FULL REPORT

News Release

1: Executive summary

2: Babies are vulnerable to chemical harm

3: Human health problems on the rise

4: Recommendations

Detailed findings

Methodology

Questions and Answers

References

About This Report

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Related EWG Investigations

RELATED DOCUMENTS

News Release: CDC Petition (21 July)

EWG Ltr to Chemical Companies (21 July)

EWG Letter to Chemical Lobby (PDF)

Chemical Lobby Response #1 (PDF)

Follow-Up Letter to Chemical Lobby (21 July)

Stmt from US Rep. Slaughter (PDF)

Stmt from Minority Leader Pelosi (PDF)

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  4,4'-DDE

4,4'-DDE was found in 10 of 10 umbilical cord blood samples from babies born in U.S. hospitals in 2004, at concentrations ranging from 2,053.0 to 17,098.0 pg/g (lipid weight, in whole blood). It was also found in 3 of 3 adult blood samples, at concentrations ranging from 96,938.8 to 602,666.7 pg/g (lipid weight, in whole blood).

Organochlorine chemical, a class largely banned in the U.S. that builds up in the body over time, linked to cancer and reproductive harm.

About 4,4'-DDE
CAS RN	72-55-9
Chemical Class	Organochlorine Pesticide (OC)
Trade and product names	Anofex, Arkotine, Chlorphenothane, Dedelo, Genitox, Hildit, Pentachlorin, Rukseam, Zerdane
Chemical functions	insecticide
May be found in the following types of products	food (pollutant), insecticide
Uses	contact poison, DDT breakdown product, insecticide, no commercial uses
Manufacturers	Agrimont (former), BFC Chem (former), Ciba-Geigy (former), Hindustan Insecticides Ltd., Shell International Chemical (former), Shenzhen Jiangshan Commerce & Industry Corp.

Priority Health Concerns for 4,4'-DDE
Health Concern or Target Organ	Weight of Evidence
Cancer	Known Effects
Reproductive System	Probable Effects

References for Health Effects

Suspected Health Concerns for 4,4'-DDE

Birth Defects / Developmental Delays, Hormone System, Stomach Or Intestines, Brain, Nervous System

References for Health Effects

Related EWG Materials
Body Burden: The Pollution in People	4,4'-DDE was found in 7 of the nine test subjects. The 7 people had an average of 243.2 and a range of 94.8 to 474.0.

Regulatory Status
EPA Office of Pesticide Programs	banned in the United States