Lower IQ in Children Linked to Chemical in Water

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lower-iq-in-children-linked-to-chemical-in-water/?WT.mc_id=SA_HLTH_20141007

Sep 30, 2014 |By Brian Bienkowski

Babies born to mothers with high levels of perchlorate during their first trimester are more likely to have lower IQs later in life, according to a new study.

The research is the first to link pregnant women's perchlorate levels to their babies’ brain development. It adds to evidence that the drinking water contaminant may disrupt thyroid hormones that are crucial for proper brain development.

Perchlorate, which is both naturally occurring and manmade, is used in rocket fuel, fireworks and fertilizers. It has been found in 4 percent of U.S. public water systems serving an estimated 5 to 17 million people, largely near military bases and defense contractors in the U.S. West, particularly around Las Vegas and in Southern California.

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