
about this participant:
Cord Blood Sample 18, from USA, participated in the 2009 biomonitoring investigation entitled "Pollution in Minority Newborns." She gave cord blood for the study on October 1, 2008.
Location:
USA
Participant's groups:
Study:
Pollution in Minority Newborns
Sample Date:
October 1, 2008
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found in this person |
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 114 |
Brain and nervous system | 114 |
Birth defects and developmental delays | 18 |
Reproduction and fertility | 16 |
Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 12 |
Endocrine system | 3 |
Hematologic (blood) system | 2 |
Chronic effects, general | 2 |

Participant: Cord Blood Sample 18
Found 115-150 of 383 tested chemicals
Cord Blood Sample 18's cord blood contained 115-150 of 383 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 Nitro- and polycylic- musks, Brominated Fire Retardant, Chlorinated dioxins & furans and Bisphenol A compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in Cord Blood Sample 18
chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
Nitro- and polycylic- musks | high | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps |
Perchlorate | moderate | Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays | Contaminated food and drinking water |
Mercury | moderate | Brain and nervous system | Seafood, flu shots/vaccines, dental fillings |
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | moderate | Birth defects and developmental delays, Cancer, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
Bisphenol A | moderate | Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants | |
Brominated Fire Retardant | high | ||
Chlorinated dioxins & furans | high | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) | low | Gastrointestinal (including liver) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Methylmercury | moderate | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
Lead | low | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
nitro- and polycylic- musks
2 of 10 found — see each chemical
Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.
- cumulative level found: 2 ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood
- High vs 10 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (90th %ile)
ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood | 2.74 | |
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Total Nitro- and polycylic- musks
perchlorate
1 of 1 found
Explosive component of solid rocket and missile fuel. Widespread contaminant of food, drinking water, and people. Disrupts thyroid hormones, particularly in women with lower iodide intake; may harm brain development.
- level found: 0.19 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 10 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (70th %ile)
ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood | 0.6 | |
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metals
3 of 3 found
Mercury is used in dental fillings and to preserve vaccines; it is also a common pollutant in seafood. Mercury harms brain development and function.
- level found: 0.71 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 40 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (40th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (56th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
7.0E-5 | ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood | 12 |
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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: 0.55 ug/L (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 88 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (27th %ile)
- Moderate vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (44th %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: 0.225 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood [B]
- Low vs 71 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (3rd %ile)
- Low vs 8,373 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (6th %ile) (comparison based on congeners tested by CDC)
0.222 | ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood | 4.7 |
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perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
4 of 13 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- cumulative level found: 5.72 ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood
- Moderate vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (61st %ile)
0.736 | ng/g (wet weight) in whole blood | 27.8 |
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Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
bisphenol a & badge
1 of 1 found
Detected in polycarbonate plastic, dental sealants, and resins that line metal cans. Linked to hormone disruption, birth defects, cancer with effects at very low doses.
- level found: 0.946 ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 51 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (75th %ile)
ng/mL (wet weight) in blood serum | 8.61 | |
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brominated fire retardant
1 of 1 found — see each chemical
Brominated Fire Retardant
- cumulative level found: 2780 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 17 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (89th %ile)
ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 3210 | |
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Total Brominated Fire Retardant
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: 661 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- High vs 34 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (83rd %ile)
- High vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (94th %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
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
13-15 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: 3.05 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Low vs 116 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (7th %ile)
- Low vs 2,337 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (14th %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)
69-97 of 209 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- cumulative level found: 30.3 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Moderate vs 35 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (55th %ile)
- Moderate vs 4,821 tested in CDC biomonitoring [1] (46th %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)
6-11 of 70 found — see each chemical
Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.
