The Effects of Ammonium Perchlorate on Reproduction and Development of Amphibians

The objectives of this SERDP project were to examine the long-term effects of perchlorate on developing amphibians e.g., growth, metamorphosis and on the general health and reproductive capacity of adult females. The studies examined the effects of perchlorate present in the water as well as perchlorate available through the food chain. Because perchlorate competes for iodine binding sites in the thyroid, the addition of iodine to culture water was examined to determine if perchlorate effects can be mitigated. Finally, perchlorate is known to affect normal pigmentation of amphibian embryos. The effects of ultraviolet UV irradiation on pigment-altered embryos were examined.