News Coverage
Probe sought after study reports toxin in lettuce
Boxer urges investigation of produce
Published April 28, 2003
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer on Monday called on the federal government to investigate perchlorate contamination in produce following the release of a study that found elevated levels of the toxic rocket fuel component in some winter lettuce grown in the United States.
Boxer's plea came on the same day that the environmental group that conducted the study -- and California lettuce growers -- said lettuce now on supermarket shelves should be free of perchlorate.
The winter lettuce tested in the study was bought in the Bay Area in January and February. It was grown in the Imperial Valley and irrigated by the Colorado River, which contains perchlorate. Lettuce being sold today comes from Monterey County, where there is no known perchlorate contamination.
``The federal government is already woefully behind in addressing perchlorate contamination in drinking water,'' Boxer wrote in a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan. ``We need to know if our food is contaminated with this toxic substance and from where this contamination is emanating.''
Boxer, D-Calif., is asking that the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture investigate the problem.
In a test of supermarket produce released Monday, the Environmental Working Group found that four of 22 lettuce samples contained detectable levels of perchlorate. The study also found that the perchlorate levels in the contaminated lettuce were four times higher than the levels that the EPA says are safe for drinking water.
Perchlorate, an explosive salt widely used as an oxidizer for solid rocket fuel, can cause thyroid problems and affect the thyroid gland's capacity to produce hormones. Pregnant women, in particular, are advised to avoid perchlorate because it can result in lowered IQ, mental retardation, loss of hearing and speech and motor skills deficits in fetuses and infants.
``This shows that perchlorate makes it through the packaging and production process and onto grocery store shelves,'' said Bill Walker, West Coast vice president for the Environmental Working Group.
Locally, perchlorate has contaminated the groundwater beneath San Martin and has been detected in three of Morgan Hill's 11 municipal drinking water wells. Eight other municipal wells will continue to supply water to the city's 34,000 residents. Officials said there is no water shortage now, but they are concerned about summer when demand is greater. The contamination originated at a former Olin Corp. highway-flare manufacturing plant operated from 1955 to 1995 in Morgan Hill.
State and federal officials are already investigating the problem. According to Brad Stone, a spokesman for the FDA, the agency is developing methods to better detect the presence of perchlorate in lettuce on a wide scale. The FDA plans to begin testing lettuce from around the country -- and perhaps other fruit and vegetables as well -- once those tests are ready.
But for now, Stone said he sees no reason for consumers to stop eating lettuce.
Not surprisingly, that was a sentiment echoed by California growers, who stressed that the Environmental Working Group study tested only a small sample of lettuce and that it might not be representative.
``This is a time when sound science should drive the debate,'' said Matt McInerny, executive vice president of the Western Growers Association, a trade group that represents produce growers. Posted on Tue, Apr. 29, 2003
PERCHLORATE THREAT
A study found elevated levels of perchlorate, a toxic rocket fuel component, in some winter lettuce grown in the United States. Where did the contamination come from and what can perchlorate do?
* The winter lettuce tested in the study was bought in the Bay Area in January and February. It was grown in the Imperial Valley and irrigated by the Colorado River, which contains perchlorate. Lettuce being sold today comes from Monterey County, where there is no known perchlorate contamination.
* In the recent test, the Environmental Working Group found that four of 22 lettuce samples contained detectable levels of perchlorate. The study also found that the perchlorate levels in the contaminated lettuce were four times higher than the levels that the EPA says are safe.
* Perchlorate can cause thyroid problems and affect the thyroid gland's capacity to produce hormones. Pregnant women are advised to avoid perchlorate because it can result in lowered IQ, mental retardation, loss of hearing, and speech and motor skills deficits in infants.