- cumulative level found: 0.377 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- Low vs 23 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (22nd %ile)
0.0743 | ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 3.43 |
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Total Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)
Chemicals not found in Cord Blood Sample 18
233 chemicals
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDD (octadioxin), 2,3,7,8-TBDD (tetradioxin), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDD (pentadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OBDF (octafuran), 2,3,7,8-TBDF (tetrafuran), 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeBDF (pentafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDF (heptafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin), Traseolide, Cashmeran, Musk moskene, Musk xylene, Musk tibetene, Celestolide, Phantolide, Musk ketone, PFOSA (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), PFBA (Perfluorobutyric acid), PFUnA (Perfluoroundecanoic acid), PFPeA (Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid), PFHxA (Perfluorohexanoic acid), PFHpA (Perfluoroheptanoic acid), PFDoA (Perfluorododecanoic acid), PFDA (Perfluorodecanoic acid), PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonate), PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-37, PBDE-11, PBDE-79, PBDE-35, PBDE-77, PBDE-126, PBDE-10, PBDE-8, PBDE-7, PBDE-32, PBDE-30, PBDE-75, PBDE-120, PBDE-71, PBDE-116, PBDE-66, PBDE-119, PBDE-166, PBDE-105, PBDE-190, PBDE-51, PBDE-49, PBDE-99, PBDE-154, PBDE-85, PBDE-140, PBDE-138, PBDE-181, PBDE-128, PCB-15, PCB-14, PCB-39, PCB-38, PCB-81, PCB-37, PCB-80, PCB-36, PCB-127, PCB-79, PCB-169, PCB-126, PCB-77, PCB-35, PCB-9, PCB-31, PCB-29, PCB-75, PCB-7, PCB-24, PCB-34, PCB-26, PCB-121, PCB-23, PCB-120, PCB-119, PCB-33, PCB-25, PCB-22, PCB-59, PCB-58, PCB-57, PCB-161, PCB-192, PCB-162, PCB-159, PCB-122, PCB-108, PCB-107, PCB-56, PCB-55, PCB-6, PCB-5, PCB-54, PCB-53, PCB-104, PCB-50, PCB-103, PCB-102, PCB-48, PCB-155, PCB-100, PCB-96, PCB-152, PCB-150, PCB-91, PCB-145, PCB-88, PCB-188, PCB-148, PCB-186, PCB-142, PCB-97, PCB-184, PCB-86, PCB-204, PCB-136, PCB-42, PCB-134, PCB-176, PCB-132, PCB-131, PCB-82, PCB-40, PCB-16, PCB-10, PCB-32, PCB-73, PCB-27, PCB-65, PCB-72, PCB-71, PCB-69, PCB-62, PCB-125, PCB-124, PCB-68, PCB-67, PCB-21, PCB-112, PCB-165, PCB-111, PCB-164, PCB-106, PCB-94, PCB-93, PCB-98, PCB-143, PCB-182, PCB-181, PCB-41, PCB-89, PCB-174, PCB-141, PCB-87, PCB-95, PCB-78, PCB-64, PCB-44, PCB-47, PCB-49, PCB-52, PCN-2, PCN-10, PCN-26, PCN-48, PCN-1, PCN-9, PCN-25, PCN-6, PCN-5, PCN-24, PCN-47, PCN-23, PCN-22, PCN-21, PCN-20, PCN-45, PCN-44, PCN-19, PCN-42, PCN-3, PCN-18, PCN-17, PCN-41, PCN-16, PCN-39, PCN-15, PCN-36, PCN-14, PCN-35, PCN-62, PCN-61, PCN-32, PCN-59, PCN-58, PCN-72, PCN-57, PCN-71, PCN-13, PCN-31, PCN-30, PCN-56, PCN-29, PCN-55, PCN-54, PCN-70, PCN-53, PCN-69, PCN-51, PCN-68, PCN-67, PCN-27, PCN-50, PCN-66, PCN-49, PCN-65, PCN-64, PCN-74, PCN-73, PCN-75
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.)
[B] Peak found in sample and associated Lab Blank below the reporting limit.
See results for this participant's group
