Perchlorate in Foods | Residue Sources and Analysis Methods

Perchlorate Risk in Food and Water

What is Perchlorate?

Perchlorate Perchlorate is a chemical used in fertilizers and some industrial processes and can enter soil and water through agriculture. Perchlorate can also form in the atmosphere through natural formation processes and can reach humans through irrigation water and food. When exposed to high levels, it can disrupt hormone balance by inhibiting iodine uptake by the thyroid gland, so it is a compound that should be carefully monitored in terms of environmental pollution.

What are the Sources of Perchlorate Residues?

Contaminated water sources: Perchlorate can leach into soil and groundwater. Therefore, crops irrigated from perchlorate-contaminated water sources may contain perchlorate.
Contaminated soil: Perchlorate can also spread into the soil, where it can be taken up by plants. This is particularly a risk for crops that come into direct contact with soil, such as root vegetables and leafy greens.
Industrial emissions: Factories and other industrial facilities can release perchlorate into the air. This perchlorate can then fall into soil and water with rain and contaminate food.
Food processing: In some cases, perchlorate can get into food during food processing. This is because food processing equipment or packaging may contain perchlorate, there may be migration through water or cleaning materials.
Packaging Materials: Some packaging materials can cause perchlorate to migrate into food products.

Plastic Bottles and the Presence of Perchlorate

Plastic Type: The type of plastic that plastic bottles are made of can affect the risk of perchlorate contamination. Some types of plastic can release chemicals, especially when exposed to high temperatures. However, most plastic bottles used today are made from materials that are considered safe for drinking water.
Age of the bottle and conditions of use: Plastic bottles that are old or have been exposed to sunlight for a long time are at greater risk of leaching chemicals.
Nature of the Beverage: Acidic beverages may interact more with plastic bottles, causing chemicals to leach into the water.
Source of Perchlorate: There is a greater risk if the water or other beverage in which the plastic bottle is placed contains perchlorate, rather than the plastic bottle itself.

The widespread use of perchlorate and its long persistence in the environment pose a risk to human health and the environment. It is therefore important to control and monitor its levels in food products. In particular, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, milk and dairy products and drinking water may contain perchlorate. It has recently been detected at high levels in carbonated drinks in Europe and products have been recalled from shelves.

In the case of perchlorate, LC-MS/MS is considered the gold standard for its detection and quantification, especially in complex matrices such as food and water. It can be found in very low concentrations, sometimes at parts per billion (ppb) levels, making it difficult to detect. LC-MS/MS can detect and quantify perchlorate even at these trace levels, providing accurate results.

In the Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation, limits are specified for infant and follow-on formulas as of 2025, and limits will be valid in 2026 for fruits, vegetables, teas (dried products), cereals and products derived from cereals, supplementary foods, infant formula and follow-on formulas .

As Nanolab, we perform Perchlorate Analysis with our advanced technology LC-MS/MS device and competent personnel.

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