GROUP:

Males

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found
	on average	indivi- dual range	entire group
Birth defects and developmental delays	24	3-71	125
Brain and nervous system	19	2-53	98
Reproduction and fertility	17	3-37	78
Cancer	15	1-69	92
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	27	2-71	92
Endocrine system	8	1-21	43
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	6	2-13	27

bio- accumulative pollutants:	chemicals found
	on average	indivi- dual range	entire group
Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or people	12	4-27	55

Group members:

(17 People)

Nicholas
Bill Moyers
Davis Baltz
Michael Lerner
Michael Goodstein
Participant #10
Fred Gellert
Jesse Johnson
Landon Gellert
Teo
Nicolas
Conner Adams
Elijah Scheinz
Tavin
Louis Comfort-Cohen
Zade Little
Evan

Locations:

NJ, USA
Berkeley, CA
Bolinas, CA
Bethesda, MD
NY, USA
Washington, DC
Lake Forest Park, WA
Helena, MT
Missoula, MT
Portland, OR
Riverside, CA
Clinton, CT
CA, USA
Belvedere, CA
New York, NY

Group: Males
Found 162-182 of 288 tested chemicals (17 participants)

The blood and urine of the "Males" group contained 162-182 of 288 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to birth defects and developmental delays, brain and nervous system toxicity, and reproductive toxicity and fertility problems.

Summary of chemicals found in Males

chemical family	level found in group	health effects	exposure routes
Alkylphenols	33% found, not quantified	Reproduction and fertility, Endocrine system	Cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, paints, carpet and dry cleaning
Arsenic (inorganic only)	33% high	Cancer, Gastrointestinal (including liver)	Pressure-treated (outdoor) wood, contaminated drinking water
BADGE-4OH	75% high 25% moderate	Endocrine system, Skin	Food can linings, dental sealants
Bisphenol A	20% high	Reproduction and fertility, Endocrine system, Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer	Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants
Chlorinated dioxins & furans	33% high 67% moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Lead	43% high 57% moderate	Brain and nervous system, Birth defects and developmental delays	Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water
Methylmercury	75% high 13% moderate 13% low	Birth defects and developmental delays, Brain and nervous system	Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)	50% low	Cancer, Reproduction and fertility, Birth defects and developmental delays	Contaminated food and drinking water
Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)	33% high 33% moderate 33% low	Brain and nervous system	Contaminated food and drinking water
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)	50% high 50% moderate	Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system	Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Phthalates	13% high 38% moderate 13% low	Reproduction and fertility, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system	Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	8% high 75% moderate 17% low	Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system	Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	33% high 67% moderate	Birth defects and developmental delays, Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Cancer	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)	100% found, not quantified	Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer, Kidney and renal system	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 1 of 3 people in the group (vs. 3 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner

found in 1 of 3 members of the group, but not quantified

bisphenol a & badge

2 of 2 found

BADGE-4OH

Metabolite of BADGE, used to make metal food can linings. Linked to hormone activity, skin and immune system toxicity and cancer.

• geometric mean: 64.4 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 9.33 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 4 of 4 people in the group (vs. 30 of 41 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Landon Gellert, Jesse Johnson, Participant #10, Fred Gellert

3.02	ng/mL in blood serum	174

Bisphenol A

Detected in polycarbonate plastic, dental sealants, and resins that line metal cans. Linked to hormone disruption, birth defects, cancer with effects at very low doses.

• geometric mean: 1.16 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 0.456 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 4 people in the group (vs. 16 of 51 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Jesse Johnson

0.445	ng/mL in blood serum	8.61

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: 559 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Davis Baltz, Bill Moyers

5	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1860

metals

3 of 5 found

Arsenic (inorganic only)

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

• geometric mean: 2.76 ppb in urine (vs. 1.4 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 3 people in the group (vs. 1 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner

21	ppb in urine	21

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: 2.26 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 7 of 7 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Landon Gellert, Fred Gellert, Jesse Johnson, Davis Baltz, Participant #10, Bill Moyers, 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: 3.35 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 8 of 8 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Participant #10, Davis Baltz, Landon Gellert, Bill Moyers, Michael Goodstein, Fred Gellert, Jesse Johnson, Michael Lerner

0.0735	ug/L in whole blood	25.9

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

5 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: 1.29 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Davis Baltz, Bill Moyers

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: 19.6 ppb in urine (vs. 22.6 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Lerner, Bill Moyers, Davis Baltz

4	ppb in urine	70.4

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

7 of 14 found — see each chemical

Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) were measured in different units for some of the members of this group. Overall it was found in 1 of the 1 members tested in the group. The bars below are grouped by units:

• geometric mean: 38.4 ng/g in blood serum (vs. 27.3 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 8 of 8 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Michael Goodstein

8.51	ng/g in blood serum	59.7

phthalates

12 of 13 found — see each chemical

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

Phthalates were measured in different units for some of the members of this group. Overall it was found in 8 of the 8 members tested in the group. The bars below are grouped by units:

• geometric mean: results not quantified
• found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Bill Moyers, Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner

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

• geometric mean: 236 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: Landon Gellert, Nicholas, Fred Gellert, Participant #10, Jesse Johnson

102	ug/g creatinine in urine	10800

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

28-32 of 50 found — see each chemical

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.

• geometric mean: 32.5 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
    [excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153]
• found in 12 of 12 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Jesse Johnson, Landon Gellert, Fred Gellert, Nicolas, Participant #10, Evan, Conner Adams, Louis Comfort-Cohen, Teo, Tavin , Zade Little, Elijah Scheinz

1.11	ng/g lipids in blood serum	314

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

36-52 of 77 found — see each chemical

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

• geometric mean: 206 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner, Bill Moyers

2.95	ng/g lipids in blood serum	600

volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)

46 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 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Bill Moyers, Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner

found in 3 of 3 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.)