Henderson: Site of the Largest Ammonium Perchlorate Plume in US History.
SOFT WATER BY MELISSA
Did you know that not one, but THREE industrial corporations in Henderson in the last century contributed to the largest US ammonium perchlorate contamination of a public water source: our very own Lake Mead?
Did you also know that it is not addressed by the EPA, which has decided NOT to include its removal in its annual budgets, leaving citizens to prioritize and pay for it by eliminating in their homes? You’re probably like me and want to know how it got there and what harm it causes, so I’m offering a little background info to help you get started on your own investigation into this toxic substance that is a human health risk.
The Las Vegas Valley was deemed the site of the largest ammonium perchlorate plume in US history — a result of the largest explosion in US history at the PEPCON plant formerly located in E. Henderson in 1988, as well as runoff from Kerr-McGee and AMPAC formerly also located in Henderson. We have this known endocrine system disruptor to contend with along with many other contaminants that rank Vegas CONSISTENTLY in the top 10 worst public water supplies, and often at #3. “On June 26, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule regarding the regulation of perchlorate in public drinking water systems, and on June 18, 2020, the EPA made a final determination to not issue a national regulation for perchlorate.” Local (NV) facilities attempt to remove some but not all of it from the water. One is The Nevada Environmental Response Trust (NERT), formed by the owner of the property where the Kerr McGee facility was located. The other is Endeavour, LLC, formed in 2015 to continue operation of the AMPAC Groundwater Treatment System.
Not only an endocrine system disruptor, ammonium perchlorate also has cognitive functioning effects (mental functioning) and impacts pre-natal and post-natal growth and development in children. If you have a family or are expecting one, this makes it something serious to consider when selecting water filtration systems for the homes, since we are exposed in showers and our drinking water. Showering in it is particularly harmful because once absorbed through our pores or inhaled in the steam, it enter our blood stream DIRECTLY, meaning that it bypasses the liver, which would help to filter it out of the body if you drank it.
The SNWA does not list this in our local water report, and when mentioned by a governmental agency, the unit of measurement is in PPM or PPB (parts per million or billion), which may seem very small, but it turns out that the smallest amounts can do some real harm. For example, a few toxins they do mention are arsenic and chromium (hexavalent, which many know as the “Erin Brockovitch chemical”). Did you know that currently, Henderson has an arsenic level that’s 361 TIMES the amount considered safe, and chromium at 3 times the safe level of exposure? We also have radioactive materials such as Radium 226 and 228 and Uranium in Henderson’s topwater supply. For more info, I’ve provided the link to the EWG database. Just enter your zip code for details.
It seems obvious to me that even a slim chance of harm should be enough to make our government want to ensure its removal, but it all comes down to dollars and “sense.” I’m a subscriber of the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Also, we now know in a post-Covid era, that not all humans experience effects in the same way, based on existing health issues and varying tolerances to substances.
In order to understand the effects of ammonium perchlorate and other chemicals in Lake Mead, the non-profit The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains a topwater database that is updated annually. This allows those without biochemistry degrees to see how high the levels of the 16 toxins exceeding health safety guidelines actually are in SIMPLE terms. Please visit their site (below) for more information, and see these stats for yourself. They also have a lot of great information on PCBs, PFAs, herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers in our water and foods, as well as other dangerous chemicals in commercial beauty products, baby products, etc. If you know about the Johnson & Johnson sunscreen issue, you can thank EWG for it. I find this non-profit whistleblower In Washington DC to be very helpful in deciding what I should not expose myself to on the daily.
Final note: Keep in mind that humans can experience a CUMULATIVE effect from a wide range of toxin exposure: in our air, our water, our foods, cleaning supplies, makeup, lotions, — even our clothing and shoes! As I tell every client during my consultations: knowledge is power! It ensures a healthy future for us all, and it’s my goal to keep all of us out of the Dr’s office as much as I can.
www.EWG.org/tapwater.
Other sources for this article:
https://ndep.nv.gov/environmental-cleanup/black-mountain-industrial-bmi-complex/perchlorate