How does perchlorate get in drinking water?
Perchlorate may occur naturally, particularly in arid regions such as the southwestern United States and is found as an impurity in hypochlorite solutions used for drinking water treatment and nitrate salts used to produce nitrate fertilizers, explosives, and other products.
Where is perchlorate found in drinking water?
Of 3,865 public water systems sampled, perchlorate was found in 160 systems in 26 states at a level greater than 4 µg/L (ppb). The highest density of perchlorate in drinking water was found in Southern California, West Central Texas, along the East Coast between New Jersey and Long Island, and in Massachusetts.
What is the origin of perchlorate ion in US drinking water?
Perchlorate has been found in drinking water and surface waters in the United States and Canada. It is primarily associated with release from defense and military operations. Natural sources include certain fertilizers and potash ores. It can be removed from water by anion exchange or membrane filtration.
Does perchlorate dissolve in water?
Perchlorate dissolves easily, is relatively stable and is mobile in water. While it has often been detected in water supplies in close proximity to sites where solid rocket fuel is manufactured or used, there are also locations in the United States lacking a clearly defined source.
What does perchlorate do to humans?
Human exposure to high dosages of perchlorate can interfere with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland, disrupting the functions of the thyroid and potentially leading to a reduction in the production of thyroid hormone.
How do you stop perchlorate?
You can’t really avoid perchlorate, but you can counter it by getting enough iodine. That means using iodized salt, eating iodine-rich foods (like milk, yogurt, and seafood), or taking a daily supplement with 150 micrograms of iodine (the amount in many multis).
Is perchlorate a carcinogen?
Perchlorate has not been classified for carcinogenic effects by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the EPA, or the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
How do you test for perchlorate in water?
Perchlorate testing has been generally carried out by using ion chromatography (IC). For water, the most commonly used method is EPA 314.0, which was promulgated for water testing. A similar method is EPA 9058 which was written for surface water, mixed domestic water, and industrial wastewaters.
How does perchlorate affect thyroid?
At high levels, perchlorate can inhibit the function of the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism in adults. Now, a large study published yesterday in Environmental Health Perspectives shows that much lower levels of perchlorate, traditionally considered safe, can be detrimental to thyroid function in women.
What is perchlorate discharge test?
A perchlorate discharge test is used to show how well the thyroid gland in your child’s neck takes up a substance called iodine. It is used to diagnose certain thyroid conditions. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, which organises the release of hormones within the body.
What is the work of thyroxine hormone?
Thyroxine is the main hormone secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. It plays vital roles in digestion, heart and muscle function, brain development and maintenance of bones.
What is sodium perchlorate used for?
Sodium Perchlorate is a white sand-like solid. It is used in explosives, jet fuels, as a medication, and to make other chemicals.
Why has sodium chlorate been banned?
Sodium chlorate is not approved for use in weedkillers because a safe level of use has not been established. It has been banned since 2010 following concerns that the chemical did not discriminate between plants and weeds.
Why are perchlorates explosive?
Drying agents and acetic anhydride cause the concentration of aqueous solutions to increase; the now more concentrated acid reacts, often explosively. Mixtures of perchlorates with many oxidizable substances are explosive.
Where is perchlorate used?
❖ Perchlorate is commonly used as an oxidizer in solid propellants, munitions, fireworks, airbag initiators for vehicles, matches and signal flares (EPA FFRRO 2005; ITRC 2005). It is also used in some electroplating operations and found in some disinfectants and herbicides (ATSDR 2008; ITRC 2005).
How are people exposed to perchlorate?
Exposure to perchlorate is widespread and essentially everyone is exposed (4). Human exposure can occur from eating contaminated foods, inhalation or ingestion in occupationally-exposed workers, or from drinking water contaminated with perchlorate from either natural or man-made origins.
What is the charge for perchlorate?
-1 charge