GROUP:
Adult Minority Leader Report
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Brain and nervous system | 29 | 23-35 | 36 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 28 | 22-34 | 35 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 3 | 3-3 | 3 |
| Endocrine system | 3 | 2-3 | 3 |
| Cancer | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Hematologic (blood) system | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Chronic effects, general | 2 | 1-2 | 2 |
Group members:
(5 People)
Dr. Beverly Wright
Vivian Chang
Jennifer Hill-Kelley
Suzie Canales
Jean Salone
Locations:
Corpus Christi, TX
Green Bay, WI
New Orleans, LA
Oakland, CA
Group: Adult Minority Leader Report
Found 43-48 of 75 tested chemicals (5 participants)
The blood and urine of the "Adult Minority Leader Report" group contained 43-48 of 75 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, and birth defects and developmental delays.
Summary of chemicals found in Adult Minority Leader Report
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 40% high 40% moderate 20% low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 40% high 60% low | Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Nitro- and polycylic- musks | 80% high 20% moderate | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps |
| Perchlorate | 100% low | Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Lead | 60% moderate 40% low | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water | |
| Mercury | 40% high 20% moderate 40% low | Brain and nervous system | Seafood, flu shots/vaccines, dental fillings |
| Methylmercury | 40% high 20% moderate 40% low | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
| Bisphenol A | 60% high 20% moderate 20% low | Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
29-34 of 46 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 76.5 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Dr. Beverly Wright, Suzie Canales, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Vivian Chang, Jean Salone
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
    | ||
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
7 of 13 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 15 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 22.7 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 3,684 of 3,959 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Vivian Chang, Suzie Canales, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Jean Salone, Dr. Beverly Wright
| 2.63 | ng/mL in blood serum | 77.7 |
| | ||
Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
nitro- and polycylic- musks
2 of 10 found — see each chemical
Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 1.35 ng/g in blood serum (vs. 0.295 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 35 of 42 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Jean Salone, Vivian Chang, Suzie Canales, Dr. Beverly Wright, Jennifer Hill-Kelley
| 0.0547 | ng/g in blood serum | 4.23 |
| | ||
Total Nitro- and polycylic- musks
perchlorate
1 of 1 found
Explosive component of solid rocket and missile fuel. Widespread contaminant of food, drinking water, and people. Disrupts thyroid hormones, particularly in women with lower iodide intake; may harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 0.743 ug/L in urine (vs. 3.77 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,818 of 2,818 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Jean Salone, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Suzie Canales, Dr. Beverly Wright, Vivian Chang
| 0.2 | ug/L in urine | 5.6 |
| | ||
metals
3 of 3 found
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: 0.98 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Suzie Canales, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Vivian Chang, Dr. Beverly Wright, Jean Salone
| 0.222 | ug/dL in whole blood | 4.7 |
| | ||
Mercury is used in dental fillings and to preserve vaccines; it is also a common pollutant in seafood. Mercury harms brain development and function.
- geometric mean: 0.706 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Suzie Canales, Jean Salone, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Dr. Beverly Wright, Vivian Chang
| 7.0E-5 | ug/L in whole blood | 12 |
| | ||
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: 0.449 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 4 of 5 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Jean Salone, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Dr. Beverly Wright, Vivian Chang
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
| | ||
bisphenol a & badge
1 of 1 found
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.
- geometric mean: 3.36 ug/g creatinine in urine (vs. 2.06 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 2,350 of 2,612 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Vivian Chang, Dr. Beverly Wright, Jean Salone, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Suzie Canales
| 1.2 | ug/g creatinine in urine | 6.06 |
| | ||
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.)
