美國環保署於8月5日宣布，高氯酸鹽（Perchlorate），一種火箭燃料、煙火、和緊急照明信號中的有毒成份，污染高達35個州的供水系統，在經過科學審查之後預期即將受到聯邦法律的規範。
去年10月，小布希時代的環保署作了不規範飲用水中高氯酸鹽的初步決定，表示： 「實施全國性的重要飲用水高氯酸鹽的規定擧措，對飲用公共供水系統的民衆，就降低其健康的風險而言，意義不大。」
環保署署長傑克遜（Lisa Jackson）於8月5日宣布，該機構將重新審查先前的決定，並將特別留意高氯酸鹽對嬰幼兒健康的影響。
環保署目前考慮使用更完整廣泛，從健康的層面來解讀現有數據，像是高氯酸鹽出現在飲用水中的頻率，和透過國家重要飲用水標準對高氯酸鹽的濃度加以法律規範以降低健康風險的機率。
高氯酸鹽是無色的鹽，沒有氣味，易溶於水。許多食物，如牛奶、生菜、一些飲用水源中都曾經發現該成份。
高氯酸鹽在煙火製作、測試、拆解的過程中滲入周遭的環境。也就是說，人們在煙火表演前後和使用道路安全信號照明時，都會與高氯酸鹽有所接觸。
其他接觸的機會還包括使用某些清潔產品和游泳池使用的化學品時。製造或使用高氯酸鹽的工廠還可能將該成份排入土壤和水中。
美國有毒物質及疾病登記署（Agency for Toxic Substances）表示，雨水將土壤中的高氯酸鹽沖刷入地下水。並警告說：「雖然我們不知道高氯酸鹽在水和土壤中存留的時間有多長，但從現有的資料來看，將會是一段很長的時間。」
2005年1月，國家研究委員會（National Research Council）發表了一份高氯酸鹽潛在危害人體健康的科學審查狀況。
該委員會審查的結論顯示，孕婦若接觸高氯酸鹽可導致甲狀腺荷爾蒙分泌過低，或甲狀腺機能減退，影響其未出生的胎兒，並警告說，就算進行荷爾蒙治療，幼兒也會因此不幸罹患「腦神經發展遲緩和智商不足」的疾病。
然而，該委員會斷定，現有證據並沒有顯示高氯酸鹽和先天性甲狀腺官能不足症、正常體重足月新生兒的甲狀腺功能變化，成人甲狀腺機能減退或其他甲狀腺疾病有因果關係。
Perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel, fireworks and safety flares that contaminates water supplies in 35 states, may come under federal regulation after a scientific review, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
Last October, the Bush-era EPA made a preliminary decision not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water, saying, "The agency has determined that a national primary drinking water regulation for perchlorate would not present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems."
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today announced that the agency will review that decision with special attention to the effects of perchlorates on the health of infants and young children.
EPA is now considering a broader range of alternatives for interpreting the available data on the level of health concern, the frequency of occurrence of perchlorate in drinking water, and the opportunity for health risk reduction through a national primary drinking water standard that sets a legal limit on perchlorate concentration.
Perchlorates are colorless salts that have no odor and dissolve easily in water. They have been found in many foods, such as milk and lettuce, and in some drinking water supplies.
Perchlorates enter the environment where rockets are made, tested, and taken apart. People are exposed to perchlorates before and after fireworks shows and when using road safety flares.
Exposure also occurs during use of certain cleaning products and pool chemicals. Factories that make or use perchlorates may also release them to soil and water.
The Agency for Toxic Substances says that rain will wash perchlorates out of soil and into ground water. "We do not know exactly how long perchlorates will last in water and soil, but the information available indicates that it is a very long time," the agency warns.
In January 2005, the National Research Council published a review of the state of the science regarding potential adverse health effects of perchlorate exposure.
In pregnant women, perchlorate exposure can result in low thyroid hormone levels, or hypothyroidism, that affect their unborn children, the NRC review concluded, warning that the children can suffer "neurodevelopmental delays and IQ deficits" despite hormone remediation.
Yet, the NRC committee concluded that the available evidence did not show a causal association between perchlorate and congenital hypothyroidism, changes in thyroid function in normal birthweight, full-term newborns, or hypothyroidism or other thyroid disorders in adults.
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