By Janet Raloff
Federal scientists and university engineers have taken different approaches to quashing the potentially carcinogenic pollutant perchlorate. The chemical is in jet fuels, explosives, and some fertilizers (SN: 10/16/99, p. 245: https://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/10_16_99/fob3.htm).
Government researchers say they’ve treed the pollutant. In contrast, the engineers have cleaned tainted water by running it through a community of perchlorate-chomping microbes. The treatments exemplify the range of approaches being explored to cope with this pollutant, which disrupts thyroid hormones.
Last fall, the federal government ruled that by 2001, community water suppliers must begin monitoring perchlorate. Utilities are now investigating how they might deal with this toxic mineral salt if it shows up in drinking-water sources.