** · 12-03-2004, 04:56 PM

The EPA's suggested safe level of 1 ppb is below levels found in several drinking water sources, including the Colorado River. Since perchlorate pollution stems largely from military sites, costs for clean-up would be the responsibility of the Defense Department.

The Defense Dept., huh? Also known as the already overtaxed taxpayer?