Who do you think should pay for cleaning up perchlorates?

Perchlorate

The perchlorates are a family of chemical compounds, which both occur naturally and are manufactured, particularly for military explosives. Ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4) is part of rocket fuel as well as other items. It is also used in pyrotechnics along with potassium perchlorate (KClO4).

Perchlorates are toxic to humans, particularly mothers and their developing fetuses and children. Perchlorates have been found in breast milk across the US, and in cow's milk. They can cause mental retardation and are suspected of being connected to the increase in learning disabilities.

36 States Face Perchlorate Contamination

The Environmental Protection Agency has detected perchlorate in 36 states. Perchlorate comes from rocket fuel and other defense manufacturing. It has got into many wells. Cleaning up can be expensive and suing can be difficult, particularly since some of the polluting was done long ago by now-defunct companies. With the water unsafe, there can be a shortage of water for piping to homes. Special filtering is required, also adding to the cost. There is disagreement about how many parts per billion of perchlorate is dangerous.

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Who do you think should pay for cleaning up perchlorates?

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