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What does perchlorate do to humans?

Author

Emily Cortez

Published Feb 27, 2026

What does perchlorate do to humans?

Perchlorate primarily affects the thyroid gland. There is concern that people exposed to high levels of perchlorate for a long time may develop a low level of thyroid activity; the name of this medical condition is hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood may lead to adverse effects on: Skin.

Similarly one may ask, is perchlorate a carcinogen?

Besides its potential to cause endocrine system and reproductive problems, perchlorate is considered a “likely human carcinogen” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Also Know, where does perchlorate come from? Perchlorate occurs naturally in arid states in the Southwest United States, in nitrate fertilizer deposits in Chile, and in potash ore in the United States and Canada. It also forms naturally in the atmosphere.

Moreover, what is clo4 − classified as?

Perchlorate. Perchlorate (CLO4−) is a non-volatile anion composed of one chlorine atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms and has a molecular weight of 99.45.

How do you get rid of perchlorate?

Perchlorate can be removed from drinking water or groundwater by physical-chemical processes such as ion exchange or reverse osmosis, but these processes produce waste brine that can be challenging to manage. Biological processes break down the perchlorate into harmless chloride ions (Cl-) and oxygen gas (O2).

Is perchlorate bad for humans?

Perchlorate primarily affects the thyroid gland. There is concern that people exposed to high levels of perchlorate for a long time may develop a low level of thyroid activity; the name of this medical condition is hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood may lead to adverse effects on: Skin.

Is perchlorate a strong acid?

Perchloric acid is a mineral acid with the formula HClO4. Usually found as an aqueous solution, this colorless compound is a stronger acid than sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Perchloric acid is useful for preparing perchlorate salts, especially ammonium perchlorate, an important rocket fuel component.

How do you remove perchlorate from water?

Perchlorate can be removed from drinking water or groundwater by physical-chemical processes such as ion exchange or reverse osmosis, but these processes produce waste brine that can be challenging to manage. Biological processes break down the perchlorate into harmless chloride ions (Cl-) and oxygen gas (O2).

What is perchlorate in drinking water?

Perchlorate may occur naturally, particularly in arid regions such as the southwestern United States and is found as an impurity in hypochlorite solutions used for drinking water treatment and nitrate salts used to produce nitrate fertilizers, explosives, and other products.

Which chemical used in rocket fuel affects the thyroid gland?

A common ingredient in rocket fuel, perchlorate has contaminated groundwater across the United States. It's been found in milk, fruit, and vegetables, as well. At high levels, perchlorate can inhibit the function of the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism in adults.

Why are perchlorate salts unusually hazardous?

Perchlorate salts are a class of potentially explosive chemicals that contain the perchlorate anion (ClO4-). These chemicals can release a destructive amount of pressure, gas, or heat when subjected to certain conditions such as high temperatures or sources of ignition. These compounds also tend to be strong oxidizers.

What is perchlorate used for?

Perchlorate is used in munitions, fireworks, explosives, airbag initiators for vehicles, matches, signal flares, fertilizers, chlorine cleaners, and pool chlorination chemicals.

Are perchlorates soluble?

Most perchlorates are colorless solids that are soluble in water. Perchlorate is the anion resulting from the dissociation of perchloric acid and its salts upon their dissolution in water. Many perchlorate salts are soluble in non-aqueous solutions.

What is the name for so32?

Sulfiite (SO32-) Sulfite (8CI,9CI)

What is the formula of perchlorate?

Perchlorate
PubChem CID:123351
Chemical Safety:Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary (LCSS) Datasheet
Molecular Formula:ClO4-
Synonyms:Perchlorate PERCHLORATE ION 14797-73-0 UNII-VLA4NZX2P4 VLA4NZX2P4 More
Molecular Weight:99.45 g/mol

Is nh4clo4 soluble in water?

Ammonium perchlorate ("AP") is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is a colorless or white solid that is soluble in water. It is a powerful oxidizer.

How does perchlorate get into groundwater?

❖ Highly soluble in water; migrates quickly from soil to groundwater. ❖ Primary pathways for human exposure include ingestion of contaminated food and drinking water.

What is the charge of clo4?

Description: Perchlorate is a monovalent inorganic anion obtained by deprotonation of perchloric acid. It is a monovalent inorganic anion and a chlorine oxoanion.

3.1Computed Properties.

Property NameProperty ValueReference
Formal Charge-1Computed by PubChem

What is clo3 in chemistry?

The chlorate anion has the formula ClO 3. . In this case, the chlorine atom is in the +5 oxidation state. "Chlorate" can also refer to chemical compounds containing this anion; chlorates are the salts of chloric acid.

Is perchlorate a base?

Perchlorate is a monovalent inorganic anion obtained by deprotonation of perchloric acid. It is a monovalent inorganic anion and a chlorine oxoanion. It is a conjugate base of a perchloric acid. Perchlorate, n.o.s. appears as crystalline or powdered solids.

Is sodium perchlorate soluble in water?

Sodium perchlorate is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaClO4. It is a white crystalline, hygroscopic solid that is highly soluble in water and in alcohol. It is usually encountered as the monohydrate. The compound is noteworthy as the most water-soluble of the common perchlorate salts.

Is lithium perchlorate soluble in water?

Lithium perchlorate
Names
Melting point236 °C (457 °F; 509 K)
Boiling point430 °C (806 °F; 703 K) decomposes from 400 °C
Solubility in water42.7 g/100 mL (0 °C) 49 g/100 mL (10 °C) 59.8 g/100 mL (25 °C) 71.8 g/100 mL (40 °C) 119.5 g/100 mL (80 °C) 300 g/100 g (120 °C)
Solubilitysoluble in alcohol, ethyl acetate

Where are perchlorates found?

Where is perchlorate found? Perchlorate occurs naturally in arid states in the Southwest United States, in nitrate fertilizer deposits in Chile, and in potash ore in the United States and Canada. It also forms naturally in the atmosphere.

Is potassium chlorate dangerous?

HAZARD SUMMARY
* Potassium Chlorate can affect you when breathed in. * Contact can cause eye and skin irritation and burns. * Breathing Potassium Chlorate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing sneezing, coughing and sore throat.

How do you remove perchlorate soil from Mars?

Farmers on Mars will need to remove any perchlorate from the Martian soil before using it. One way is to rinse the soil, since perchlorate dissolves in water. Another, more enticing way is to use perchlorate-eating bacteria, which produce oxygen as a metabolic byproduct.

How does perchlorate affect thyroid?

At high levels, perchlorate can inhibit the function of the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism in adults. Perchlorate interferes with the thyroid gland's uptake of iodine, which it uses to make the hormone thyroxine that regulates metabolism.

Is clo4 a gas?

Perchlorate is a monovalent inorganic anion obtained by deprotonation of perchloric acid. It is a monovalent inorganic anion and a chlorine oxoanion. It is a conjugate base of a perchloric acid. Perchlorate, n.o.s. appears as crystalline or powdered solids.

4.3.1Related Substances.

All63 Records
Mixture23 Records

Is perchlorate toxic?

Perchlorate is of concern because of uncertainties about toxicity and health effects at low levels in drinking water, impact on ecosystems, and indirect exposure pathways for humans due to accumulation in vegetables. Perchlorate is a byproduct of the production of a rocket fuel and fireworks.

What foods contain perchlorate?

The 2008 – 2012 dataset contained higher average levels of perchlorate in some foods such as bologna, salami, and collard greens, and lower average levels of perchlorate in other foods such as plain bagels, boxed macaroni and cheese, and milk chocolate, when compared to the 2005 – 2006 dataset.

Is Martian soil toxic?

Toxicity. Martian soil is toxic, due to relatively high concentrations of perchlorate compounds containing chlorine. The Mars Odyssey orbiter has also detected perchlorates across the surface of the planet. The NASA Phoenix lander first detected chlorine-based compounds such as calcium perchlorate.

What type of perchlorate is on Mars?

The Mars Odyssey orbiter has also detected perchlorates across the surface of the planet. The NASA Phoenix lander first detected chlorine-based compounds such as calcium perchlorate. The levels detected in the Martian soil are around 0.5%, which is a level considered toxic to humans.

What is clo4 in chemistry?

A perchlorate is a chemical compound containing the perchlorate ion, ClO 4. .

What is sodium perchlorate used for?

Sodium Perchlorate is a white sand-like solid. It is used in explosives, jet fuels, as a medication, and to make other chemicals. * Sodium Perchlorate is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is REACTIVE.

Is perchlorate a metal?

Chemical properties
The perchlorate ion is the least reactive oxidizer of the generalized chlorates. Most perchlorate compounds, especially salts of electropositive metals such as sodium perchlorate or potassium perchlorate, do not oxidize organic compounds until the mixture is heated.