CDC: Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula

[nonconformist]

By MIKE STOBBE – 59 minutes ago

ATLANTA (AP) — 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.

more http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iv7iKxtfzjqINoGSGDUuSwLow4TQD97AU3CG0

[Ian David]

1. It helps them crawl faster. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

2. "No tests have ever shown the chemical caused health problems..." Hm.

A contaminant in search of a disease.

[Fumesucker]

3. I think it should be deliberately added to all foodstuffs..

After all, it's never been proven to be harmful, what problem could anyone have with that?

[Buzz Clik]

7. Go right ahead. It will show everyone how sincere you are.

[Fumesucker]

11. You were the one claiming it was not harmful..

I was just following your lead.

[Johonny]

9. on humans

many tests have shown that it targets the thyroid and interferes with Iodine. It does pretty bad stuff to the development on fish where the most studies have been done. Most human studies have been on adult males. However there are real concerns based on animal studies as to the effect on children. Many states based on the current data have lowered the accepted limits of perchlorate in their drinking water from the numbers based on the adult studies to lower limits based on the real possibility of Perchlorate to interfere with the Thyroid of children.

[nonconformist]

10. Scary stuff.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. In other words, "The Case for Breastfeeding"

:P

[rucky]

6. Unless the breastfeeding mother is drinking baby formula

it passes through the sacs, ya know.

[underpants]

5. Lettuce and backyards of suburbia

No links but there was a report a couple of years ago about the high levels of rocket fuel in lettuce and in a rather nice *NEW* development outside of Richmond the homeowners suddenly found out that there was a major jet fuel pipeline (running from Louisiana refineries towards DC if I remember correctly) running a few feet under their backyards.

[Maine-ah]

8. You son of a bitch, you moved the cemetery but you left the bodies, didn't you? ...

:hide:

[ColbertWatcher]

12. Powedered formula? I wonder if Nestle is aware of this? n/t

[Holly_Hobby]

13. From 2005:

Rocket Fuel Chemical Found in Breast Milk of Women in 18 States

By Robert Roy Britt, LiveScience Senior Writer

A toxic component of rocket fuel has been found in breast milk of women in 18 states and store-bought milk from various locations around the country.

The chemical, perchlorate, can impede adult metabolism and cause retardation in fetuses, among other things. It leaches into groundwater from various military facilities. Previous studies have found perchlorate in drinking water, on lettuce, and in cows milk.

The new research, announced this week, suggests perchlorate is a bigger problem than thought, scientists said. Texas Tech University researchers studied 36 samples of breast milk from women in 18 states and 47 samples cow's milk purchased from stores in 11 states. Every sample of breast milk contained perchlorate, as did all but one sample of dairy milk.

The highest levels were found in women from New Jersey, New Mexico, Missouri, Nebraska and California, in that order.

...



http://www.livescience.com/health/050224_rocket_fuel.html

[Posteritatis]

14. I'm sure it contains oxygen, which is also a component of rocket fuel, too (nt)