Chicago, IL – A newly published NOAA study has revealed that a significant amount of a toxic chlorine-based chemical contaminating U.S. groundwater is falling from the sky — originating not from factories or farms, but from the stratosphere.
According to NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory, the culprit is perchlorate, a hazardous substance used in rocket fuel, explosives, and fireworks, known to impair thyroid function in humans. Researchers say the discovery marks the first direct evidence that perchlorate contamination can form high above Earth, attach to airborne particles, and drift down into water supplies.
The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were based on chemical measurements collected aboard high-altitude research aircraft flying between 7 and 30 miles above the Earth’s surface. Scientists found perchlorate was mostly attached to aerosols from biomass burning and nitrogen-rich sources, which are lifted into the stratosphere by atmospheric circulation.
Because these toxic particles are long-lived and can accumulate in dry environments, experts warn that perchlorate pollution could persist for decades in U.S. water systems. “This was a real surprise,” said Daniel Murphy, head of CSL’s Aerosol Properties & Processes research program. “Perchlorate is a reminder that stratospheric chemistry is not fully understood, and that manipulating it could bring unexpected consequences.”
The study raises concerns about how climate intervention proposals, such as injecting particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet, could unintentionally worsen perchlorate contamination.
Perchlorates have previously been detected in snow from Greenland and Antarctica, but the new research confirms that the stratosphere itself is a major global source — a finding that could reshape how scientists and regulators approach groundwater safety in the years ahead.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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