[CPEO-MEF] Perchlorate gag order

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

California
Posted on Mon, May. 05, 2003
Perchlorate gag order
BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS IGNORING POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS
Mercury News Editorial

It was all about rocket science when labs found last week that
significant levels of perchlorate have been found in California-grown
winter lettuce irrigated by Colorado River water. The toxic rocket fuel
component has also been found in groundwater in the South Bay,
contaminating three of Morgan Hill's 11 municipal wells, and evidence
suggests that tiny amounts can affect the thyroid gland and cause severe
birth defects.

This is no time for the federal government to stick its head in the
sand. Yet the Bush administration has done just that, with its gag order
on public discussion of perchlorate contamination by the Environmental
Protection Agency. Says the White House, in effect: If we admit
Americans might be ingesting toxic amounts of perchlorate from both
water and food, then private industry, defense contractors and the
Pentagon could be liable for billions of dollars to clean up the mess.
So let's just not talk about it.

This editorial can be viewed at:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/5788519.htm

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