GROUP:
EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Brain and nervous system | 134 | 79-160 | 180 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 121 | 78-142 | 166 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 42 | 33-49 | 63 |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 31 | 22-40 | 50 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 8 | 7-12 | 13 |
| Cancer | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Endocrine system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Kidney and renal system | 1 | 1-1 | 1 |
Group members:
(10 People)
Baby #1
Baby #2
Baby #3
Baby #4
Baby #5
Baby #6
Baby #7
Baby #8
Baby #9
Baby #10
Locations:
about this group:
Though scientists once thought that the womb protected developing babies from pollution, a new study of umbilical cord blood from newborns found an extensive array of industrial chemicals, pesticides and other pollutants. Ten newborns averaged 200 contaminants, and 209 pollutants had never before been detected in cord blood.
Group: EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood
Found 213-287 of 413 tested chemicals (10 participants)
The cord blood of the "EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood" group contained 213-287 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 EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 100% moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) | 80% moderate 20% low | Gastrointestinal (including liver) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 100% low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
| Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | 100% low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Chlorinated dioxins & furans | 100% moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | 40% high 60% moderate | Reproduction and fertility | Air polluted by vehicles or factories, burned and fatty food |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 30% high 70% moderate | Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Brominated dioxins & furans | 70% moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Methylmercury | 30% high 60% moderate 10% low | Dietary sources, particularly seafood |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
98-147 of 209 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- geometric mean: 6.2 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #5, Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #1, Baby #3, Baby #9, Baby #10, Baby #4, Baby #2, Baby #8
| 2.95 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 600 |
    | ||
Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)
31-50 of 70 found — see each chemical
Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.
- geometric mean: 0.574 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.693 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Baby #6, Baby #10, Baby #5, Baby #8, Baby #9, Baby #3, Baby #7, Baby #4, Baby #2, Baby #1
| 0.0743 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 3.43 |
| | ||
Total Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
27-32 of 46 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 4.53 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #8, Baby #10, Baby #2, Baby #1, Baby #7, Baby #3, Baby #9, Baby #5, Baby #6, Baby #4
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
| | ||
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
21 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.
- geometric mean: 17.2 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #3, Baby #10, Baby #5, Baby #4, Baby #2, Baby #9, Baby #1, Baby #8
| 0.615 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 2830 |
| | ||
Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
chlorinated dioxins & furans
11 of 17 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 56.3 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #9, Baby #5, Baby #3, Baby #1, Baby #10, Baby #8, Baby #4, Baby #2
| 5 | pg/g lipids in blood serum | 1860 |
| | ||
Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)
9 of 18 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.
- geometric mean: 279 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 230 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 8 of 8 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Baby #8, Baby #6, