Rocket Fuel in our Food

From BushGreenWatch (intro):

December 01, 2004 EPA Tests Find Rocket Fuel in Nation's Milk, Lettuce Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests released this week have confirmed the presence of perchlorate - an explosive additive in solid rocket fuel - in almost every sample of lettuce and milk taken in a nationwide investigation. Perchlorate, leaking from military bases and defense contrator's facilities, is known to cause regional water pollution, resulting in serious health effects. The FDA investigation found the toxic additive in 217 of 232 samples of lettuce and milk from 15 states, including areas not previously known for perchlorate contamination. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's perchlorate coordinator for the southwest and Pacific region, Kevin Mayer, the FDA results show that this regional pollution problem is now exposing people across the entire U.S. to the toxin. "This is surprising new evidence that rocket fuel is getting into the food supply in places we never would have suspected. It means that perchlorate exposure is not just a problem in areas where the drinking water is contaminated, but a concern for everyone, every time we visit the grocery store," Bill Walker, West coast vice president of Environmental Working Group (EWG) told BushGreenwatch.

If there was some way we could attach miniature dialysis machines to ourselves and filter out the stuff, we could finally have our personal jet packs with the convenience of always-available fuel. Better yet, terrorists could bulk up on a milk-and-salad diet and just throw their bodies at buildings rather than using commercial airlines, thus saving hundreds of people.