GROUP:

Pollution in Minority Newborns

health & safety concerns:	chemicals found
	on average	indivi- dual range	entire group
Brain and nervous system	121	83-156	175
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	109	72-135	167
Reproduction and fertility	19	13-29	30
Gastrointestinal (including liver)	8	3-15	25
Birth defects and developmental delays	8	4-18	18
Endocrine system	2	1-3	3
Cancer	2	2-2	2
Hematologic (blood) system	2	1-2	2

Group members:

(10 People)

Cord Blood Sample 11
Cord Blood Sample 12
Cord Blood Sample 13
Cord Blood Sample 14
Cord Blood Sample 15
Cord Blood Sample 16
Cord Blood Sample 17
Cord Blood Sample 18
Cord Blood Sample 19
Cord Blood Sample 20

Locations:

Group: Pollution in Minority Newborns
Found 176-232 of 383 tested chemicals (10 participants)

The blood of the "Pollution in Minority Newborns" group contained 176-232 of 383 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 Pollution in Minority Newborns

chemical family	level found in group	health effects	exposure routes
Nitro- and polycylic- musks	30% high 40% moderate	Endocrine system	Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps
Perchlorate	30% high 50% moderate 10% low	Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays	Contaminated food and drinking water
Mercury	30% high 50% moderate 20% low	Brain and nervous system	Seafood, flu shots/vaccines, dental fillings
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)	10% high 40% moderate 50% low	Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer, Endocrine system	Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Bisphenol A	60% high 30% moderate		Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants
Brominated Fire Retardant	30% high
Brominated dioxins & furans	40% moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Chlorinated dioxins & furans	10% high 90% moderate	Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	100% low	Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system	Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	100% moderate	Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)	40% high 30% moderate 30% low	Gastrointestinal (including liver)	Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Methylmercury	20% high 50% moderate 30% low		Dietary sources, particularly seafood
Lead	100% low		Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water

Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)

nitro- and polycylic- musks

2 of 10 found — see each chemical

Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: 0.405 ng/g in whole blood
• found in 7 of 10 people in the group
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 12

0.15	ng/g in whole blood	2.74

perchlorate

1 of 1 found

Perchlorate

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: 0.209 ug/L in whole blood
• found in 9 of 10 people in the group
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 12

0.17	ug/L in whole blood	0.6

metals

3 of 3 found

Mercury, total

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: 0.643 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19

7.0E-5	ug/L in whole blood	12

Methylmercury

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: 0.513 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19

0.0735	ug/L in whole blood	25.9

Lead

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: 0.348 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 13

0.222	ug/dL in whole blood	4.7

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

6 of 13 found — see each chemical

Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.

• geometric mean: 2.38 ng/g in whole blood (vs. 4.46 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15

0.736	ng/g in whole blood	27.8

bisphenol a & badge

1 of 1 found

Bisphenol A

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: 2.18 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 0.456 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 9 of 10 people in the group (vs. 16 of 51 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 19

0.445	ng/mL in blood serum	8.61

brominated fire retardant

1 of 1 found — see each chemical

Brominated Fire Retardant

• geometric mean: 11 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.1 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 3 of 10 people in the group (vs. 3 of 17 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 12

2780	ng/g lipids in blood serum	3210

brominated dioxins & furans

6 of 12 found — see each chemical

Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.

• geometric mean: 10.7 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14.8 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 4 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,163 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 16

7.72	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1440

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: 59.7 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 18

5	pg/g lipids in blood serum	1860

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

26-29 of 46 found — see each chemical

Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.

• geometric mean: 7.28 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
    [excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153]
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 16

1.11	ng/g lipids in blood serum	314

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

97-144 of 209 found — see each chemical

Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.

• geometric mean: 22.1 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 11

2.95	ng/g lipids in blood serum	600

polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)

17-24 of 70 found — see each chemical

Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.

• geometric mean: 0.637 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.693 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
• found in: Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 20

0.0743	ng/g lipids in blood serum	3.43

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.)