about this participant:

Michael Lerner, an educator from Bolinas, CA, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." He gave blood and urine for the study at age 59.

Michael Lerner is president and founder of Commonweal, a health and environmental research institute in Marin County, California. He has worked for thirty years with at-risk children, people with cancer, and environmental health initiatives. He is married to Sharyle Patton, who was also a participant in the Body Burden Study.

Related links:

• Report executive summary

Location:

Bolinas, CA

Participant's groups:

Patton Lerner Family, Male, Commonweal, Adult

Study:

EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found in this person
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	61
Brain and nervous system	48
Birth defects and developmental delays	15
Reproduction and fertility	3
Endocrine system	2
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	1
Chronic effects, general	1

Participant: Michael Lerner
Found 88.616666666667-103 of 214 tested chemicals

Michael Lerner's blood and urine contained 88.616666666667-103 of 214 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to immune system toxicity, brain and nervous system toxicity, and birth defects and developmental delays.

• Mercury exposure above the federal government's safe level
• This participant's samples show the highest levels of Arsenic (inorganic only), Methylmercury compared to all others in EWG studies
• This participant's samples show above average levels of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Lead, Chlorinated dioxins & furans and compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in Michael Lerner

chemical family	level found	health effects	exposure routes
Alkylphenols	found, not quantified	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, paints, carpet and dry cleaning
Arsenic (inorganic only)	high		Pressure-treated (outdoor) wood, contaminated drinking water
Chlorinated dioxins & furans	moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Lead	high		Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water
Methylmercury	high		Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)	low	Reproduction and fertility	Contaminated food and drinking water
Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)	low	Brain and nervous system	Contaminated food and drinking water
Phthalates	found, not quantified	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	moderate	Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)	found, not quantified		Contaminated indoor and outdoor air

Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)

alkylphenols

1 of 1 found — see each chemical

Surfactants in cosmetics, paints, detergents. Toxic to wildlife. May harm hormone system.

• cumulative level found: found, but not quantified

found in 3 of 9 people, but not quantified

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.

• cumulative level found: 292 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (62nd %ile)
• Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (67th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

5	pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	1860

metals

3 of 5 found

Arsenic (inorganic only)

Known human carcinogen in pressure-treated wood and food. Common tap water pollutant.

• level found: 21 ppb in urine
• High vs 9 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)

0	ppb in urine	21

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: 3.18 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
• High vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (85th %ile)
• High vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (87th %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: 25.6 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
• High vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %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

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

3 of 23 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.

• cumulative level found: 0.615 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Low vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (4th %ile)
• Low vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (12th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

0.615	ng/g (lipid weight) 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.

• cumulative level found: 4 ppb in urine
• Low vs 9 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (12th %ile)

4	ppb in urine	70.4

phthalates

3 of 6 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: found, but not quantified

found in 9 of 9 people, but not quantified

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

31.616666666667-46 of 77 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 229 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (86th %ile)
• Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (74th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

2.95	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	600

volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)

30 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.

• cumulative level found: found, but not quantified

found in 9 of 9 people, but not quantified

Chemicals not found in Michael Lerner

111 chemicals

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (pentafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), Cadmium, Chromium, gamma-BHC (Lindane), alpha-Chlordane, Methoxychlor, beta-Endosulphan, Endrin aldehyde, alpha-BHC, Heptachlor Epoxide, Heptachlor, 4,4'-DDD, Aldrin, delta-BHC, gamma-Chlordane, Endrin Ketone, Pentachlorophenol, alpha-Endosulphan, Endrin, Dieldrin, Endosulphan Sulphate, Mirex, 4,4'-DDT, Dimethylphosphorodithidate (DMDTP), Chlorpyrifos metabolite (3,5,6-TCP), Diethylphosphorothidate (DEPT), Diethylphosphate (DEP), Dimethylphosphorothidate (DMPT), Diethylphosphorodithidate (DEDTP), Dimethylphosphate (DMP), Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Di-n-octyl phthalate, Butyl benzyl phthalate, PCB-49, PCB-60, PCB-92, PCB-119, PCB-114, PCB-82, PCB-195, PCB-123, PCB-200, PCB-42, PCB-185, PCB-86, PCB-97, PCB-91, PCB-189, PCB-205, PCB-158, PCB-166, PCB-167, PCB-81, PCB-37, PCB-80, PCB-79, PCB-169, PCB-126, PCB-77, PCB-120, PCB-128, PCB-127, PCB-105, PCB-207, O-methyloxime 3,5-dimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, Didodecyl 3,3-thiodipropionate, 4,6-dimethyl-5-Hepten-2-one, alpha-Toluenesulfonyl chloride, Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate, Mono(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, Ethyl Benzene, meta-Xylene, ortho-Xylene, Methyl ester 9,12-Hexadecadienoic acid, 2-Nonanone, 5-Methyl-2-heptanol, Ethylcyclohexane, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-Cyclopentane, 2-hydroxy-Cyclopentadecanone, 2,4,6-trimethyl-Decane, 3-ethyl-2-methylhexane, 2,4,4-Trimethylhexane, 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylhexane, tetradecanal, 7-methyl-7-Heptadecanol, 3-Methylcyclopentanol, 2-Decanol, Diisooctyl ester Diphosphoric acid, Oleic acid, n-Tetradecanoic acid, bis(1-methylpropyl) ester Hexanedioic acid, 9-Hexadecenoic acid, 2,5,6-trimethyl-Decane, 3-bromo-Decane, 2,6-dimethyl Heptadecane, 1,5,5-trimethyl-6-(2-propenylidene)-Cyclohexene, (1,2-dimethylbutyl)-Cyclohexane, 3-isopentyl Sydnone, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methyl-Phenol, (3-octylundecyl)-Benzene, o-(phenylmethyl)-Hydroxylamine, 1,5-Heptadien-3-yne, (E)-3-Octadecene, 17-Pentatriacontene, 1,E-11,Z-13-Hexadecatriene, 5-propyl-Tridecane, 3-bromo-3-methyl Pentane, n-Octacosane, 11,14-Methyl Ester Eicosadienoic acid

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/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
• Patton Lerner Family
• Male
• Commonweal
• Adult