about this participant:

U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, an U.S. Representative from Upstate New York, NY, participated in the 2005 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." She gave blood for the study at age 75.

Location:

Upstate New York, NY

Participant's groups:

Senior, Female

Study:

EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults

Participant: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter
Found 201.16666666667-271 of 413 tested chemicals

U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter's blood contained 201.16666666667-271 of 413 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, immune system toxicity, and reproductive toxicity and fertility problems.

• 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 Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Chlorinated dioxins & furans compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)

brominated dioxins & furans

1 of 12 found — see each chemical

Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.

• cumulative level found: 8.53 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (61st %ile)
• Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (56th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

0	pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	1440

chlorinated dioxins & furans

12 of 17 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.

• cumulative level found: 1010 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (92nd %ile)
• High vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (88th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

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

metals

1 of 1 found

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: 0.315 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
• Low vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (16th %ile)
• Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (28th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

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

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

13 of 28 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: 732 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (97th %ile)
• Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (74th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

0.615	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	2830

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

8 of 12 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 27.8 ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood
• High vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)

0.736	ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood	27.8

polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)

7 of 18 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.

• cumulative level found: 130 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Low vs 8 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (13th %ile)

130	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	384

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

27-30 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: 23.3 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (53rd %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (29th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

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

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

104.16666666667-155 of 209 found — see each chemical

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

• cumulative level found: 510 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
• High vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (81st %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

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

polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)

28-44 of 70 found — see each chemical

Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.

• cumulative level found: 3.27 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (96th %ile)

0.0743	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	3.43

Chemicals not found in U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter

142 chemicals

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDD (octadioxin), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 2,3,7,8-TBDF (tetrafuran), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDF (octafuran), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDD (pentadioxin), 2,3,7,8-TBDD (tetradioxin), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDF (octafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF (heptafuran), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD (pentadioxin), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), Endosulphan Sulphate, alpha-Endosulphan, Aldrin, 4,4'-DDD, Heptachlor Epoxide, Heptachlor, Endrin Ketone, 2,4'-DDT, 2,4'-DDD, oxy-Chlordane, trans-Nonachlor, Methoxychlor, delta-BHC, Octachlorostyrene, beta-Endosulphan, PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid), PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonate), PFPeA (Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid), PFTA (Perfluorotetradecanoic acid), Chrysene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Dibenz[ah]anthracene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Perylene, Benzo[b/j]fluoranthene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benz[a]anthracene, Acenaphthylene, Benzo[ghi]perylene, PBDE-7, PBDE-116, PBDE-128, PBDE-32, PBDE-181, PBDE-105, PBDE-30, PBDE-10, PBDE-126, PBDE-11, PBDE-8, PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-120, PBDE-119, PBDE-77, PCB-35, PCB-24, PCB-34, PCB-23, PCB-58, PCB-57, PCB-77, PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-36, PCB-80, PCB-37, PCB-38, PCB-39, PCB-14, PCB-161, PCB-191, PCB-73, PCB-72, PCB-67, PCB-112, PCB-164, PCB-106, PCB-94, PCB-182, PCB-181, PCB-89, PCB-107, PCB-143, PCB-134, PCB-124, PCB-78, PCB-141, PCB-174, PCB-10, PCB-172, PCB-155, PCB-104, PCB-54, PCB-5, PCB-55, PCB-122, PCB-159, PCB-192, PCB-96, PCB-152, PCB-142, PCB-184, PCB-148, PCB-204, PCB-131, PCB-186, PCB-145, PCB-150, PCN-63, PCN-74, PCN-73, PCN-64, PCN-55, PCN-25, PCN-17, PCN-65, PCN-53, PCN-68, PCN-26, PCN-1, PCN-9, PCN-6, PCN-5, PCN-22, PCN-44, PCN-3, PCN-18, PCN-16, PCN-58, PCN-13, PCN-70, PCN-69, PCN-49, PCN-10

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 #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
• Senior
• Female