GROUP:
Anonymous Workplace #1
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Brain and nervous system | 22 | 20-24 | 29 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 22 | 19-24 | 29 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 6 | 5-7 | 7 |
| Chronic effects, general | 4 | 2-6 | 9 |
| Endocrine system | 4 | 2-6 | 6 |
| Respiratory system | 4 | 3-4 | 4 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 3 | 3-3 | 3 |
| Cancer | 3 | 2-3 | 4 |
Group members:
(5 People)
Anonymous Adult 12
Anonymous Adult 13
Anonymous Adult 11
Anonymous Adult 10
Anonymous Adult 14
Locations:
Mountain View, CA
Stanford, CA
Palo Alto, CA
San Francisco, CA
Group: Anonymous Workplace #1
Found 50-54 of 84 tested chemicals (5 participants)
The blood and urine of the "Anonymous Workplace #1" group contained 50-54 of 84 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, and immune system toxicity.
Summary of chemicals found in Anonymous Workplace #1
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| BADGE-4OH | 40% moderate | Endocrine system | Food can linings, dental sealants |
| Lead | 80% moderate 20% low | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water | |
| Mercury | 100% high | Brain and nervous system | Seafood, flu shots/vaccines, dental fillings |
| Methylmercury | 100% high | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
| Nitro- and polycylic- musks | 20% high 60% moderate | Endocrine system, Cancer | Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps |
| Perchlorate | 60% moderate 40% low | Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 20% high 40% moderate 40% low | Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Phthalates | 20% high 80% moderate | Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 40% high 60% moderate | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
| Triclosan | 100% found, not quantified | Endocrine system, Skin | Antibacterial soap, toothpaste, cosmetics, cleaning products, shoe insoles, plastic cutting boards, other antibacterial items |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
bisphenol a & badge
1 of 2 found
Metabolite of BADGE, used to make metal food can linings. Linked to hormone activity, skin and immune system toxicity and cancer.
- geometric mean: 2.42 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 9.33 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 2 of 5 people in the group (vs. 30 of 41 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 12
| 3.02 | ng/mL in blood serum | 174 |
 | ||
metals
3 of 3 found
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: 0.988 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: Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 13
| 0.222 | ug/dL in whole blood | 4.7 |
|
| ||
Mercury is used in dental fillings and to preserve vaccines; it is also a common pollutant in seafood. Mercury harms brain development and function.
- geometric mean: 5.79 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: Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 12
| 7.0E-5 | ug/L in whole blood | 12 |
|
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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: 5.44 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: Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 12
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
|
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nitro- and polycylic- musks
7 of 9 found — see each chemical
Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 0.306 ng/g in blood serum (vs. 0.295 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 4 of 5 people in the group (vs. 35 of 42 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 12
| 0.0547 | ng/g in blood serum | 4.23 |
|
| ||
Total Nitro- and polycylic- musks
perchlorate
1 of 1 found
Explosive component of solid rocket and missile fuel. Widespread contaminant of food, drinking water, and people. Disrupts thyroid hormones, particularly in women with lower iodide intake; may harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 2.39 ug/L in urine (vs. 3.77 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,818 of 2,818 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 12
| 0.2 | ug/L in urine | 5.6 |
|
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perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
8 of 13 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 24.9 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 22.7 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 3,684 of 3,959 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 14
| 2.63 | ng/mL in blood serum | 77.7 |
|
| ||
Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
phthalates
6 of 7 found — see each chemical
In cosmetics, paint, and plastics. Linked to sperm damage and birth defects of male reproductive system.
- geometric mean: 374 ug/g creatinine in urine (vs. 315 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,928 of 8,020 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 13
| 102 | ug/g creatinine in urine | 10800 |
|
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Total Phthalates
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
23-27 of 46 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 57.1 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 14, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 13
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
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Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
triclosan
1 of 1 found
Antibacterial agent (pesticide) in liquid hand soap, toothpaste, cosmetics, cleaning products, footwear, and plastic products labeled "antibacterial." Triclosan may disrupt thyroid hormones, and can form several chemicals with health and environmental concerns.
- geometric mean: results not quantified
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 17 of 21 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 14
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.)
