Common Water Contaminant Linked To Poor Thyroid Function In Women

[hatrack]

California's U.S. senators and an Inland environmental group are calling for action to protect public health in the wake of a federal study linking a common water contaminant with impaired thyroid function in women.

In addition, the California agency responsible for assessing health risks from pollution will analyze the study and could reconsider how much of the chemical, the rocket fuel perchlorate, is safe to consume in drinking water. Perchlorate, used in munitions, fireworks and flares as well as rockets, has tainted numerous Inland water supplies as a result of industrial spills and leaks. It also has been found in milk, lettuce and other foods nationwide.

Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, are demanding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issue a health advisory to warn people about perchlorate. The senators were not specific about how the public should be warned about the contamination. "The EPA should also establish a drinking-water standard that protects vulnerable pregnant women and children," the senators said in a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. Members of the Glen Avon-based Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice gathered Thursday outside Rialto City Hall to push for faster cleanup of perchlorate contamination that has forced the city to shut down drinking-water wells.

More than 2,000 people took part in the health study, published last week by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. It found that women with low iodide levels had reduced thyroid function when exposed to perchlorate at levels the EPA has deemed safe. Potentially, one-third of U.S. women have low iodide levels and could be affected by the chemical, CDC researchers found. Thyroid health is important because the gland makes hormones that control metabolism and guide neurological development in fetuses and infants.

EDIT

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_perch13.38d5a53.html

[aquart]

1. Thyroid is also linked to depression.

[we can do it]

8. I Will Attest to That - Does Anyone Know If It Is Reversible?

This could really benefit a lot of people if so.

[donsu]

2. kicking for justice

nt

[shireen]

3. can that stuff be removed with reverse osmosis? nt

[kestrel91316]

4. I think carbon filtration will get it?

[eppur_se_muova]

5. It should. Reverse osmosis is a way of removing all ions.

Obviously, distillation should work too.

[fed-up]

6. this needs just one more Rec -TIA n/t

[Sven77]

7. i have hypothyroidism

from my mom and grandfather, could be hereditary or caused by flourodated water supply.

http://fluoridealert.org

[rosesaylavee]

9. Coconut oil

for some reason has a positive effect on thyroid function. Will try to find link and post later.

THIS may be one the main reasons why so many in our country have weight issues... not to mention depression as someone else reported up-thread. (Not that there isn't plenty to drive us to depression these days!)

[Chemical Bill]

10. I'm hypothyroid.

This explains my craving for coconut sorbet.:woohoo:

Bill

[Sven77]

11. hmmm

coconuts, ill have to try it.