January 23, 2008

GOVERNMENT & POLICY

Perchlorate In Food Raises Alarm

Exposure study finds perchlorate in many foods, prompting calls for EPA to set drinking water limit

Cheryl Hogue

In the wake of a study showing widespread perchlorate contamination in food, members of Congress and environmental activists are calling for EPA to set a national drinking water limit for the chemical.

Perchlorate, used as an oxidizer in rocket fuel, interferes with uptake of iodine by the thyroid and can reduce the production of thyroid hormone. Adequate thyroid hormone is necessary for brain development and normal growth in fetuses, infants, and children.

A new FDA study finds that many foods and beverages contain small amounts of perchlorate. These results indicate that the average two-year-old child consumes half of EPA’s safe daily dose of perchlorate through food.

Many children are exposed to additional perchlorate in their drinking water.

The Environmental Working Group says that given the amount of the chemical in foods, the average two-year-old who drinks water containing 4 parts per billion perchlorate or more will exceed EPA’s recommended safe daily dose of 0.7 µg per kg of body weight per day.

Reps. Albert Wynn (D-Md.) and Hilda L. Solis (D-Calif.), the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Hazardous Materials, say the FDA study demonstrates the need for a national standard to limit the amount of perchlorate in drinking water.

Chemical & Engineering News

ISSN 0009-2347

Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society