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Perchlorate (), which is used as an oxidizer in jet and rocket fuels, pyrotechnic devices and explosives, is a widespread contaminant in surface waters and groundwater of many countries. Perchlorate is known to affect thyroid function. Despite the compound’s widespread occurrence and potential health effects, perchlorate levels in drinking water in India are not known. In this study, water samples collected from 13 locations in six states (n =66), and saliva samples collected from four locations in three states (n =74) in India, were analyzed for perchlorate using high performance liquid chromatography interfaced with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). Perchlorate was detected in most (76%) of the water samples analyzed at concentrations above the quantitation limit of 0.02μgL−1; concentrations ranged from <0.02 to 6.9μgL−1 (mean: 0.42±1.1μgL−1; median: 0.07μgL−1). Mean concentrations of perchlorate in drinking water, groundwater, bottled water, surface water and rain water were 0.1, 1.0, <0.02, 0.05 and <0.02μgL−1, respectively. From a total of 66 water samples analyzed, only three samples contained perchlorate levels above 1μgL−1; all three were groundwater samples. Perchlorate was found in the saliva samples analyzed at concentrations above 0.2μgL−1 and up to 4.7μgL−1 (mean: 1.3±1.3μgL−1; median: 0.91μgL−1). No remarkable differences in perchlorate concentrations were found among the sampling locations of water or saliva or in subgroups stratified by gender or age. Perchlorate concentrations in water samples from India are one to two orders of magnitude lower than the concentrations reported for the United States. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fireworks events during the annual Indian festival of Diwali has been heavily criticised in recent times. Perchlorate is an essential component of fireworks. The effects of the fireworks on perchlorate (ClO 4 −) concentrations and quality parameters of the ambient waters of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India were studied. As expected, ClO 4 − concentrations in the (Kankaria) lake adjoining the fireworks site were below detection prior to the Diwali event and increased to 0.97 and 1.03 μg/L at 48 and 288 h after the event, respectively. However, samples from the Sabarmati River surprisingly contained an extremely high concentration of ClO 4 − (65 μg/L) one day before the event, which decreased to 1.14 μg/L after 48 h and was below detection limit after 7 days of the event. This finding raises questions such as: (a) which has greater impact, fireworks manufacturing or burning; (b) can unregulated release of untreated effluents be a major critical source of pollution needing immediate attention from removal, environmental regulation and policy perspectives; c) is policy pertaining to unskilled labour in the manufacturing of fireworks and other ClO 4 −-containing products needed in developing countries; and d) is ClO 4 − being a strong oxidiser, detrimental to the soil, groundwater, and aquatic environment? Image 1 • Perchlorate (ClO 4 −) was measured in waters proximal to a Diwali fireworks event. • Following Diwali, ClO 4 − concentration increased to 1.03 μg/L in Kankaria Lake. • The Sabarmati River had extremely high ClO 4 − (65 μg/L) one day before the event. • Unregulated effluents impacted ClO 4 − concentration much more than fireworks. • 65 μg/L is the second highest ClO 4 − concentration ever reported in river of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]