Perchlorate in antarctica, origin, effects, treatments, environmental fate, and astrobiological perspectives: a review

Abstract

Perchlorate (ClO4−), which is a powerful endocrine disruptor affecting iodine fixation in the thyroid gland in humans and in biota, is a pollutant of natural and anthropogenic origin. For this reason, this pollutant must be eliminated from the ecosystems. It has been found in extreme environments such as Antarctica. ClO4− reduction can be achieved with physicochemical treatments in small concentrations and through bacterial degradation. This is a cost-effective method, easy to implement, which makes it a viable method for the removal of perchlorate contamination in ecosystems. This review provides an updated discussion of reducing perchlorate contamination; that includes different perspectives of investigations related to its origin, use, effects on living beings; as well as the technologies used to eliminate this pollutant from the environment; its environmental fate in strategic ecosystems such as Antarctica in particular and astrobiological perspectives.