Perchlorate Research Chosen as Top Science Paper of 2005 by Environmental Science & Technology Journal
February 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Feb. 15, 2006
CONTACT: John Davis, john.w.davis@ttu.edu
PERCHLORATE RESEARCH CHOSEN AS TOP SCIENCE PAPER OF 2005 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
LUBBOCK – Environmental Science & Technology, one of the American Chemical Society’s premier peer-reviewed journals, has selected a manuscript by Texas Tech University researchers as the journal’s best science paper published in 2005.
The research, supported by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, focused on naturally occurring perchlorate in West Texas groundwater and how it could be formed. Researchers discovered perchlorate in a 60,000-square mile area during testing.
Since the region had no widespread industrial sources that produced or used the chemical, and there was no widespread use of perchlorate-containing fertilizers, the team determined that the chemical probably occurs naturally. They then demonstrated potential natural processes that could produce perchlorate in the environment, such as electrical discharges from lightning.
The paper, “The Origin of Naturally Occurring Perchlorate: The Role of Atmospheric Processes,” describes research conducted at Texas Tech University through the Water Resources Center. The report was written by Purnendu K. Dasgupta, P. Kalyani Martinelango, W. Andrew Jackson, Todd A. Anderson, Kang Tian, Richard W. Tock and Srinath Rajagopalan.
Perchlorate is an iodide uptake inhibitor that at sufficient concentrations can cause problems with thyroid function. It is a component of solid rocket fuel and a minor component of some other products including fireworks and Chilean-made fertilizers.
Environmental Science & Technology is one of the American Chemical Society’s peer-reviewed journals.
Team members are continuing their work by determining the impact of natural perchlorate across North America.
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CONTACT: Purnendu Dasgupta, Horn professor of chemistry, 742-3064, sandy.dasgupta@ttu.edu; Andrew Jackson, associate professor of civil engineering, 742-2801, ext. 230, andrew.jackson@ttu.edu.
Date: Feb. 15, 2006
CONTACT: John Davis, john.w.davis@ttu.edu
PERCHLORATE RESEARCH CHOSEN AS TOP SCIENCE PAPER OF 2005 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
LUBBOCK – Environmental Science & Technology, one of the American Chemical Society’s premier peer-reviewed journals, has selected a manuscript by Texas Tech University researchers as the journal’s best science paper published in 2005.
The research, supported by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, focused on naturally occurring perchlorate in West Texas groundwater and how it could be formed. Researchers discovered perchlorate in a 60,000-square mile area during testing.
Since the region had no widespread industrial sources that produced or used the chemical, and there was no widespread use of perchlorate-containing fertilizers, the team determined that the chemical probably occurs naturally. They then demonstrated potential natural processes that could produce perchlorate in the environment, such as electrical discharges from lightning.
The paper, “The Origin of Naturally Occurring Perchlorate: The Role of Atmospheric Processes,” describes research conducted at Texas Tech University through the Water Resources Center. The report was written by Purnendu K. Dasgupta, P. Kalyani Martinelango, W. Andrew Jackson, Todd A. Anderson, Kang Tian, Richard W. Tock and Srinath Rajagopalan.
Perchlorate is an iodide uptake inhibitor that at sufficient concentrations can cause problems with thyroid function. It is a component of solid rocket fuel and a minor component of some other products including fireworks and Chilean-made fertilizers.
Environmental Science & Technology is one of the American Chemical Society’s peer-reviewed journals.
Team members are continuing their work by determining the impact of natural perchlorate across North America.
-30-
CONTACT: Purnendu Dasgupta, Horn professor of chemistry, 742-3064, sandy.dasgupta@ttu.edu; Andrew Jackson, associate professor of civil engineering, 742-2801, ext. 230, andrew.jackson@ttu.edu.