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Perchlorate and Other Emerging Contaminants
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An emerging contaminant (EC) is a chemical or material characterized by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the environment or by a lack of published health standards. A contaminant also may be "emerging" because of the discovery of a new source or a new pathway to humans. FFRRO recently published the following EC fact sheets for project managers and field personnel:
- 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 112K)
- 1,4-Dioxane - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 114K)
- 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) - February 2011 (PDF) (4 pp, 108K)
- Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) - February 2011 (PDF) (4 pp, 95K)
- Nanomaterials - December 2010 (PDF) (7 pp, 132K)
- N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA) - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 109K)
- Perchlorate - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 128K)
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 108K)
- Tungsten - December 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 113K)
Perchlorate is one (highly controversial) example of an EC. It is used in a wide range of applications, including military munitions (mortars, flares, grenades), solid rocket fuel, pyrotechnics and fireworks, blasting agents, matches, air bags, and certain types of fertilizers. It has been detected in the groundwater at 54 federal facilities and 29 private (Superfund or RCRA) sites in 26 states. EPA and states are addressing the contamination at many of the sites through investigations and response actions (e.g., blending, providing alternative water supplies, remediating groundwater contamination) or through enforcement actions against potentially responsible parties (PRPs). For additional perchlorate information, visit the following:
- US EPA: Perchlorate
- US EPA: Revised Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate - January 2009 (PDF) (2 pp, 650K)
- US EPA: Perchlorate Treatment Technology Update - May 2005 (PDF) (84 pp, 2.5MB)
See also Errata Sheet - September 2005 (PDF) (4 pp, 105K) - U.S. Department of Defense: Emerging Chemical and Material Risks - Perchlorate
- U.S. Department of Defense: Environmental Data Quality Workgroup - Perchlorate
- U.S. Department of Defense: Perchlorate Release Management Policy - April 2009 (PDF) (8 pp, 477K)
Vapor intrusion (VI) also is being examined as an EC because of concerns about the VI pathway. Volatile chemicals in contaminated soils and/or groundwater can emit vapors that may migrate through the subsurface soils and into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings.
For additional emerging-contaminant information, visit the following:
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN)
- Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)
- Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable (FRTR)
- Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC)
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) | Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP)
- U.S. Department of Defense: Emerging Chemical and Material Risks
- US EPA: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
- US EPA: Vapor Intrusion