Perchlorate is an inorganic salt that is highly soluble in water and stable for years, making it migrate to groundwater. It is used as an oxidizing agent in rocket fuel, munitions, explosives, and fireworks. Perchlorate can disrupt thyroid hormone production by interfering with iodine uptake in the thyroid gland, potentially causing hypothyroidism. Sources of perchlorate contamination include military and defense contractors from expended munitions and unused rocket propellant. Various treatment methods can be used to remove perchlorate from water sources, including ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and bioremediation using certain microorganisms. Regulatory agencies have established screening levels and public health goals for perchlorate in

1. Heather Melendez
HSCI 401 Advanced Environmental Health
Dr. Mian
10 May 2016

2. Chemical compound (ClO4
-) Inorganic Salt
Anion consisting of Chlorine and Oxygen
Highly soluble and dissociates in water
Migrates to groundwater & stable in water
for years
Strong Oxidizing Agent

3. Rocket Fuel
Munitions
Explosives
Fireworks

4. Goitrogen
disrupts the
production of thyroid
hormones by
interfering with iodine
uptake in the thyroid
gland
Most Susceptible
People with preexisting
thyroid deficiencies or
iodide deficiencies,
pregnant women,
fetuses, infants

5. Thyroid requires iodide
to synthesize (T4) and
(T3) - hormones
Regulation of cell
respiration
growth & maturation of
body tissues
Perchlorate-induced
iodide deficiency
hypothyroidism (↓ thyroid
hormone production)
goiter and developmental
defects in fetuses

7. Military and defense
contractors
Linked to perchlorate water
contamination
Expended munitions,
unused rocket propellant
consumption
Firework manufacturing
Flare residue
Leach into groundwater

8. 2013 – EPA screening level standards begin at a
level of 11 µg/L for perchlorate and perchlorate
salts
2015 – CA-EPA revised the Public Health Goal
from 6 µg/L to 1µg/L

9. Regenerable and single-pass ion exchange
Reverse osmosis
Fixed- and fluidized-bed biological treatments
Bioremediation by anaerobic microorganisms
Dechloromonas

10. Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA);
Title I: Hazardous Substances Release, Liability
and Compensation;
Title III: Emergency planning and Community
Right to Know (EPCRA)

11. References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2016). Toxicological profile for perchlorates. Retrieved from
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp162-c4.pdf
Batista, J.R., McGarbey, F.X., Vieria, A.R. (2000). The removal of perchlorate from waters using ion-exchange resins. Perchlorate in the Environment
13, Urbanski, Ted; Kluwer Academic/Plennum Press: New York, NY.
Chiang, K., Megonnell, M. (2005). Ion exchange technologies for perchlorate removal are evolving. Water World, 21
Coates, J.D, Michaeliduo, U., Bruce, R.A., O’Connor, S.M., Crespi, J.N., Achenbach, L.A. (1999). Ubiquity and diversity of dissimilatory (per)chlorate-
reducing bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65(12), 5234.
Mihelcic, J.R. (1999). Fundamentals of environmental engineering. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, NY. 119-120
Morgan, M. & Barnett, D. (2003). Environmental health. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Srinivasan, A. & Viraraghavan, T. (2009). Perchlorate: health effects and technologies for its removal from water resources. International Journal Of
Environmental Research And Public Health, 6(4), 1418-1442.
United States Publishing Office. (2010). Senate Report 111-328 - inland empire perchlorate ground water plume assessment act. Retrieved from
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-111srpt328/html/CRPT-111srpt328.htm
Photos
Aluminum Powder & Potassium Perchlorate Explosion!. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb-BTEvSW50
Flares. (2016). Datab.us. Retrieved 10 May 2016, from http://datab.us/i/Flares
4 Common Uses of Potassium Perchlorate. Buzzle. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/4common-uses-of-potassium-perchlorate.html
Mertens, R. (2016). CAFNR News Sticking To It. Cafnrnews.com. Retrieved from http://cafnrnews.com/2012/09/sticking-to-it/
Our Stolen Future: Perchlorate acts as an endocrine disruptor. (2016). Ourstolenfuture.org. Retrieved 8 May 2016, from
http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/commentary/News/2002/2002-1216-WSJ-perchlorate-b.htm