Perchlorate, a naturally occurring and synthesized chemical, is generating intense publicity, scientific debate, regulatory scrutiny and litigation across the United States. The substance has been widely used for over 60 years in the production of rocket fuel, flares, fireworks, electronics and munitions, but did not emerge as a significant environmental issue until the mid-1990s, when improved analytical testing methods permitted its detection in groundwater at 4 parts per billion. As of 2005, perchlorate has been detected in 49 of the 50 states and is the focus of mounting regulatory enforcement actions and widespread civil litigation. Perchlorate: A Scientific, Legal, and Economic Assessment is designed to educate and inform business, environmental, legal and academic audiences about the history and development of the perchlorate controversy and provide practical advice and guidance to those involved in perchlorate litigation, remediation and regulation. Written by environmental and toxic tort attorneys, scientists, engineers and medical specialists, the book addresses legal, scientific, economic and health aspects of perchlorate. Starting with a discussion of perchlorate sources and paths of release into the environment, the authors cover potential health effects in humans and animals, current and historical trends in environmental regulation, methods of determining contamination levels and current remediation technologies. The book also identifies and discusses existing and anticipated liability theories and damage claims asserted in perchlorate litigation. The authors explain the theories of environmental liability, identify the tort claims most commonly asserted in environmental litigation, and provide an overview of environmental class actions.
