GROUP:
Patton Lerner Family
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 63 | 61-64 | 68 |
| Brain and nervous system | 50 | 48-52 | 56 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 14 | 13-15 | 15 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 4 | 3-5 | 6 |
| Endocrine system | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Chronic effects, general | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Respiratory system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
Group members:
(2 People)
Locations:
Bolinas, CA
Group: Patton Lerner Family
Found 111-127 of 214 tested chemicals (2 participants)
The blood and urine of the "Patton Lerner Family" group contained 111-127 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.
Summary of chemicals found in Patton Lerner Family
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Alkylphenols | 100% found, not quantified | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, paints, carpet and dry cleaning |
| Arsenic (inorganic only) | 50% high | Pressure-treated (outdoor) wood, contaminated drinking water | |
| Chlorinated dioxins & furans | 50% high 50% moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Lead | 50% high 50% moderate | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water | |
| Methylmercury | 100% high | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
| Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | 50% low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs) | 50% moderate 50% low | Brain and nervous system | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Phthalates | 100% found, not quantified | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 50% high 50% 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) | 100% 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.
- geometric mean: results not quantified
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 3 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
Total Alkylphenols
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.
- geometric mean: 528 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
| 5 | pg/g lipids in blood serum | 1860 |
    | ||
Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans
metals
3 of 5 found
Known human carcinogen in pressure-treated wood and food. Common tap water pollutant.
- geometric mean: 4.58 ppb in urine (vs. 1.4 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 1 of 2 people in the group (vs. 1 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Michael Lerner
| 21 | ppb in urine | 21 |
| | ||
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.
- geometric mean: 2.58 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sharyle Patton, Michael Lerner
| 0.222 | ug/dL in whole blood | 4.7 |
| | ||
Forms from mercury, a pollutant from coal-fired power plants and other sources. Methylmercury accumulates in seafood and harms brain development and function.
- geometric mean: 11.4 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sharyle Patton, Michael Lerner
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
| | ||
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
6 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.
- geometric mean: 1.06 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
| 0.615 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 2830 |
| | ||
Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
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.
- geometric mean: 8 ppb in urine (vs. 22.6 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
| 4 | ppb in urine | 70.4 |
| | ||
Total Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)
phthalates
4 of 6 found — see each chemical
In cosmetics, paint, and plastics. Linked to sperm damage and birth defects of male reproductive system.
- geometric mean: results not quantified
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
Total Phthalates
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
36-52 of 77 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- geometric mean: 258 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
| 2.95 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 600 |
| | ||
Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)
42 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.
- geometric mean: results not quantified
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 9 of 9 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton
Total Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)
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.)
