The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is backtracking on a decision made under the Bush administration not to regulate the chemical perchlorate in drinking water.
USEPA Administrator Lisa P Jackson announced 5 August 2009 that the agency is seeking public comment on its re-evaluation of the scientific information on perchlorate in drinking water, which it says is to enhance transparency.
Jackson directed EPA staff to review that decision and, as part of that review, the agency is putting special emphasis on evaluating the impact of perchlorate on infants and young children.
Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical and is used to manufacture fireworks, explosives, flares and rocket propellant. Reverse osmosis technology has been certified by NSF International to remove perchlorate from levels as high as 130 µg/L to 4 µg/L or less in drinking water.