Improved Determination of Trace Concentrations of Perchlorate in Environmental Waters Using EPA Method 314.1

[steve-day]

Using EPA Method 314.1. Perchlorate (ClO4–) is known to have serious health effects by interfering with the uptake of iodide by the thyroid gland. An increase in concerns over the perchlorate health effects at concentrations less than the current reporting limit of 4 ppb created the need for methods with lower detection limits. Currently, perchlorate is determined in drinking and ground waters using
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 314.0,
an ion chromatographic method with suppressed conductivity
detection that provides a minimum reporting limit (MRL) of 4 ppb.