Predicting Perchlorate Uptake by Lettuce and Spinach.

Perchlorate has been detected in drinking water and leafy vegetables and is a concern due to impairment of thyroid function.  Analysis of leafy vegetable has revealed a wide variability in perchlorate concentration.  This variability occurs both at the irrigation district level and at the farm level with a fixed concentration of perchlorate in the irrigation water.  We examine the relationship of irrigation water perchlorate concentration to crop perchlorate content considering salinity, ion composition, and water management.