about this participant:

Mary Brune, a Co-founder & Director Making Our Milk Safe (MOMS) from Alameda, CA, participated in the 2008 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children." She gave blood for the study on October 27, 2006 at age 36.

Related links:
Location:

Alameda, CA

Participant's groups:

PBDE Family 15, Moms, Female, Adult

Study:

EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children

Sample Date:

October 27, 2006



health & safety concerns:
chemicals found in this person
Reproduction and fertility7
Brain and nervous system7



picture of Mary Brune

Participant: Mary Brune
Found 7 of 20 tested chemicals

Mary Brune's blood contained 7 of 20 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,

Summary of chemicals found in Mary Brune

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)

7 of 20 found

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

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

  • cumulative level found: 30.9 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
      [excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153]
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (63rd %ile)
  • Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (46th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
1.11ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum314


Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

  • level found: 0.19 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
  • Low vs 40 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (18th %ile)
0.11ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum1.95


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 Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

  • level found: 7.85 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
0.238ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum76.9


  • level found: 1.72 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
  • Moderate vs 38 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (32nd %ile)
0.45ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum15.4


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.

  • level found: 1.83 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (57th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (33rd %ile)
ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum32.6


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

  • level found: 2.12 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (58th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (35th %ile)
ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum31.2


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.

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

  • level found: 17.7 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (73rd %ile)
  • Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (51st %ile)
ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum143


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.

  • level found: 1.17 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (77th %ile)
  • High vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (99th %ile)
0.0385ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum6.17


Chemicals not found in Mary Brune

13 chemicals

PBDE-85, PBDE-138, PBDE-183, PBDE-209, PBDE-17, PBDE-66, PBDE-71, PBDE-206, PBDE-207, PBDE-208, PBDE-196, PBDE-201, PBDE-203

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.)

[s] Chemical found in solvent blank

See results for this participant's group