Conclusions
The frequency of detection of perchlorate impacts to soil, groundwater and surface water, unrelated to military activities, is likely to increase as water utilities analyze for this constituent as part of their UCMR monitoring programs. Based on emerging product and process information, perchlorate is present (intentionally or not) in many more products and processes than initially understood. Furthermore, evidence exists that perchlorate can be formed naturally in evaporate deposits and through atmospheric mechanisms.
The U.S. DOD, NASA and related defense contractors are likely to be the most significant domestic users of perchlorate in North America, and as such, a significant percentage of identified groundwater perchlorate impacts are attributable to DOD, NASA, and related defense contractor facilities. However, cases exist, and many more are likely to surface, where perchlorate impacts result from combinations of military, non-military, and/or natural inputs.
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Aziz, C., Borch, R., Nicholson, P., Cox, E. (2006). Alternative Causes of Wide-Spread, Low Concentration Perchlorate Impacts to Groundwater. In: Gu, B., Coates, J.D. (eds) Perchlorate. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-31113-0_4
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