GROUP:
EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Brain and nervous system | 78 | 1-155 | 155 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 49 | 4-140 | 140 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 19 | 1-36 | 36 |
| Respiratory system | 4 | 3-4 | 4 |
| Chronic effects, general | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Endocrine system | 2 | 1-2 | 2 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Cancer | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
Group members:
(3 People)
Locations:
NY, USA
Group: EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children
Found 132-181 of 304 tested chemicals (3 participants)
The blood and urine of the "EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children" group contained 132-181 of 304 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.
Summary of chemicals found in EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 100% moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | 100% low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Phthalates | 67% moderate 33% low | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 50% moderate 50% low | Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Bisphenol A | 33% low | Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 100% moderate | 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)
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
88-134 of 208 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- geometric mean: 53 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett
| 2.95 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 600 |
    | ||
Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
15 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.
- geometric mean: 50.7 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett
| 0.615 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 2830 |
| | ||
Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
phthalates
7 of 7 found — see each chemical
In cosmetics, paint, and plastics. Linked to sperm damage and birth defects of male reproductive system.
- geometric mean: 207 ug/g creatinine in urine (vs. 315 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 3 of 3 people in the group (vs. 7,928 of 8,020 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett, Nicholas, May
| 102 | ug/g creatinine in urine | 10800 |
| | ||
Total Phthalates
perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
4 of 13 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 13.4 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 22.7 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 3,684 of 3,959 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett, Nicholas
| 2.63 | ng/mL in blood serum | 77.7 |
| | ||
Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
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: 1.06 ug/g creatinine in urine (vs. 2.06 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 1 of 3 people in the group (vs. 2,350 of 2,612 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett
| 1.2 | ug/g creatinine in urine | 6.06 |
| | ||
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
17-20 of 46 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 16.6 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 1 of 1 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Sara Corbett
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
| | ||
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.)
