Development of drinking water standards for perchlorate in the United States
Abstract
Perchlorate, an anion that originates as a contaminant in ground and surface waters, is both naturally occurring and manmade. Because of its toxicity, there has been increased interest in setting drinking water safety standards and in health effects when perchlorate is present at low (parts per billion (ppb)) levels. In January 2009, the EPA issued a heath advisory to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of perchlorate in drinking water. The interim health advisory level of 15 micrograms per liter (μg/L), or ppb, is based on the reference dose recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). This paper describes scope and extent of contaminant issues and a legal process of setting standards for perchlorate concentration in drinking water in the United States of America.
- Publication:
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Journal of Environmental Management
- Pub Date:
- January 2009
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2009JEnvM..91..303K
- Keywords:
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- Perchlorate;
- Thyroid gland;
- Anion;
- Drinking water;
- Ground water;
- Drinking standards;
- Setting standards;
- Risk assessment;
- Health effects