Scientists Find Rocket Fuel Chemical In Infant Formula

ATLANTA — Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula, and could exceed what's considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient, a government study has found.

The study by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked for the chemical, perchlorate, in different brands of powdered baby formula. It was published last month, but the Environmental Working Group issued a press release Thursday drawing attention to it.

The chemical has turned up in several cities' drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most perchlorate contamination has been tied to defense and aerospace sites.

No tests have ever shown the chemical caused health problems, but scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect thyroid function. The thyroid helps set the body's metabolism. Thyroid problems can impact fetal and infant brain development.

However, the extent of the risk is hard to assess. The government requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects. The size of the infant and how much formula they consume are other factors that can influence risk.

The study itself sheds little light on how dangerous the perchlorate in baby formula is. "This wasn't a study of health effects," said Dr. Joshua Schier, one of the authors.

The largest amounts of the chemical were in formulas derived from cow's milk, the study said.

The researchers would not disclose the brands of formula they studied. Only a few samples were studied, so it's hard to know if the perchlorate levels would be found in all containers of those brands, a CDC spokesman said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of perchlorate that would be acceptable in drinking water. A few states have already set their own limits.

The EPA has checked nearly 4,000 public water supplies serving 10,000 people or more. About 160 of the water systems had detectable levels of perchlorate, and 31 had levels high enough to exceed a new safety level the EPA is considering.

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CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/

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Comments

[super]

08:34 PM on 04/06/2009

Enter... the new generation of Turbo-charged kids!

[EShannon]

01:35 PM on 04/06/2009

Elaine Shannon, editor-in-chief of Environmental Working Group here. Great convesration.
Glad Huffington Post and its readers take environmental health issues seriously.
Go, Arianna!
For our take on this issue and some of your comments, visit our Enviroblog.org, just named one of Blogtrepreneur's "Top Must Read Blogs by Women."
And, yeah, I'm from North Georgia, so wrote about the kid, the dog, the backwoods and trout-fishing. Only thing missing: the truck. But stick around for my E15 column.
http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/04/sun-finally-so-saber-the.html

[rf dude]

12:37 AM on 04/06/2009

Now we know why the N.Korean

missile failed to reach orbit.

It really wasn't a duct-tape failure after all...
--

[PatriotOH]

08:19 PM on 04/05/2009

Haha.

[Buffyboy]

07:46 PM on 04/05/2009

There's a safe dosage of rocket fuel for babies? Was that one of Bush's signing statements?

[enquiringmind]

05:16 PM on 04/05/2009

There are bigger problems than this.. Fire retardant is in everything and everywhere..Oceans, rivers, lakes, humans, animals, babies..everywhere.

Research has shown that the levels of PBDEs in American women are doubling every two to five years. Even low-level exposure, particularly for developing infants, poses some risks to brain development, hormone functioning, memory, learning and behavior.

It’s nearly impossible to create a PBDE-free environment if the chemicals remain in broad use. However, European nations that have banned forms of PBDEs have seen the chemicals decline in the environment and in women’s breast milk. California, Hawaii, New York, Michigan and Maine all have restricted these chemicals.

[AngieMom57]

08:30 PM on 04/05/2009

Chlorine, arsenic, MTBE, chromium, fluoride, trace pharmaceuticals, bisphenol A, lead...

the list goes on...

[gemzenith]

08:45 AM on 04/05/2009

Doesn't it say that the formula was mixed with water also contaminated?The fact that its in the water supply as well means that its in whatever you mix or cook with water from your tap.Coffee,Kool-aid whatever.

[afgail]

07:22 AM on 04/05/2009

Estrogen mimics are ubiqitous and the consequences are profound. The onset of female puberty is now starting in the fifth grade. When I was gowing up the onset of female puberty was in seventh or eigth grade. At high schools across the country you can see the girls are wearing sexually overt clothing, skin tight and form fitting while the boys are all draped in massively baggy oversized clothes to camoflage their puny androgenous bodies. We are witnessing the speeding up the development women and slowing down the development of men in our socierty.

[twilight13]

07:22 AM on 04/05/2009

Another good reason for women to breastfeed their babies.

[Roseberry]

08:30 AM on 04/05/2009

Yes, if it's possible. Unfortunately, for some, it's just not possible.

[nine99]

07:47 PM on 04/05/2009

My sister proved to me that yes it is possible for all. My niece couldn't latch on because her mouth was so small so my sister pumped and pumped because she refused to give her formula. She kept trying on and off and still the baby wouldn't latch on. On the day she turned 2 months she latched on and now does not want the bottle. I breast fed all my kids and my mom did the same but my sister is my hero. I am so proud of her! What would we do if formula was not an option? We are the only species that drinks the milk of another species? Why is it ok to use cow milk but not the milk of another human being? There are women who sell breast milk and it is screened.

[aweissnet]

05:41 PM on 04/05/2009

Yes, but there are chemicals in breast milk also. Tons of 'em.

[pioneerlaw11]

01:33 AM on 04/05/2009

They are not releasing the names of the baby formula?? Hey CDC, thanks for protecting the corporations that make the formula instead of the American people.

[nettyspagetti]

03:40 PM on 04/05/2009

They are afraid China will call in their debt

[jsgaetano]

03:59 AM on 04/09/2009

The CDC was gutted by the conservatives, just like any other governmental organization which protects Americans (like the EPA, the SEC, the FBI, etc etc).

[PwnedByJesus]

12:33 AM on 04/05/2009

Maybe this is part of an Army experiment to see if humans can develop the ability to fly.

[aweissnet]

05:41 PM on 04/05/2009

THanks for the laugh!

[Dragline]

07:00 PM on 04/05/2009

Can you imagine trying to keep up with one of those kids all day?

[poiuyty]

12:21 AM on 04/05/2009

Obama promised change.

[nettyspagetti]

03:41 PM on 04/05/2009

You are repeating yourself, time to fast forward

[jsanti7]

11:03 PM on 04/04/2009

I hope we find out the extent of this kind of problem .but first strengthen all food production safety starting with infant foods then products designed to be sold for children. If it is found to be deliberate action that lets tainted food go to infants I would not be to upset if the Chinese solution to milk producers who killed and sickened thousand of infants be adopted

[Peter Baez]

06:44 PM on 04/04/2009

its not hard to figure it out at all... here... take a look at what the US government is doing to all of us... read over quarter page down, title " chemtrails are over las vegas" http://www.speak.ca/forum/view_topic.php?id=126&forum_id=6

[Peter Baez]

06:31 PM on 04/04/2009

whait a while and see... soon, scientits are going to "discover" the contamination comes from chinese containers or chinese something... typical US scenario...