Since July 2003, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality has been investigating perchlorate contamination in a small Central Texas town. Residents of Georgetown, Texas recently received word that their drinking water may be contaminated with the toxic substance.
Health officials insist perchlorate levels have not reached a degree that poses a health risk but recommend that all private well owners have their water tested.
Perchlorate is the main ingredient in rocket and missile fuel. Other forms of perchlorate are used in a variety of products including
fireworks,
car air bags, leather tanning products and electronic tubes.
Exposure to high levels of perchlorate can damage the
thyroid gland, which in turn affects metabolism, growth and development in children. Thyroid damage in fetuses and infants may lead to
mental retardation,
hearing,
speech and motor problems.
In adults, exposure to perchlorate may cause
cancer,
anxiety,
fatigue,
depression,
hair loss, unexplained weight gain, and decreased libido.
See your doctor if you live in or around Georgetown, Texas and you have experienced serious health problems associated with perchlorate exposure. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.
See Also
- Specific Contaminated Sites
- Anxiety Disorders & Panic Attacks: Overview
- Birth Defects
- Cancer
- Depression: Overview
- Fatigue: Overview
- Hair Loss: Overview
- Hearing Loss
- Mental Retardation: Overview
- Speech Disorders: Overview