Water contamination: perchlorateWhen it comes to water contamination, perchlorate is a pretty recent player. That is because it is an additive to a recent invention, jets & rockets. Following is a timeline of research findings on perchlorate. Immediately following are links to our pages on perchlorate & pollution.
Click for our umbrella page on sources of water pollution The 1940’s saw mass production of perchlorate largely due to the expansion of the military. In 1952, perchlorate is found to disrupt normal thyroid function. It does this by interfering with iodine absorbtion by the thyroid gland. A 1957 study suggests perchlorate can pass through the placenta causing harm to fetal animals, damage that is more profound than the harm to adults. In 1957, an article described how many California municipalities were dealing with contamination of ground water because of disposal of rocket fuel waste. The 1950’s through 1960’s saw studies on perchlorate’s damaging effects on the thyroid gland’s hormone production. Also in the 1960’s, reports of damaging effects of perchlorate treatment for Grave’s disease accelerate. 1962 was marked by the Department of Defense attempt to assure that rules and regulations on perchlorate unnecessary and excessive restrictions to industrial operations. In 1964, California’s Department of Water Resources finds groundwater in Sacramento and 34 wells to be contaminated with perchlorate. A 1966 study showed that 11 of 76 patients with severe Graves' disease that were treated with per chlorate, suffered moderate to fatal hematological side effects. Later that decade, doctors start using safer, effective treatments for hyperthyroidism. From 1979 - 1985, perchlorate is detected at Superfund sites in California. A study in 1995, concludes lab animals developed thyroid disorders after 14 days of drinking water laced with perchlorate. In 1997 California authorites uncover perchlorate contamination in the Colorado River. Contamination is traced hundreds of miles upstream to a Department of Defense contractor manufacturing perchlorate. In 1999, the EPA designates perchlorate within Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Monitoring to start in January of 2001. In 2000, state health officials in Arizona find a significant increase in thyroid hormone levels in infants whose mothers drank per chlorate-contaminated water from the Colorado River while pregnant. In 2000 watchdogs reveal that defense contractor Lockheed Martin and the Air Force are paying "volunteers" $1,000 to swallow doses of perchlorate in an attempt to demonstate that perchlorate is not harmful. In 2003 more research finds that 20 million Americans drink water contaminated with per chlorate. Specifically, perchlorate has been detected in water or soil in 43 states. Studies in 2004 find perchlorate in 31 of 32 samples of milk from California supermarkets. In 2005, Texas Tech University researchers test 36 breast milk samples from 18 states for perchlorate. They find contamination in every sample. Also in 2005 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report perchlorate contamination of drinking water supplies in 28 states, with varying concentrations. In 2006, Massachusetts becomes the first state in the U.S. to set drinking water standard for perchlorate based on animal and human studies. In 2006, two studies by the CDC disclose: * Perchlorate is found in the urine of every one of 2,820 U.S. residents (ages 6 and older) in a representative sample. * Children ages 6 to 11 are exposed to about 1.6 times more perchlorate than adults. In 2007, two studies confirm widespread contamination of breast milk with perchlorate. In 2008 the FDA report that three-quarters of roughly 300 commonly-consumed foods and beverages are contaminated with perchlorate. If you liked our page on perchlorate & water contamination & want to get our helpful info every month, subscribe to our free monthly newsletter: HEALTHY WORLD DIGEST You'll receive anywhere from 5 - 10 healthy “nuggets” of information to get you feeling & looking your best. Just fill in our brief eZine subscription form & start to take charge of your life easily, today, right now. We promise. Click 2 go from water contamination & perchlorate 2 Home |
