about this participant:

Winsome McIntosh, an executive from Washington, DC, 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 November 10, 2005 at age 61.

Related links:

• Report executive summary

Location:

Washington, DC

Participant's groups:

Female, Adult

Study:

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

Sample Date:

November 10, 2005

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found in this person
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	6
Reproduction and fertility	5
Brain and nervous system	5
Respiratory system	4
Birth defects and developmental delays	2
Endocrine system	2
Cancer	2
Chronic effects, general	2

Participant: Winsome McIntosh
Found 19-20 of 70 tested chemicals

Winsome McIntosh's blood and urine contained 19-20 of 70 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to immune system toxicity, reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, and brain and nervous system toxicity.

• Mercury exposure above the federal government's safe level
• This participant's samples show the highest levels of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) compared to all others in EWG studies
• This participant's samples show above average levels of Bisphenol A, Methylmercury, BADGE-4OH and Lead compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in Winsome McIntosh

chemical family	level found	health effects	exposure routes
BADGE-4OH	moderate	Endocrine system	Food can linings, dental sealants
Bisphenol A	high		Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants
Lead	moderate		Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water
Methylmercury	high		Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)	high	Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system	Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Phthalates	moderate		Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	low	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

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.

• level found: 12.2 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 41 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (59th %ile)

0	ng/mL (wet weight) 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.

• level found: 1.5 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
• High vs 51 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (85th %ile)

0	ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum	8.61

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: 1.9 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
• Moderate vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (53rd %ile)
• Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (67th %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: 6.51 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
• High vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (82nd %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)

6 of 13 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 66.3 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
• High vs 55 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
• High vs 3,959 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (93rd %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: 183 ug/g creatinine in urine
• Moderate vs 72 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (27th %ile)
• Moderate vs 8,020 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (30th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

102	ug/g creatinine in urine	10800

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

3-4 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: 1.8 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Low vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (5th %ile)
• Low vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (14th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

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

Chemicals not found in Winsome McIntosh

50 chemicals

PFBA (Perfluorobutyric acid), PFOSA (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), PFHxA (Perfluorohexanoic acid), PFHpA (Perfluoroheptanoic acid), PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid), PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonate), PFPeA (Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid), Monomethyl phthalate, PBDE-47, PBDE-49, PBDE-71, PBDE-37, PBDE-35, PBDE-32, PBDE-30, PBDE-209, PBDE-51, PBDE-66, PBDE-7, PBDE-75, PBDE-77, PBDE-79, PBDE-85, PBDE-99, PBDE-17, PBDE-208, PBDE-207, PBDE-100, PBDE-10, PBDE-11, PBDE-8, PBDE-25, PBDE-166, PBDE-138, PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-120, PBDE-105, PBDE-116, PBDE-206, PBDE-203, PBDE-190, PBDE-183, PBDE-181, PBDE-155, PBDE-154, PBDE-140, PBDE-128, PBDE-126, PBDE-119

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
• Female
• Adult