Perchlorate Effects in the Water System

Heather MelendezHSCI 401 Advanced Environmental HealthDr. Mian10 May 2016

Perchlorate

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

Perchlorate Uses

Rocket Fuel

Munitions

Explosives

Fireworks

Perchlorate Health EffectsGoitrogen

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

Perchlorate Health Effects 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

Environmental Fate & Transport

Environmental Fate & Transport

Military and defense contractors

Linked to perchlorate water contamination

Expended munitions, unused rocket propellant consumption

Firework manufacturing Flare residue

Leach into groundwater

Drinking Water Regulations

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

Treatment & RemovalRegenerable and single-pass ion exchangeReverse osmosisFixed- and fluidized-bed biological treatmentsBioremediation by anaerobic microorganisms

Dechloromonas

Treatment & Removal

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)

ReferencesReferencesAgency 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

PhotosAluminum 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