about this participant:

Katrina Alcorn, a web designer from Oakland, CA, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk." She gave breast milk for the study on February 10, 2003 at age 31, when her baby, Ruby, was 37 days old.

Related links:
Location:

Oakland, CA

Participant's groups:

Women of Childbearing Age, Female, Adult

Study:

EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk

Sample Date:

February 10, 2003



health & safety concerns:
 chemicals found in this person
Reproduction and fertility23
Brain and nervous system23



picture of Katrina Alcorn

Participant: Katrina Alcorn
Found 20-23 of 44 tested chemicals

Katrina Alcorn's breast milk contained 20-23 of 44 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,

  • This participant's samples show the highest levels of PBDE-190 compared to all others in EWG studies
  • This participant's samples show above average levels of PBDE-206, PBDE-153, PBDE-25 and PBDE-37 compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in Katrina Alcorn

chemical family level found health effects exposure routes
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)moderateReproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food

Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

20-23 of 44 found

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

  • cumulative level found: 78.9 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
9.51ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk1080


Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

Dibrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-15

  • level found: 1.17 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)
0.19ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk17.7


Heptabrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated flame retardants used in plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-183

  • level found: 0.08 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
0.05ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.46


PBDE-190

  • level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.01


Hexabrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants used in foam and plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-138 & PBDE-166 [2]

  • level found: 0.05 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (50th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk1.76


PBDE-140

  • level found: 0.07 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (55th %ile)
0.01ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk1.93


PBDE-153

  • level found: 31.6 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (80th %ile)
1.07ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk122


PBDE-154

  • level found: 0.31 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (50th %ile)
0.04ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk11.7


PBDE-155

  • level found: 0.08 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (55th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk2.5


Nonabrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants currently used in plastics and fabric. The major use is in electronic devices; the minor use is as a backcoating on industrial fabrics. Are directly toxic to mammals and breakdown to more dangerous forms in the environment.

PBDE-206

  • level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.04


Pentabrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-100

  • level found: 4.25 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (45th %ile)
0.57ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk171


PBDE-85

  • level found: 0.45 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (55th %ile)
0.05ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk17.1


PBDE-99

In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.

  • level found: 5.75 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (60th %ile)
0.76ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk200


Tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-47

In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.

  • level found: 30.8 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
5.53ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk589


PBDE-49

  • level found: 0.4 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (70th %ile)
0.04ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk3.69


PBDE-66

  • level found: 0.31 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (60th %ile)
0.06ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk8.37


PBDE-71

  • level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.33


PBDE-75

  • level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (60th %ile)
0.01ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.43


Tribrominated diphenyl ethers

Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-17

  • level found: 0.09 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
0.02ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.47


PBDE-25

  • level found: 0.02 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.06


PBDE-28 & PBDE-33 [2]

  • level found: 3.38 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (70th %ile)
0.35ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk43.8


PBDE-37

  • level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
  • Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (70th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk0.4


Chemicals not found in Katrina Alcorn

21 chemicals

PBDE-32, PBDE-3, PBDE-2, PBDE-1, PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-35, PBDE-77, PBDE-126, PBDE-10, PBDE-7, PBDE-8, PBDE-30, PBDE-116, PBDE-119, PBDE-105, PBDE-181, PBDE-208, PBDE-207, PBDE-209, PBDE-11

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.)

[2] The chemicals co-eluted in the laboratory analysis.

See results for this participant's group