Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula.
Mike Stobbe of the Associated Press does a great job covering a new study that found a rocket fuel chemical in baby formula but fails to highlight the US EPA's decision not to regulate this highly questionable contaminant.
An Associated Press article does an excellent job highlighting an important health concern for young children. The article discusses research identifying the presence of perchlorate, a key chemical in rocket fuel, found in infant baby formula.
The article discusses perchlorate’s ability to potentially cause thyroid problems and describes succinctly why this is problematic. AP medical writer Mike Stobbe then states that “the government requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects.”
An important note not addressed is that adding iodine may reduce the problem, but it might not eliminate it. Perchlorate and iodine compete with each other in our body’s thyroid hormone system. If iodine wins, then there likely won’t be a problem. Unfortunately, animal studies show that the thyroid system site(s) where the two can both interact have a greater attraction for perchlorate than for iodine.
Mr. Stobb does a great job explaining the many factors -- such as the infant's size and how much formula is eaten -- involved in determining if perchlorate is likely to cause a thyroid problem. Enough iodine for one child might not be enough for another, depending on how well the child’s thyroid system functions and other factors.
Regarding regulation, Stobbes may mislead readers when he says that “earlier this year, the US Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of perchlorate that would be acceptable in drinking water.”
This suggests there was a previous limit when in fact the EPA has never set a limit of the chemical in drinking water. In 2008, the agency decided against setting a standard and is now re-evaluating that stance.
The original decision not to set a standard was a surprise to many given that perchlorate is a high-priority contaminant of concern on the EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List. This point not addressed in the article is all the more important given that this contaminant is now showing up in the least fortunate of places, baby formulas.
