Recent findings of perchlorates in milk produced in California
shouldn
’t be surprising to anyone. Among the signs of pervasive DDT
pollution in the 1970s were concentrations of DDT in breast milk,
as well as the birth defects the widely used insecticide caused in
wildlife. This isn’t to say that finding perchlorates in milk
shouldn’t concern us. I’m just sayi
ng it shouldn’t have been unexpected. But what does it all mean
here in the South Valley?
Recent findings of perchlorates in milk produced in California shouldn’t be surprising to anyone.
Among the signs of pervasive DDT pollution in the 1970s were concentrations of DDT in breast milk, as well as the birth defects the widely used insecticide caused in wildlife. This isn’t to say that finding perchlorates in milk shouldn’t concern us. I’m just saying it shouldn’t have been unexpected. But what does it all mean here in the South Valley?
According to the Associated Press’s article about the findings of perchlorates in milk on June 22, “Perchlorate has been found in drinking water in more than 20 states, including California, which has extensive ties to the military, defense industry and the space program. The chemical has been detected in the Colorado River, the major source of drinking water and irrigation in Southern California and Arizona.”
So, we shouldn’t feel so alone. However, it’s noted in the article that the EPA and other environmental groups believe that the currently accepted danger level of 6ppb (parts per billion) of perchlorates in drinking water may be too high of a threshold.
They’re advocating the level be lowered to, say, 1ppb. Wells in our area are coming in at 4ppb or higher, depending on where they are and who’s doing the analysis.
Considering how good the government is at fudging numbers (look at how they rig inflation rates to exclude the cost of energy and food, or unemployment numbers that exclude people who are unemployed but no longer get assistance, for instance), I’d like to see some universities or independent agencies do some studies.
Perchlorates come in various kinds (potassium, as Olin left for us, as well as ammonium, sodium, and others).
The stuff found in the recent tests of milk most likely came from rocket-fuel production, and not from the manufacture of railroad safety flares, which Olin made in Morgan Hill for four decades. In addition, the samples were taken in other parts of California.
Therefore, the concentrations in the well water here could be considered either low or very low. That’s not to say that they’re inconsequential. People with thyroid problems, predisposition to thyroid problems, infants, and pregnant women are usually the most likely to be adversely affected.
Reporter Carol Holzgrafe of The Morgan Hill Times wrote on June 14 in her article “Perchlorate cleanup plans announced by Olin Corp.”: “And, in another effort to remove perchlorate from the water, Sylvia Hamilton, Perchlorate Community Advisory Group chairwoman, said she has been asked to testify before a House committee reviewing a bill introduced by Rep. Richard Pombo, (R-Tracy), asking for $25 million to help pay for the cleanup.”
The average person reading this might well ask, “Just who would provide this $25 million?” Think hard. That’s right. Some government agency. The money would come from us, the taxpayers. And that means that we’d get to pay to clean up Olin’s mess. (If you think that seems fair, you’re free to cut my lawn anytime you want, and it will only cost you $20.) My question is: Why not put a lien on Olin? Why not tell them, “We need $25 million to start cleaning up your mess. We’ll wait here while you get your checkbook.”
If they don’t cough up the dough, get them barred from doing business in California, Santa Clara County, or whatever.
We’re not alone. Only a short drive north of here, just east of Coyote Valley, United Technologies’ Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion division is closing down. They’ve been messing up the environment with perchlorates for a long, long time.
In the San Jose Mercury-News’ article on May 14, “Rocket Motor Plant Closing, 600 Jobs Lost,” reporter Sharon Noguchi wrote: “… some of the groundwater on the land is contaminated with perchlorate, a salt that provides oxygen in solid-fuel rockets.
For about 15 years, the company has been pumping out water, filtering it and pumping it back into the ground. Once the plant is closed, how long will it take to make the groundwater clean? And if the perchlorates find their way into wider areas, who will be stuck with the tab for cleanup?
It’s been 17 months since the perchlorates in our groundwater were first brought to people’s attention. Progress in dealing with the situation has been slow, and unless the citizens of the South Valley insist on keeping a spotlight on Olin, the water district, the state and the feds, a remedy isn’t going to come quickly, and it could come mostly at the taxpayers’ expense.
A tech writer, editor, and web developer, Tom Mulhern is a longtime South Bay resident. He and his wife have been living in Gilroy for two years. His column appears occasionally in The Times.
