Every year, when the supermarkets fall over themselves to sell fireworks rather than food, I am reminded of the connection between a significant ingredient of fireworks and the thyroid. This year, whilst a bit late - Guy Fawkes and Diwali have been and gone - I am at least getting round to posting.
Perchlorate is also used as a propellant in rockets, in some food packaging (!), and other products.
The article below is just one of many which highlight the impact of perchlorate on the thyroid.
Fireworks, perchlorate and fetal brain development linked
Fireworks are a key part of a wide number of public celebrations around the world, including Australia Day (January 26), the Festival of Sant Joan in Genoa, Italy (June 24), US Independence Day (July 4), Bastille Day (July 14), National Day in Signapore (August 9), Diwali in India (October), Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom (November 5) and New Year’s Eve in Jakarta, Indonesia (December 31). But while they are a visual delight, fireworks are anything but innocuous. Research has shown that they can cause significant air pollution and the residues they leave behind – including strontium, barium, cobalt and lead – can be highly dangerous.
A less-known fact is that fireworks contain significant amounts of perchlorate, a chemical of particular concern because of its potential effects on foetal brain development. A 2014 study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism examined data from more than 21,000 pregnant women in the United Kingdom and Italy. All of tested positive for perchlorate, and many also had low iodine levels. Children born to women with the highest levels of perchlorate and the lowest levels of iodine were found to be at greater risk of significant IQ loss. So what’s the connection between perchlorate, iodine and IQ?
Rest of article here:
sciencecodex.com/fireworks-...
This is a link to an EU document regarding setting of "safe" levels: