UDAF Position on Perchlorate (February 2008)
The UDAF is following draft guidelines established by the EPA regarding the acceptable level of perchlorate in food and water in Utah. In February 2005 the EPA adopted a level of 24.5 ppb parts per billion) as an acceptable exposure level for perchlorate.
The FDA’s latest Total Diet Study of perchlorate intake, including infants and children under two-years old, confirms earlier studies that human intake of perchlorate is below the EPA’s level for public health concern.
Based on current reliable research, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) does not consider trace amounts of perchlorate in milk, water, or other foods to be a likely health risk to the general population, including expectant mothers, infants and the immune compromised. The UDAF concurs with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is advising consumers to NOT alter their diets based on current perchlorate data.
Perchlorate Analysis
Utah is among many states that does not have a perchlorate-in-milk testing program.
In December of 2004, because of a growing interest in the issue, the Division of Regulatory Services contracted with a private lab (Data Chem of Salt Lake City) to analyze six milk samples. The results showed the presence of perchlorate at very low (trace) levels (2.95 to 6.22 ppb. parts per billion).
U.S. FDA tested milk samples collected from several states (Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington) Their tests showed the following range of results: 3.16 ppb in Arizona to 11.30 ppb in Maryland. View the complete list.
Perchlorate Facts
The UDAF continues to monitor the work of the U.S. EPA and the U.S. FDA on the issue of perchlorate in our food supply. Until more is known about the health effects of perchlorate, the FDA and UDAF continue to recommend:
- Consumers eat a balanced diet. FDA, at this time, does not recommend that consumers alter their infants’ and children’s diets and eating habits to avoid exposure to perchlorate.
- It’s important to keep recent information on perchlorate in perspective. A far greater health concern is that many children and teens don’t get enough calcium and other essential nutrients such as vitamin D, and milk is often the only major source for these nutrients.
- Recent reports of trace levels of perchlorate in Utah milk are consistent with previous nation-wide tests.
- In February of 2005 the EPA announced the establishment of a reference dose for perchlorate of 24.5 ppb for drinking water. This number assumes that all of the contaminant comes from drinking water. It also contains a 10-fold margin of safety. The EPA also says exposure above the 24.5 ppb level is not necessarily considered unsafe.
- Current research by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the health effects of perchlorate reports the following:
- While water, milk and other beverages may contain trace level, an adult would have to drink from 200 to 2,000 glasses of milk per day to cause adverse health effects. ** (assuming no perchlorate from other sources)
- While water, milk and other beverages may contain trace level, an adult would have to drink from 200 to 2,000 glasses of milk per day to cause adverse health effects. ** (assuming no perchlorate from other sources)
- Perchlorate passes through the body quickly. We don’t store it, and it doesn’t build up in our bodies.
- There is no scientific evidence that perchlorate is linked to an increased risk of cancer.
UDAF Action
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food began testing groundwater for perchlorate in the spring of 2006. In 2007 we tested an estimated 450 irrigation and culinary drinking water sources. Results showed trace levels of perchlorate at 9 sites.
- Five sites in Washington County 7.04 ppb, 4.07 ppb, 6.05 ppb, 6.32 ppb, 3.70 ppb
- Two sites in Salt Lake County 3.97 ppb, 3.56 ppb
- One site in Juab County 12.14 ppb
- One site in Millard County 14.78 ppb
EPA limit = 24.5 ppb
What is Perchlorate?
- Perchlorate is a simple, salt-like substance made up of chlorine and oxygen. It is found in nature and can be man-made. Perchlorate is widely used by the military, NASA, and the commercial space industry and the paper industry. Some organic fertilizers have been shown to also contain perchlorate.
- Perchlorate when ingested at significant levels can inhibit the ability of the thyroid gland to take up iodine, which regulates the body’s metabolism and physical growth.
- It is recommended that Utah consumers consult established sources with university and/or peer review research regarding statements of “acceptable” levels of perchlorate.
* Source: State of California, Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, Steven Books, Chief of Monitoring Section (916) 449-5556
** Source: Michael Payne, DVM PhD, Program Director, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program, University of California, Davis, (530) 752-7507 Email: mpayne@ucdavis.edu