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11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 'More studies should take place on fireworks perchlorate effects' A former MP who is both a doc- tor and pyrotechnics enthusiast has expressed concern at a recent study suggesting the difference in hypothyroidism incidence be- tween Malta and Gozo may be at- tributed to the scale of fireworks displays. Godfrey Farrugia, a former La- bour health minister who later founded the now-defunct Dem- ocratic Party said more studies should be conducted on the pos- sible link between hypothyroid- ism and exposure to perchlorate from fireworks. "Our population's wellbeing needs to remain a top priority and no effort should be spared to secure this objective", Farru- gia told MaltaToday in his reac- tion to the study published in the Malta Medical Journal. The study reported a lower incidence of hypothyroid cas- es in Gozo than in the rest of Malta, with its authors suggest- ing whether greater exposure to perchlorate, a byproduct of fire- works but a chemical also found in food packaging, could be a contributing factor to higher lev- els in Malta. "I appeal for a wider and deeper study of factors that ensure the best state of health, wellbeing for our population," Farrugia said, while expressing caution over any rash conclusions on a sector which has underwent changes over the past decade. Perchlorate is the principal precursor in the manufacture of most fireworks due to its high safety profile. In 2014 the use of the more dangerous chlorate in the manufacture of flash powder was locally banned. As a medical doctor himself he recognises the "scientific fact" that high levels of perchlorate disrupt thyroid function as it competitively inhibits the sodi- um-iodide receptor sites. "In- ternational research has shown that in an iodine-deficient soci- ety, long-term exposure to per- chlorate may adversely effect the younger age group of a popula- tion while short- term exposure is a possible concern in breast-fed infants." But he casts doubts on wheth- er the underlying cause of high- er thyroid rates are fireworks, noting the common disorder of hypothyroidism in children is Hashimoto's disease, an auto- immune disorder where one's immune system attacks one's thyroid gland, followed by con- genital defects. Despite the popularity of fire- works displays, Malta's incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in is identical to the rest of Europe (1:3500-4000). Moreover, al- though the incidence for autoim- mune hypothyroidism is not re- corded, clinical experience does not indicate that it is different from the rest of Europe. Like the authors of the recent studies, he also suggests that one factor contributing to higher rates of hypothyroidism are die- tary patterns, namely low levels of iodine. To function the human body needs an intake of iodine from food such as dairy, eggs, tuna, herring, and shrimps. Food and snacks are also processed by the addition of iodized salt, which implies that it is unlikely that the Maltese residential population is iodine deficient. However, he points out that agricultural products can be contaminated by herbicides and pesticides of which unscrupulous use "can reduce the population's thyroid's ability to use iodine with its consequences." Farrugia cites European Com- mission recommendations issued in 2015 on the monitoring of the presence of perchlorate in food which state that perchlorate oc- curs naturally and can be formed in the atmosphere and precipitate into the soil and groundwater. "It is a contaminant arising from nitrate fertilizers and from the use of explosives, fireworks, and other industrial processes. Perchlorate can also be formed during the degradation of sodi- um hypochlorite used to disinfect water. Water, soil, and fertilizers are considered to be potential sources of perchlorate contam- ination in food", the regulations state. He acknowledges that drinking water possibly contaminated by perchlorate could be a contribut- ing factor. "Over 80% of Malta's drinking water is derived from reverse osmosis and bottled wa- ter." A 2019 study by Co- lette Pace and Prof. Al- fred Vella that analysed ground water, run-off storm water, and tap water samples had found that perchlorate levels in a number of samples had surpassed the ac- cepted limit of exposure. But Farrugia adds that the Wa- ter Services Corporation has also stated that the level of perchlo- rate in drinking water has never exceeded recommended WHO guidelines. Once again, he concurs with the authors of the latest study that one major factor worthy of in- vestigation is the impact of pack- aged foods. "Plastic used in food packing and handling equipment use perchlorate to reduce the build up of static electricity. It is also scientifically acknowledged that perchlorate contamination from food products is several times higher than from drinking water." Still Farrugia says studies have shown that perchlorate levels do temporarily rise above back- ground levels in the vicinity of firing fields while pointing out that this depends on the display area and the weather conditions. "If such sites are used on an everyday basis all the year round the hazard is huge. But this is not the case for Malta. " A study carried out between 2011 and 2013 confirmed that during the festa season, the level of perchlorate in dust increases when compared to the remain- ing months. But these results could have been impacted by the more sensitive chlorate used then before its banning in 2014. "Most pyrotechnicians sim- ply substituted the percentage weight of the chlorate by the perchlorate in the flash powder mixture, when this should have been much less," Farrugia said, meaning some perchlorate re- mained unburnt. Former health minister and pyrotechnics enthusiast Godfrey Farrugia says links between fireworks and higher rates of hypothyroidism should be investigated, but suggests food packaging and pesticides are real culprits Godfrey Farrugia (inset) believes more studies should be conducted on the possible link between hypothyroidism and exposure to perchlorate from fireworks