Perchlorate found in baby formula

Atlanta, April 4: A latest study done by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed the presence of rocket fuel chemical perchlorate in some brands of powdered baby formula.

If mixed with water that is also tainted with perchlorate, the baby formula can prove to be hazardous for adults too.

The researchers have not revealed the names of the brands they analyzed. A CDC spokesman said that since only a few samples were examined, it is difficult to say that perchlorate is present in all containers of those brands.

But the researchers did say that the highest amount of perchlorate was present in formulas obtained from cow’s milk.

The study findings were published last month but did not get the required attention. However, the Environmental Working Group issued a press release this Thursday in order to make people stand up and notice.

Perchlorate has already been found in the water supply systems of many cities. Although the chemical can occur naturally, perchlorate contamination is mostly linked to defense and aerospace sites.

Till now, no test has revealed the ill-effects of perchlorate on health. However, scientists have said that excessive amounts of this chemical can disrupt the functioning of thyroid. Thyroid problems can further effect foetal and infant brain development.

Even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware of the issue of perchlorate in food and water, it has not yet issued any guidelines for people asking them to change their eating habits because of the chemical.

The present study also does not talk about how unsafe perchlorate in baby formula is. Dr. Joshua Schier, one of the authors of the study, said, “This wasn’t a study of health effects.”

Also, the health authorities have not labeled infant formula as dangerous. Haley Curtis Stevens of the International Formula Council, which represent formula manufacturers, was quoted as saying, “This study provides no data on potential health effects of perchlorate. Health authorities continue to emphasize that infant formula is safe.”

The extent to which perchlorate can prove to be hazardous is still not clear. As per the government, the formula must contain iodine as it negates the effects of perchlorate. The amount of baby formula being consumed and size of the infant are other major factors that determine the magnitude of threat posed by perchlorate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had earlier said that it was thinking of fixing the limits on the amount of perchlorate that can be permissible in drinking water. It is noteworthy that some of the states have already laid down their own limits.

In a statement issued by the agency this Friday, it has been made clear that perchlorate exposure is one of the topmost issues for EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The EPA will soon announce the steps to be taken in this regard.