GROUP:

Commonweal Employees

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found
	on average	indivi- dual range	entire group
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	55	45-64	68
Brain and nervous system	42	30-52	58
Birth defects and developmental delays	15	13-16	16
Reproduction and fertility	4	2-5	7
Endocrine system	2	1-2	2
Respiratory system	1	1-1	1
Chronic effects, general	1	1-1	1
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	1	1-1	1

Group members:

(5 People)

Davis Baltz
Michael Lerner
Sharyle Patton
Lexi Rome
Charlotte Brody

Locations:

Berkeley, CA
Bolinas, CA
Mill Valley, CA
Round Hill, VA

Group: Commonweal Employees
Found 134-150 of 214 tested chemicals (5 participants)

The blood and urine of the "Commonweal Employees" group contained 134-150 of 214 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to immune system toxicity, brain and nervous system toxicity, and birth defects and developmental delays.

Summary of chemicals found in Commonweal Employees

chemical family	level found in group	health effects	exposure routes
Alkylphenols	60% found, not quantified	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, paints, carpet and dry cleaning
Arsenic (inorganic only)	20% high		Pressure-treated (outdoor) wood, contaminated drinking water
Cadmium	20% high		Contaminated food and drinking water, cigarette smoke, contaminated factory air
Chlorinated dioxins & furans	20% high 80% moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Lead	40% high 60% moderate		Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water
Methylmercury	60% high 40% moderate		Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)	50% low	Reproduction and fertility	Contaminated food and drinking water
Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)	20% high 40% moderate 40% low	Brain and nervous system	Contaminated food and drinking water
Phthalates	100% found, not quantified	Endocrine system, Birth defects and developmental delays	Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	20% high 80% moderate	Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)	100% found, not quantified		Contaminated indoor and outdoor air

Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)

alkylphenols

1 of 1 found — see each chemical

Surfactants in cosmetics, paints, detergents. Toxic to wildlife. May harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: results not quantified
• found in 3 of 5 people in the group (vs. 3 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton, Charlotte Brody

found in 3 of 5 members of the group, but not quantified

chlorinated dioxins & furans

15 of 17 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: 515 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Davis Baltz, Charlotte Brody, Lexi Rome, Sharyle Patton

5	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1860

metals

4 of 5 found

Arsenic (inorganic only)

Known human carcinogen in pressure-treated wood and food. Common tap water pollutant.

• geometric mean: 1.84 ppb in urine (vs. 1.4 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 5 people in the group (vs. 1 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner

21	ppb in urine	21

Cadmium

In batteries, pigments, coatings, plastic and cigarette smoke. Cadmium causes cancer and is linked to birth defects and kidney damage.

• geometric mean: 0.287 ppb in urine (vs. 0.339 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 5 people in the group (vs. 3 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Lexi Rome

0.5	ppb in urine	0.7

Lead

Neurotoxic heavy metal linked to IQ deficits and behavioral problems. Found in dust from chipping lead paint in older homes, and in some tap water.

• geometric mean: 2.18 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Lexi Rome, Sharyle Patton, Davis Baltz, Charlotte Brody, Michael Lerner

0.222	ug/dL in whole blood	4.7

Methylmercury

Forms from mercury, a pollutant from coal-fired power plants and other sources. Methylmercury accumulates in seafood and harms brain development and function.

• geometric mean: 2.92 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Charlotte Brody, Davis Baltz, Lexi Rome, Sharyle Patton, Michael Lerner

0.0735	ug/L in whole blood	25.9

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

7 of 23 found — see each chemical

Includes DDT, chlordane, other pesticides. Largely banned in the U.S. Build up in the human body over time. Cause cancer and reproductive harm.

• geometric mean: 1.15 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Charlotte Brody, Davis Baltz, Lexi Rome, Sharyle Patton

0.615	ng/g lipids in blood serum	2830

organophosphate pesticide metabolites (ops)

7 of 9 found — see each chemical

Breakdown products from pesticides, including Dursban, formerly used in homes and currently used on produce. Can damage brain development.

• geometric mean: 14.8 ppb in urine (vs. 22.6 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Lexi Rome, Sharyle Patton, Charlotte Brody, Davis Baltz

4	ppb in urine	70.4

phthalates

5 of 6 found — see each chemical

In cosmetics, paint, and plastics. Linked to sperm damage and birth defects of male reproductive system.

• geometric mean: results not quantified
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton, Lexi Rome, Charlotte Brody

found in 5 of 5 members of the group, but not quantified

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

36-52 of 77 found — see each chemical

Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.

• geometric mean: 176 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Lexi Rome, Charlotte Brody, Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton

2.95	ng/g lipids in blood serum	600

volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)

59 of 76 found — see each chemical

Used in wide range of household, craft, and industrial products. Common tap water and air pollutants. Includes neurotoxins and carcinogens.

• geometric mean: results not quantified
• found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton, Lexi Rome, Charlotte Brody

found in 5 of 5 members of the group, but not quantified

References/Notes

[1] CDC (2005). National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/. (Methylmercury results have been compared to total mercury in CDC biomonitoring.)