about this participant:
Charlotte Brody, an organizer from Round Hill, VA, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." She gave blood and urine for the study at age 54.
Charlotte Brody, RN, is a founder and an Executive Director of the Health Care Without Harm Campaign an international coalition of 390 organizations in 44 countries working to make health care more environmentally responsible and sustainable. A registered nurse and mother of two, Charlotte has served as the Organizing Director for the Center for Health, Environment Justice in Falls Church, Virginia, the Executive Director of a Planned Parenthood affiliate in North Carolina and the Coordinator of the Carolina Brown Lung Association, an occupational safety and health organization focused on cotton textile workers.
Related links:
Location:
Round Hill, VA
Participant's groups:
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) | 45 |
Brain and nervous system | 33 |
Birth defects and developmental delays | 14 |
Reproduction and fertility | 2 |
Chronic effects, general | 1 |
Endocrine system | 1 |
Respiratory system | 1 |
Participant: Charlotte Brody
Found 78.5-87 of 214 tested chemicals
Charlotte Brody's blood and urine contained 78.5-87 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.
- This participant's samples show above average levels of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Chlorinated dioxins & furans, Lead and Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs) compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in Charlotte Brody
chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) | found, not quantified | Contaminated indoor and outdoor air | |
Phthalates | found, not quantified | Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products | |
Alkylphenols | found, not quantified | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, paints, carpet and dry cleaning |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
Chlorinated dioxins & furans | moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs) | moderate | Brain and nervous system | Contaminated food and drinking water |
Methylmercury | moderate | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
Lead | high | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)
31 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
Total Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)
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
Total Phthalates
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
Total Alkylphenols
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
21.5-30 of 77 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- cumulative level found: 130 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (67th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
2.95 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 600 |
Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
2 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: 0.933 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Low vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (12th %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 |
Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
chlorinated dioxins & furans
14 of 17 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.
- cumulative level found: 542 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (74th %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (74th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
5 | pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 1860 |
Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans
metals
2 of 5 found
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: 0.63 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (28th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (50th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood | 25.9 | |
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: 2.49 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (71st %ile)
- High vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (78th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
0.222 | ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood | 4.7 |
organophosphate pesticide metabolites (ops)
4 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: 28.6 ppb in urine
- Moderate vs 9 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (56th %ile)
4 | ppb in urine | 70.4 |
Total Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)
Chemicals not found in Charlotte Brody
127 chemicals
2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (pentafuran), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF (hexafuran), Chromium, Arsenic (inorganic only), Cadmium, 4,4'-DDD, Aldrin, alpha-Endosulphan, beta-Endosulphan, alpha-Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endosulphan Sulphate, Endrin, Endrin Ketone, alpha-BHC, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Endrin aldehyde, Hexachlorobenzene, gamma-BHC (Lindane), delta-BHC, gamma-Chlordane, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT, Mirex, Pentachlorophenol, Diethylphosphorodithidate (DEDTP), Dimethylphosphorodithidate (DMDTP), Diethylphosphorothidate (DEPT), Malathion Dicarboxylic Acid, Malathion Mono-Carboxylic Acid, Dimethyl phthalate, Butyl benzyl phthalate, Di-n-octyl phthalate, PCB-105, PCB-127, PCB-128, PCB-167, PCB-166, PCB-82, PCB-195, PCB-200, PCB-207, PCB-42, PCB-185, PCB-86, PCB-97, PCB-119, PCB-91, PCB-189, PCB-205, PCB-158, PCB-114, PCB-123, PCB-120, PCB-77, PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-79, PCB-80, PCB-37, PCB-81, PCB-151, PCB-149, PCB-168, PCB-198, PCB-47, PCB-44, PCB-49, PCB-70, PCB-87, PCB-95, PCB-64, PCB-60, PCB-141, PCB-179, PCB-174, PCB-191, PCB-190, PCB-208, PCB-92, 11,14-Methyl Ester Eicosadienoic acid, Methyl ester 9,12-Hexadecadienoic acid, 9-Hexadecenoic acid, bis(1-methylpropyl) ester Hexanedioic acid, n-Tetradecanoic acid, Oleic acid, Diisooctyl ester Diphosphoric acid, 1-Tetradecanol, 2-Decanol, 3-Methylcyclopentanol, 5-Methyl-2-heptanol, 7-methyl-7-Heptadecanol, tetradecanal, 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylhexane, 2,4,4-Trimethylhexane, 2,4-Dimethylheptane, 3-ethyl-2-methylhexane, 2,4,6-trimethyl-Decane, 3-bromo-Decane, 6-ethyl-2-methyl-Decane, Hexacosane, n-Docosane, n-Octacosane, 3-bromo-3-methyl Pentane, Tetratetracontane, 5-propyl-Tridecane, 1,E-11,Z-13-Hexadecatriene, 17-Pentatriacontene, cis-9-Tricosene, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methyl-Phenol, 2-propenylidene-Cyclobutene, (1,2-dimethylbutyl)-Cyclohexane, 1,5,5-trimethyl-6-(2-propenylidene)-Cyclohexene, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-Cyclopentane, Didodecyl 3,3-thiodipropionate, 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, O-methyloxime 3,5-dimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-Nonanone, dihydro-5-(1-methylethyl)-3(2H)-Furanone, 4,6-dimethyl-5-Hepten-2-one, alpha-Toluenesulfonyl chloride, Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate, Mono(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, Ethyl Benzene, ortho-Xylene
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.)