about this participant:

Greta Hardin, from Lake Forest Park, WA, participated in the 2008 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children." She gave blood for the study on September 20, 2006 at age 34.

Related links:

• Report executive summary
• Her breast milk study results
• Her son's results

Location:

Lake Forest Park, WA

Participant's groups:

PBDE Family 3, Moms, Female, Adult

Study:

EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children

Sample Date:

September 20, 2006

Participant: Greta Hardin
Found 10 of 20 tested chemicals

Greta Hardin's blood contained 10 of 20 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-28, PBDE-47, PBDE-153 and PBDE-100 compared to all others in EWG studies

Summary of chemicals found in Greta Hardin

Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

10 of 20 found

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

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

• cumulative level found: 73.8 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
    [excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153]
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (82nd %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (74th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)

1.11	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	314

PBDE-197

• level found: 0.82 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• High vs 40 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (88th %ile)

0.11	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	1.95

Decabrominated 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.

PBDE-209

A fire retardant used in TVs, monitors and electronics. Growing evidence that chemical breaks down in the environment to more persistent and toxic forms.

• level found: 2.31 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (84th %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	270

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 Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.

PBDE-183

• level found: 0.54 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	4.31

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.

PBDE-153

• level found: 16.3 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)

0.238	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	76.9

PBDE-154/PBB-153

• level found: 1.91 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• Moderate vs 38 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (43rd %ile)

0.45	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	15.4

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.

PBDE-100

• level found: 6.97 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (88th %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (73rd %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	32.6

PBDE-85

• level found: 0.3 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
• Low vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (17th %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	2.27

PBDE-99

In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.

• level found: 4.14 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (76th %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (54th %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	31.2

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.

PBDE-47

In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.

• level found: 39.9 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum [s]
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (91st %ile)
• Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (75th %ile)

	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	143

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.

PBDE-28

• level found: 2.54 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
• High vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (98th %ile)
• High vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (99th %ile)

0.0385	ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum	6.17

Chemicals not found in Greta Hardin

10 chemicals

PBDE-138, PBDE-17, PBDE-66, PBDE-71, PBDE-206, PBDE-207, PBDE-208, PBDE-196, PBDE-201, PBDE-203

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.)

[s] Chemical found in solvent blank

See results for this participant's group

• EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children
• PBDE Family 3
• Moms
• Female
• Adult