about this participant:
Davis Baltz, a research associate from Berkeley, CA, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." He gave blood and urine for the study at age 48.
Davis moved to California with his family when he was four months old, and grew up in Berkeley, California. His chemical body burden is the product of his childhood and current exposures in the U.S., as well as chemical exposures accumulated during seven years of work and travel across Asia and Africa.
Among his diverse experiences, Davis has evaluated farmer training programs to reduce pesticide use in Indonesia, supervised refugee resettlement in Thailand's refugee camps, observed elections in Sri Lanka, edited news in Korea, and assisted community organizing efforts with farmer groups in the Philippines. He holds a Masters degree in International Community Economic Development.
He currently acts as a Senior Research Associate for Commonweal in Bolinas, California, where he works to eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in the healthcare industry.
Davis has hiked 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern U.S., and 1,600 miles from Mexico to Oregon on the Pacific Crest Trail. He has traveled in 48 U.S. states, working as a cab driver, ship's cook, stagehand, house painter, forklift operator, janitor, construction worker, cannery fish gutter, furniture mover, and truck driver.
Related links:
Location:
Berkeley, CA
Participant's groups:
Study:
EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found in this person |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 59 |
| Brain and nervous system | 48 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 16 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 4 |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 1 |
| Endocrine system | 1 |
| Chronic effects, general | 1 |
| Respiratory system | 1 |
Participant: Davis Baltz
Found 94.116666666667-108 of 214 tested chemicals
Davis Baltz's blood and urine contained 94.116666666667-108 of 214 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to immune system toxicity, brain and nervous system toxicity, and birth defects and developmental delays.
- This participant's samples show above average levels of Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Chlorinated dioxins & furans and Lead compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in Davis Baltz
| chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
| Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) | found, not quantified | Contaminated indoor and outdoor air | |
| Phthalates | found, not quantified | Endocrine system, Birth defects and developmental delays | Cosmetics, paint, soft plastic, food packaging, and other consumer products |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Chlorinated dioxins & furans | moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs) | high | Brain and nervous system | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Methylmercury | moderate | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
| Lead | moderate | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (vocs and svocs)
33 of 76 found — see each chemical
Used in wide range of household, craft, and industrial products. Common tap water and air pollutants. Includes neurotoxins and carcinogens.
- cumulative level found: found, but not quantified
Total Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs)
phthalates
5 of 6 found — see each chemical
In cosmetics, paint, and plastics. Linked to sperm damage and birth defects of male reproductive system.
- cumulative level found: found, but not quantified
Total Phthalates
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
29.116666666667-43 of 77 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- cumulative level found: 159 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (78th %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (67th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
| 2.95 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 600 |
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Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
4 of 23 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.
- cumulative level found: 1.13 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Low vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (15th %ile)
- Low vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (12th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
| 0.615 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 2830 |
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Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
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.
- cumulative level found: 429 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (71st %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (70th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
| 5 | pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 1860 |
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Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans
metals
2 of 5 found
Forms from mercury, a pollutant from coal-fired power plants and other sources. Methylmercury accumulates in seafood and harms brain development and function.
- level found: 0.92 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (35th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (65th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
| ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood | 25.9 | |
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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.
- level found: 2.11 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (65th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (72nd %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
| 0.222 | ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood | 4.7 |
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organophosphate pesticide metabolites (ops)
6 of 9 found — see each chemical
Breakdown products from pesticides, including Dursban, formerly used in homes and currently used on produce. Can damage brain development.
- cumulative level found: 63.1 ppb in urine
- High vs 9 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (89th %ile)
| 4 | ppb in urine | 70.4 |
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Total Organophosphate Pesticide metabolites (OPs)
Chemicals not found in Davis Baltz
106 chemicals
4-tert-Octylphenol, 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (pentafuran), Chromium, Arsenic (inorganic only), Cadmium, 4,4'-DDD, Aldrin, alpha-Endosulphan, beta-Endosulphan, alpha-Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endosulphan Sulphate, Endrin, Endrin Ketone, alpha-BHC, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Endrin aldehyde, Hexachlorobenzene, gamma-BHC (Lindane), delta-BHC, gamma-Chlordane, Mirex, Pentachlorophenol, Diethylphosphorodithidate (DEDTP), Dimethylphosphorodithidate (DMDTP), Malathion Mono-Carboxylic Acid, Butyl benzyl phthalate, PCB-105, PCB-127, PCB-128, PCB-167, PCB-166, PCB-82, PCB-195, PCB-200, PCB-207, PCB-42, PCB-185, PCB-86, PCB-97, PCB-119, PCB-91, PCB-189, PCB-205, PCB-158, PCB-114, PCB-123, PCB-120, PCB-77, PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-79, PCB-80, PCB-37, PCB-81, PCB-157, PCB-198, PCB-137, PCB-191, PCB-208, PCB-92, 11,14-Methyl Ester Eicosadienoic acid, Methyl ester 9,12-Hexadecadienoic acid, 9-Hexadecenoic acid, bis(1-methylpropyl) ester Hexanedioic acid, n-Tetradecanoic acid, Diisooctyl ester Diphosphoric acid, 1-Tetradecanol, 2-Decanol, 3-Methylcyclopentanol, 5-Methyl-2-heptanol, 7-methyl-7-Heptadecanol, 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylhexane, 2,4,4-Trimethylhexane, 2,4,6-trimethyl-Decane, 3-bromo-Decane, 2,6-dimethyl Heptadecane, Hexacosane, n-Octacosane, 3-bromo-3-methyl Pentane, Tetratetracontane, 1,E-11,Z-13-Hexadecatriene, 17-Pentatriacontene, (E)-3-Eicosene, 1,5-Heptadien-3-yne, o-(phenylmethyl)-Hydroxylamine, (3-octylundecyl)-Benzene, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methyl-Phenol, 3-isopentyl Sydnone, 1,5,5-trimethyl-6-(2-propenylidene)-Cyclohexene, 2-hydroxy-Cyclopentadecanone, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-Cyclopentane, Ethylcyclohexane, Didodecyl 3,3-thiodipropionate, 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, O-methyloxime 3,5-dimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-Nonanone, dihydro-5-(1-methylethyl)-3(2H)-Furanone, 4,6-dimethyl-5-Hepten-2-one, alpha-Toluenesulfonyl chloride, Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate, Ethyl Benzene, meta-Xylene, ortho-Xylene
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.)
See results for this participant's group
