"Perchlorate is well known as a major component in rocket fuel, but the chemical also forms naturally. In sufficient amounts, perchlorate disrupts the thyroid by inhibiting the uptake of iodide, an essential component of thyroid hormones."
In the study, Guatemalan cantaloupe, Chilean apricots, Mexican tomatoes, Chilean green grapes, and raw Mexican asparagus had high levels of perchlorates. However, low levels have been found in rainwater and common foods produced in the U.S., such as milk and lettuce. Perchlorates have been found in prenatal vitamins and seaweed. "This is the first survey of foods from many parts of the world, says Purnendu “Sandy” Dasgupta at Texas Tech University."
Some states are setting water standards to reflect the fact that we are sometimes consuming large amounts of perchlorates in food as well.
"The EPA was ... criticized by its Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee for setting a cleanup standard that assumes people are only exposed to perchlorate through drinking water."
See also:
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2005/jan/science/rr_perchloratereport.html
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/jul/science/rr_perchlorate.html
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