Posted on 10/09/2006 11:40:21 AM PDT by neverdem
Scientists have linked exposure to small levels of a chemical found in public drinking water supplies in 26 states to suppressed thyroid function in more than a third of women and girls 12 and older.
The exposure to perchlorate, a study showed, was most acute in women with low levels of iodine in their systems, said Dr. James L. Pirkle, director of sciences in the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's Environmental Health laboratory and the study's author.
"It's already been known that high levels of exposure to perchlorate [reduce] thyroid function, but this large study of more than 1,100 women marks the first time this effect has been shown from exposure to perchlorate at lower levels found in the general population ... the effect is not trivial," Dr. Pirkle said.
Levels of perchlorate commonly found in the population range from 0.2 micrograms per liter up to 100 micrograms per liter.
Perchlorate, both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical primarily used in making rocket fuel, may not be a household world across the nation, but it is well-known in California, where it seeped into the ground from operations of defense contractors and military bases. The chemical contaminated more than 450 wells and other water sources in Los Angeles, Sacramento and four other counties.
Perchlorate also is found in milk, cheese and lettuce, as well as in human breast milk and baby formula.
A report last year by the National Academy of Sciences found that perchlorate has been detected in the public drinking water supplies of more than 11 million Americans in 26 states.
In the new research, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, investigators explained that perchlorate blocks the thyroid gland's uptake of iodine, slowing metabolism and causing medical...
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
I specifically clicked on the link to get more info and nope--not there.
Women and minorities hit hardest.
Thanks for the link.
Ping
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The perchlorate plumes (underground contamination) from industrial sites seem to move much faster than was thought a couple of decades ago. Of course, naturally occuring contaminants are not easy to get rid of.
Thanks for posting this.
Marker.
jm
btt
Well, this fat woman's gonna' try!
:-p
Better check the state list first!
I'll move.
:-)
...but first, I have to go to work.
Drinking water in 50 states contains dihydrogen monoxide, which is responsible for thousands of deaths each year.
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