
about this participant:
U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, an U.S. Representative from Upstate New York, NY, participated in the 2005 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults." She gave blood for the study at age 75.
Location:
Upstate New York, NY
Participant's groups:
Study:
EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found in this person |
Brain and nervous system | 186 |
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 169 |
Reproduction and fertility | 51 |
Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 44 |
Birth defects and developmental delays | 14 |
Cancer | 2 |
Endocrine system | 1 |
Kidney and renal system | 1 |

Participant: U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter
Found 201.16666666667-271 of 413 tested chemicals
U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter's blood contained 201.16666666667-271 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.
- This participant's samples show the highest levels of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) compared to all others in EWG studies
- This participant's samples show above average levels of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Chlorinated dioxins & furans compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter
chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
Brominated dioxins & furans | moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | moderate | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | high | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) | high | Gastrointestinal (including liver) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | moderate | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
Chlorinated dioxins & furans | high | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | low | Reproduction and fertility | Air polluted by vehicles or factories, burned and fatty food |
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | high | Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
Methylmercury | moderate | Dietary sources, particularly seafood |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
brominated dioxins & furans
1 of 12 found — see each chemical
Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.
- cumulative level found: 8.53 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (61st %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 serum | 1440 | |
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Total Brominated dioxins & furans
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
27-30 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: 23.3 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (53rd %ile)
- Moderate vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (29th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
1.11 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 314 |
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Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
104.16666666667-155 of 209 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- cumulative level found: 510 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
- High vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (81st %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)
polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)
28-44 of 70 found — see each chemical
Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.
- cumulative level found: 3.27 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (96th %ile)
0.0743 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 3.43 |
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Total Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
13 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: 732 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 27 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (97th %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (74th %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
12 of 17 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.
- cumulative level found: 1010 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (92nd %ile)
- High vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (88th %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
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)
7 of 18 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.
- cumulative level found: 130 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Low vs 8 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (13th %ile)
130 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 384 |
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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: 27.8 ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood
- High vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.736 | ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood | 27.8 |
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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: 0.315 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Low vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (16th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (28th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood | 25.9 | |
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Chemicals not found in U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter
142 chemicals
1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 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), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDF (octafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), delta-BHC, Methoxychlor, 2,4'-DDD, 2,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDD, Aldrin, alpha-Endosulphan, beta-Endosulphan, oxy-Chlordane, Endosulphan Sulphate, Endrin Ketone, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, trans-Nonachlor, Octachlorostyrene, 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, Perylene, PBDE-119, PBDE-120, PBDE-12, PBDE-13, PBDE-8, PBDE-11, PBDE-128, PBDE-181, PBDE-105, PBDE-116, PBDE-30, PBDE-32, PBDE-7, PBDE-10, PBDE-126, PBDE-77, PCB-124, PCB-107, PCB-143, PCB-134, PCB-78, PCB-141, PCB-174, PCB-191, PCB-89, PCB-181, PCB-182, PCB-94, PCB-106, PCB-164, PCB-112, PCB-67, PCB-72, PCB-73, PCB-10, PCB-172, PCB-131, PCB-204, PCB-184, PCB-142, PCB-148, PCB-186, PCB-145, PCB-150, PCB-152, PCB-96, PCB-155, PCB-104, PCB-54, PCB-5, PCB-55, PCB-122, PCB-159, PCB-192, PCB-161, PCB-57, PCB-58, PCB-23, PCB-34, PCB-24, PCB-35, PCB-77, PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-36, PCB-80, PCB-37, PCB-38, PCB-39, PCB-14, PCN-17, PCN-25, PCN-53, PCN-55, PCN-64, PCN-68, PCN-73, PCN-74, PCN-63, PCN-65, PCN-49, PCN-69, PCN-70, PCN-13, PCN-58, PCN-16, PCN-18, PCN-3, PCN-44, PCN-22, PCN-5, PCN-6, PCN-9, PCN-1, PCN-26, PCN-10
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
