about this participant:

Anonymous Adult 1, a print journalist from USA, participated in the 2005 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." She gave blood for the study at age 40.

Location:

USA

Participant's groups:

Women of Childbearing Age, Female, Adult

Study:

EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults



health & safety concerns:
chemicals found in this person
Brain and nervous system196
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)175
Reproduction and fertility67
Gastrointestinal (including liver)55
Birth defects and developmental delays15
Cancer2
Endocrine system1
Kidney and renal system1



picture of Anonymous Adult 1

Participant: Anonymous Adult 1
Found 229.16666666667-304 of 413 tested chemicals

Anonymous Adult 1's blood contained 229.16666666667-304 of 413 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 Anonymous Adult 1

chemical family level found health effects exposure routes
Brominated dioxins & furansmoderateImmune system (including sensitization and allergies) Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)moderateBrain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)highGastrointestinal (including liver) Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)moderateReproduction and fertility Contaminated food and drinking water
Chlorinated dioxins & furansmoderateImmune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)moderateReproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)moderateReproduction and fertility Air polluted by vehicles or factories, burned and fatty food
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)moderateCancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans
Methylmercurymoderate Dietary sources, particularly seafood

Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)

brominated dioxins & furans

2 of 12 found — see each chemical

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

  • cumulative level found: 7.97 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • Moderate vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (53rd %ile)
  • Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (56th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum1440


Total Brominated dioxins & furans

polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)

109.16666666667-159 of 209 found — see each chemical

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

  • cumulative level found: 177 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • High vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (80th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (64th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
2.95ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum600


Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)

36-55 of 70 found — see each chemical

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

  • cumulative level found: 1.6 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • High vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (87th %ile)
0.0743ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum3.43


Total Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)

organochlorine pesticides (ocs)

22 of 28 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: 352 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • High vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (89th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (54th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
0.615ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum2830


Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)

chlorinated dioxins & furans

13 of 17 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.

  • cumulative level found: 389 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • Moderate vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (68th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (72nd %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
5pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum1860


Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)

30-36 of 46 found — see each chemical

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

  • cumulative level found: 27.8 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (62nd %ile)
  • Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (39th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
1.11ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum314


Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)

8 of 18 found — see each chemical

Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.

  • cumulative level found: 218 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • Moderate vs 8 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (50th %ile)
130ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum384


Total Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

perfluorochemicals (pfcs)

8 of 12 found — see each chemical

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

  • cumulative level found: 6.65 ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood
  • Moderate vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (70th %ile)
0.736ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood27.8


Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

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.

  • level found: 1.16 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
  • Moderate vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (39th %ile)
  • Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (71st %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood25.9


Chemicals not found in Anonymous Adult 1

109 chemicals

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDF (heptafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF (hexafuran), 2,3,7,8-TBDF (tetrafuran), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDF (octafuran), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDD (pentadioxin), 2,3,7,8-TBDD (tetradioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDD (octadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD (pentadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF (heptafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), delta-BHC, Methoxychlor, alpha-Endosulphan, beta-Endosulphan, Endosulphan Sulphate, Endrin Ketone, PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonate), PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid), PFPeA (Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid), PFTA (Perfluorotetradecanoic acid), Acenaphthylene, Benz[a]anthracene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[b/j]fluoranthene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Benzo[ghi]perylene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Chrysene, Dibenz[ah]anthracene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, PBDE-209, PBDE-206, PBDE-128, PBDE-181, PBDE-190, PBDE-105, PBDE-116, PBDE-10, PBDE-126, PBDE-79, PCB-124, PCB-107, PCB-12, PCB-13, PCB-143, PCB-134, PCB-78, PCB-141, PCB-89, PCB-43, PCB-94, PCB-106, PCB-164, PCB-112, PCB-67, PCB-72, PCB-73, PCB-10, PCB-82, PCB-131, PCB-176, PCB-204, PCB-184, PCB-142, PCB-148, PCB-186, PCB-145, PCB-150, PCB-152, PCB-96, PCB-103, PCB-5, PCB-6, PCB-56, PCB-162, PCB-192, PCB-161, PCB-57, PCB-58, PCB-24, PCB-7, PCB-35, PCB-169, PCB-79, PCB-36, PCB-80, PCB-38, PCB-39, PCB-14, PCB-3, PCN-17, PCN-25, PCN-65, PCN-56, PCN-58, PCN-32, PCN-15, PCN-16, PCN-41, PCN-18, PCN-44, PCN-22, PCN-9, PCN-1, PCN-26

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