GROUP:

Seniors (65+)

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found
	on average	indivi- dual range	entire group
Brain and nervous system	52	14-186	195
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	40	5-169	178
Reproduction and fertility	24	3-51	57
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	10	1-44	47
Birth defects and developmental delays	6	2-14	18
Respiratory system	3	1-4	5
Endocrine system	2	1-4	6
Chronic effects, general	2	1-5	6

Group members:

(6 People)

Anonymous Adult 7
Bill Moyers
U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter
Participant #1
Fred Gellert
Participant #20

Locations:

NJ, USA
Upstate New York, NY
CA, USA
Belvedere, CA
Lamont, FL

Group: Seniors (65+)
Found 260-331 of 535 tested chemicals (6 participants)

The blood and urine of the "Seniors (65+)" group contained 260-331 of 535 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, immune system toxicity, and reproductive toxicity and fertility problems.

Summary of chemicals found in Seniors (65+)

chemical family	level found in group	health effects	exposure routes
BADGE-4OH	50% high 50% moderate	Endocrine system	Food can linings, dental sealants
Brominated dioxins & furans	100% moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Chlorinated dioxins & furans	100% high	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Lead	80% high 20% moderate		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	83% high 17% moderate		Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Nitro- and polycylic- musks	100% moderate	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)	33% moderate 33% low	Reproduction and fertility	Contaminated food and drinking water
Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)	100% moderate	Brain and nervous system	Contaminated food and drinking water
Perchlorate	100% moderate	Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays	Contaminated food and drinking water
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)	40% high 40% moderate 20% low	Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system	Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Phthalates	80% moderate	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)	100% low	Reproduction and fertility	Air polluted by vehicles or factories, burned and fatty food
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	80% moderate 20% low	Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system	Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	100% high	Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)	100% high	Gastrointestinal (including liver)	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)

bisphenol a & badge

1 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: 31.3 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: Participant #1, Anonymous Adult 7, Participant #20, Fred Gellert

3.02	ng/mL in blood serum	174

brominated dioxins & furans

1 of 12 found — see each chemical

Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: 8.53 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14.8 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 2,163 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

7.72	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1440

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: 1190 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Bill Moyers

5	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1860

metals

3 of 6 found

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: 3.14 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: Fred Gellert, Anonymous Adult 7, Bill Moyers, Participant #20, Participant #1

0.222	ug/dL in whole blood	4.7

Mercury, total

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: 9.56 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Anonymous Adult 7

7.0E-5	ug/L in whole blood	12

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: 4.07 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 6 of 6 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Bill Moyers, Participant #1, Participant #20, Anonymous Adult 7, Fred Gellert

0.0735	ug/L in whole blood	25.9

nitro- and polycylic- musks

3 of 9 found — see each chemical

Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: 0.81 ng/g in blood serum (vs. 0.295 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 35 of 42 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Anonymous Adult 7

0.0547	ng/g in blood serum	4.23

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

14 of 30 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: 47.5 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Bill Moyers, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

0.615	ng/g lipids in blood serum	2830

organophosphate pesticide metabolites (ops)

2 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: 30 ppb in urine (vs. 22.6 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Bill Moyers

4	ppb in urine	70.4

perchlorate

1 of 1 found

Perchlorate

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: 3.5 ug/L in urine (vs. 3.77 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 2,818 of 2,818 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Anonymous Adult 7

0.2	ug/L in urine	5.6

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

9 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: 27.8 ng/g in whole blood (vs. 4.46 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

0.736	ng/g in whole blood	27.8

phthalates

11 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 5 of the 5 members tested in the group. The bars below are grouped by units:

• geometric mean: results not quantified
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Bill Moyers

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

• geometric mean: 338 ug/g creatinine in urine (vs. 315 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 4 of 4 people in the group (vs. 7,928 of 8,020 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Fred Gellert, Participant #20, Participant #1, Anonymous Adult 7

102	ug/g creatinine in urine	10800

polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)

7 of 18 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.

• geometric mean: 130 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 230 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: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

130	ng/g lipids in blood serum	384

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

30-35 of 46 found — see each chemical

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

• geometric mean: 21.9 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 7, Fred Gellert, Participant #1, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Participant #20

1.11	ng/g lipids in blood serum	314

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

106-156 of 209 found — see each chemical

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

• geometric mean: 350 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Bill Moyers, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

2.95	ng/g lipids in blood serum	600

polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)

28-44 of 70 found — see each chemical

Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.

• geometric mean: 3.27 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.693 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

0.0743	ng/g lipids in blood serum	3.43

volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)

29 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 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Bill Moyers

found in 1 of 1 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.)