GROUP:
EWG Study #5, Teflon and mercury in blood in adults and teens
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Cancer | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Endocrine system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Kidney and renal system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Brain and nervous system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Behavioral effects | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
Group members:
(8 People)
Participant #2
Participant #8
Kelsey Wirth
Michael Goodstein
Margie Roswell
Nina Damato
Nora Pouillon
Stephanie Berger
Locations:
Silver Spring, MD
Washington, DC
Cambridge, MA
Bethesda, MD
Baltimore, MD
about this group:
Tests uncover two extremes in human blood pollution: mercury, the well-studied, ubiquitous power plant pollutant that accumulates in seafood like tuna; and emerging Teflon pollution only now under intense scrutiny by public health officials. In both cases, body burden tests give vital clues to exposure and health risks in a system that fails to require this understanding up front.
Group: EWG Study #5, Teflon and mercury in blood in adults and teens
Found 9 of 14 tested chemicals (8 participants)
The blood of the "EWG Study #5, Teflon and mercury in blood in adults and teens" group contained 9 of 14 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental delays, and endocrine system toxicity.
Summary of chemicals found in EWG Study #5, Teflon and mercury in blood in adults and teens
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 25% high 50% moderate 25% low | Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Methylmercury | 63% high 25% moderate 13% low | Dietary sources, particularly seafood |
Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)
perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
8 of 13 found
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 27.3 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Nina Damato, Kelsey Wirth, Stephanie Berger, Michael Goodstein, Participant #8, Nora Pouillon
| 8.51 | ng/g in blood serum | 59.7 |
    | ||
Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
Breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets. A 10-carbon version of PFOA; persistent; bioaccumulative.
- geometric mean: 0.588 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Kelsey Wirth, Stephanie Berger, Michael Goodstein, Nina Damato, Participant #8, Nora Pouillon
| 0.2 | ng/g in blood serum | 2.03 |
| | ||
PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid)
Breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, including Stainmaster. Highly persistent and bioaccumulative.
- geometric mean: 0.0802 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 4 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Nina Damato, Participant #8, Kelsey Wirth, Nora Pouillon
| 0.106 | ng/g in blood serum | 0.168 |
| | ||
PFHpA (Perfluoroheptanoic acid)
Breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets. A 7-carbon version of PFOA; persistent.
- geometric mean: 0.0827 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Michael Goodstein, Margie Roswell, Nora Pouillon, Stephanie Berger, Kelsey Wirth, Participant #2, Nina Damato, Participant #8
| 0.044 | ng/g in blood serum | 0.127 |
| | ||
Breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets. A 9-carbon version of PFOA; persistent; bioaccumulative.
- geometric mean: 1.83 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Kelsey Wirth, Margie Roswell, Stephanie Berger, Nina Damato, Michael Goodstein, Participant #8, Nora Pouillon
| 0.591 | ng/g in blood serum | 5.24 |
| | ||
Used to make Teflon pan coatings; breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings. Likely human carcinogen. Found in most people. Being phased out of some products.
- geometric mean: 4.2 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Nina Damato, Stephanie Berger, Michael Goodstein, Kelsey Wirth, Participant #8, Nora Pouillon
| 2.92 | ng/g in blood serum | 7.83 |
| | ||
PFUnA (Perfluoroundecanoic acid)
Breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets. An 11-carbon version of PFOA; persistent; bioaccumulative.
- geometric mean: 0.562 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Stephanie Berger, Michael Goodstein, Kelsey Wirth, Nina Damato, Participant #8, Nora Pouillon
| 0.115 | ng/g in blood serum | 1.49 |
| | ||
PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonate)
In fire fighting foams and carpet treatments. Phased out of consumer products by 3M in 2000 over health concerns.
- geometric mean: 1.7 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Nina Damato, Margie Roswell, Participant #8, Stephanie Berger, Kelsey Wirth, Nora Pouillon, Michael Goodstein
| 0.633 | ng/g in blood serum | 3.5 |
| | ||
PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonate)
Active ingredient in Scotchgard prior to 2000. Phase out forced by EPA because concentrations in human blood close to levels that harm lab animals.
- geometric mean: 17.5 ng/g in blood serum
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Kelsey Wirth, Nina Damato, Stephanie Berger, Michael Goodstein, Nora Pouillon, Participant #8
| 3.96 | ng/g in blood serum | 47 |
| | ||
metals
1 of 1 found
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: 1.7 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 8 of 8 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Participant #2, Margie Roswell, Kelsey Wirth, Nina Damato, Participant #8, Stephanie Berger, Nora Pouillon, Michael Goodstein
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
| | ||
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.)
