Perchlorate is a chemical used in solid fuel for missiles and rockets. Small amounts of perchlorate are used in car air bags, electronics, fireworks and fertilizer. Since the 1950s, over 870 million pounds of perchlorate have been manufactured in the United States. As a result of its manufacture, use and disposal, perchlorate is being discovered in soil, groundwater, drinking water, and irrigation water around the country. Perchlorate also occurs naturally in the environment, and has been found in the Texas and in the Southwestern United States. Perchlorate is the main ingredient in missile and rocket fuel and has been found in ground and surface water throughout the country since the 1950's.

Learn more about the sources of perchlorate, the health effects, and how perchlorate is, or isn't, regulated in our drinking water.

Perchlorate Factsheet (pdf, 76 kb)

You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader properly installed to view PDF documents. You can get it free from Adobe.