Occurrence of Perchlorate in Various Water Sources in South India

Abstract

Iodine is necessary for synthesis of thyroxine within the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency lead to hypothyroidism and goitre. Sometimes, even when sufficient iodine is present in food and water, goitre occurs. This could be due to some other competing ions in the ingested food and water. which prevent incorporation of iodine into the thyroid gland. Perchlorate is one such ion and has thirty times more affinity to thyroid, than iodine Perchlorate is discharged into the environment by fireworks and explosives industries.