perchlorate
Perchlorate is an oxidizing anion that originates as a contaminant in ground and surface waters from the dissolution of ammonium, potassium, magnesium, or sodium salts. [1]
Scientists warn that the chemical, known as perchlorate, could cause thyroid deficiency in more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age. [2]
EPA has established an official reference dose (RfD) of 0.0007 mg/kg/day of perchlorate. [3]
RAS proto-oncogene activation from NDMA in the absence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (perchlorate’s apparent effect) promotes thyroid cancer. [4]
Nationwide produce tests have found higher concentrations than 20ppb in some lettuce grown in the West, and CA’s current drinking water standard is around 18ppb. [1]
A new analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicates that a toxic chemical in rocket fuel has severely contaminated the nation’s food and water supply (read the Environmental Working Group study here). [2]
Because iodide is an essential component of thyroid hormones, perchlorate disrupts how the thyroid functions. [3]
Perchlorate greatly impacts human health by interfering with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. [...] As most perchlorates are readily soluble in water, an accumulation of perchlorates in the environment only occurs in arid areas with little or no rainfall. [5]
Larry is a medical geographer concerned about potential health effects of environmental perchlorate. [4]
Senator Feinstein (CA) has proposed legislation that would spend $200 million to identify and clean up perchlorate sources and provide grants for technologies to clean up existing contamination, while holding perchlorate polluters responsible for cleanup efforts. [2]
These salts are highly soluble in water, and because perchlorate adheres poorly to mineral surfaces and organic material, it can be very mobile in surface and subsurface aqueous systems. [3]
Background: The Environmental Working Groups new report is an anlaysis of data originally released in 2005, when the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its long anticipated report on the human health effects of perchlorates, a byproduct of rocket fuel. [2]
Production of ammonium perchlorate first began in the United States in the mid-1940s, primarily for use by the U.S. military. [3]
Chemical fertilizer had been reported to be a potential source of perchlorate contamination, but new investigations by the EPA have determined that this is not an issue for agricultural applications. [1]
Sources:
[1] Organic Consumers Association’s Perchlorate Pollution News Center
[2] Perchlorate - Senator Feinstein - Rocket Fuel Pollution - NAS - EPA
[3] Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse | US EPA
[4] Perchlorate Contamination Information - Larry Ladd
[5] Perchlorate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia