about this participant:
Jenna Meyer, from San Francisco, CA, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk." She gave breast milk for the study on November 13, 2002 at age 31, when her baby, Stella, was 51 days old.
Related links:
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Participant's groups:
Women of Childbearing Age, Female, Adult
Study:
EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk
Sample Date:
November 13, 2002
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found in this person |
Reproduction and fertility | 24 |
Brain and nervous system | 24 |
Participant: Jenna Meyer
Found 21-24 of 44 tested chemicals
Jenna Meyer's breast milk contained 21-24 of 44 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,
- This participant's samples show above average levels of PBDE-206, PBDE-207, PBDE-126 and PBDE-183 compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in Jenna Meyer
chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
21-24 of 44 found
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- cumulative level found: 24.5 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Low vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (25th %ile)
9.51 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1080 |
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Dibrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- level found: 0.4 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
0.19 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 17.7 |
Heptabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated flame retardants used in plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- level found: 0.12 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
0.05 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.46 |
Hexabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in foam and plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1.76 | |
- level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
0.01 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1.93 |
- level found: 2.43 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
1.07 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 122 |
- level found: 0.14 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
0.04 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 11.7 |
- level found: 0.05 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 2.5 | |
Nonabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants currently used in plastics and fabric. The major use is in electronic devices; the minor use is as a backcoating on industrial fabrics. Are directly toxic to mammals and breakdown to more dangerous forms in the environment.
- level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.04 | |
- level found: 0.09 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (85th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.13 | |
Pentabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- level found: 2.22 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
0.57 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 171 |
- level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.22 | |
- level found: 0.2 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
0.05 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 17.1 |
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- level found: 2.58 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
0.76 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 200 |
Tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- level found: 14.6 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
5.53 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 589 |
- level found: 0.14 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
0.04 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 3.69 |
- level found: 0.14 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
0.06 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 8.37 |
- level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (55th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.33 | |
- level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
0.01 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.43 |
Tribrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- level found: 0.03 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
0.02 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.47 |
- level found: 0.004 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (30th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.06 | |
- level found: 1.26 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
0.35 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 43.8 |
- level found: 0.01 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- Moderate vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.4 | |
Chemicals not found in Jenna Meyer
20 chemicals
PBDE-32, PBDE-3, PBDE-2, PBDE-1, PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-35, PBDE-77, PBDE-10, PBDE-7, PBDE-8, PBDE-30, PBDE-116, PBDE-119, PBDE-105, PBDE-190, PBDE-181, PBDE-208, PBDE-209, PBDE-11
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.)
[2] The chemicals co-eluted in the laboratory analysis.