about this participant:

Adelaide Gomer, an executive from Ithaca, NY, participated in the 2006 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #6, consumer product chemicals in mothers and daughters." She gave blood and urine for the study on December 8, 2005 at age 62.

Related links:

• Report executive summary

Location:

Ithaca, NY

Participant's groups:

Gomer Wittink Family, Female, Adult

Study:

EWG Study #6, consumer product chemicals in mothers and daughters

Sample Date:

December 8, 2005

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found in this person
Reproduction and fertility	35
Birth defects and developmental delays	35
Brain and nervous system	29
Endocrine system	14
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	10
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	10
Cancer	9

bioaccumulative pollutants:	chemicals found in this person
Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or people	21

Participant: Adelaide Gomer
Found 34-38 of 70 tested chemicals

Adelaide Gomer's blood and urine contained 34-38 of 70 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, birth defects and developmental delays, and brain and nervous system toxicity.

• Mercury exposure above the federal government's safe level
• This participant's samples show above average levels of Methylmercury, Phthalates, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Lead compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in Adelaide Gomer

chemical family	level found	health effects	exposure routes
BADGE-4OH	moderate	Endocrine system, Skin	Food can linings, dental sealants
Lead	moderate	Brain and nervous system, Birth defects and developmental delays	Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water
Methylmercury	high	Birth defects and developmental delays, Brain and nervous system	Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)	moderate	Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system	Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Phthalates	high	Birth defects and developmental delays, Reproduction and fertility, Endocrine system	Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	moderate	Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system	Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food

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.

• level found: 9.6 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 41 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (49th %ile)

0	ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum	174

metals

2 of 2 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.

• level found: 2.1 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
• Moderate vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (64th %ile)
• Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (72nd %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

0.222	ug/dL (wet weight) 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.

• level found: 10.3 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
• High vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (97th %ile)
• High vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (99th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

0	ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood	25.9

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

4 of 13 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 19.7 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 55 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
• Moderate vs 3,959 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (28th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

2.63	ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum	77.7

phthalates

6 of 7 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 1230 ug/g creatinine in urine
• High vs 72 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
• High vs 8,020 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (90th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

102	ug/g creatinine in urine	10800

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

21-25 of 46 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 31.6 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (45th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

1.11	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	314

Chemicals not found in Adelaide Gomer

32 chemicals

Bisphenol A, PFUnA (Perfluoroundecanoic acid), PFBA (Perfluorobutyric acid), PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonate), PFDA (Perfluorodecanoic acid), PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid), PFHpA (Perfluoroheptanoic acid), PFHxA (Perfluorohexanoic acid), PFOSA (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), PFPeA (Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid), Monomethyl phthalate, PBDE-32, PBDE-35, PBDE-37, PBDE-7, PBDE-77, PBDE-30, PBDE-209, PBDE-13, PBDE-8, PBDE-11, PBDE-105, PBDE-116, PBDE-126, PBDE-128, PBDE-181, PBDE-190, PBDE-203, PBDE-206, PBDE-207, PBDE-208, PBDE-12

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.)

See results for this participant's group

• EWG Study #6, consumer product chemicals in mothers and daughters
• Gomer Wittink Family
• Female
• Adult