What are the health effects from perchlorate?
Studies indicate that perchlorate disrupts iodine uptake in the thyroid gland which regulates hormone function. The thyroid gland helps regulate metabolism and in children it plays a major role in growth and development. Pregnant women and children are most vulnerable to the effects of perchlorate. Even though a form of perchlorate has been used to treat Grave’s Disease, a disorder also known as hyperthyroidism which causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones, its use in medicine has been declining over the past few decades due to potentially negative or irreversible side effects such as aplastic anemia and bleeding disorders. In 2003, perchlorate was found in the outer leaves of leafy vegetables grown in the Yuma area (e.g., lettuce). A study in Texas also revealed concentrations of perchlorate in milk, suggesting that perchlorate may be taken up in feed given to dairy animals. Studies are ongoing to determine the variation in uptake by various crops and what levels of consumption a
