Perchlorate, a hazardous chemical in rocket fuel, has been found at potentially dangerous levels in powdered infant formula, according to a study (pdf) by a group of Centers for Disease Control scientists. The study, published last month by The Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, has intensified the years-long debate about whether or how the federal government should regulate perchlorate in the nation's drinking water.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
It contaminates the water supplies of about 11 million people in 35 states. It is suspected of interfering with iodide cycling in a way that could suppress thyroid hormone, a hormone necessary for the proper development of the fetus. Its source is military bases and aerospace companies. The health…
By David Michaels
Many people first heard about hexavalent chromium, or chromium 6, from the movie Erin Brockovich, which is based on the true story of a lawsuit over chromium-contaminated groundwater in the town of Hinkley, California.
Less well-known is the campaign waged by companies that…
The journal Epidemiology has just published new evidence that drinking hexavalent chromium -- also called chromium 6 -- increases risk of stomach cancer. The study is important for public health purposes, since many drinking water sources are chromium contaminated (including the water in the…
Manufacturers who market their products as “BPA-free” aren’t just sending consumers a message about chemical composition. The underlying message is about safety — as in, this product is safe or least more safe than products that do contain BPA. However earlier this month, another study found that a…
Well that explains liberalism. Too much rocket fuel in the baby formula and too many lead paint chip dinners as a kid.
Now at least I know what was behind Iowa and Vermont. This will probably lead to even more of that gloabl warming people keep screaming about.
Surely freedom and capitalism will suffer terribly if defense contractors are not allowed to continue offloading health costs onto ordinary citizens. How we will ever defend ourselves from communism without their efforts?
Well, a hazardous industrial solvent and cleaner is also used to make baby formula. It's water. Let's make sure that the levels detected are actually a threat before we start freaking out.
catgirl: Maybe, but imageine you have a baby who drinks formula, and this will be the baby's only/main nutrition for the next several months. Now, you find out that Formula brand A, which you have been using has the jet fuel stuff and Formula brand B does not.
Are you going to not switch brands because the science is not in? No, you'd switch. The next logical step from that is insisting that the presence of jet fuel in baby formula be disclosed to the consumer. The next logical step after that is required testing for chemicals that should not be there. Now, imagine the scenaro of having a baby formula factory and you've got two batches of baby formula, A and B. A tests positive for jet fuel, but you don't know what jet fuel, and B does not seem to have any jet fuel. What are you going to do?
All tiny logical and reasonable steps.
BTW, even though water is a big-ass solvent, it is the solvent we evolved in. So we get along with it pretty well. There is a fine line between the naturalistic fallacy and reasoned guess, so yes, we need to be careful.
If you have a child and you know that a formula contains Perchlorate in addition Melamine which are both harmful chemicals. Would you knowing give them the formula ten plus times a day everyday for a year. I would hope that you would not want your child to be a test subject. What is amazing is that people are more concerned about the company than the child who can develop kidney, liver, brain and reproductive damages. The company is only interested in money not making a quality product and the goverment agencies are not punichng them. Instead they (the companies) are being protected and not the children. This is outrageous and it speaks volumes about our "civilization".