GROUP:
EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Reproduction and fertility | 25 | 20-30 | 35 |
| Brain and nervous system | 25 | 20-30 | 35 |
Group members:
(20 People)
Jenna Meyer
Katrina Alcorn
Tiffany Kimball
Teri Olle
Margaret Hardin
Susan Comfort
Angela Strother
Jill
Anonymous
Rani Corey-Sheaffer
Anonymous
Meredith Buhalis
Darcy White
Jennifer Scheinz
Laurie Yung
Lisa
Anonymous
Leila Feldman
Susanne Green
Erika Schreder
Locations:
San Francisco, CA
Oakland, CA
La Habra Heights, CA
Evergreen, CO
Washington, DC
Gainesville, FL
Canton, GA
Dorchester, MA
Jamiaca Plain, MA
Ann Arbor, MI
Raytown, MO
Helena, MT
Missoula, MT
Portland, OR
Nashville, TN
Austin, TX
Burke, VA
Seattle, WA
about this group:
In the first nationwide tests for chemical fire retardants in the breast milk of American mothers, EWG found unexpectedly high levels of these little-known thyroid toxins in every woman tested. Milk from several of the mothers in EWG's study had among the highest levels of these chemicals yet detected worldwide.
Group: EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk
Found 30-35 of 44 tested chemicals (20 participants)
The breast milk of the "EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk" group contained 30-35 of 44 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,
Summary of chemicals found in EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 25% high 50% moderate 25% low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
30-35 of 44 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 64.5 ppb lipids in breast milk
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 20 of 20 people in the group
- found in: Anonymous, Erika Schreder, Teri Olle, Susan Comfort, Jenna Meyer, Rani Corey-Sheaffer, Susanne Green, Anonymous, Meredith Buhalis, Leila Feldman, Jennifer Scheinz, Tiffany Kimball, Katrina Alcorn, Laurie Yung, Jill, Angela Strother, Margaret Hardin, Anonymous, Lisa, Darcy White
| 9.51 | ppb lipids in breast milk | 1080 |
    | ||
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
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.)
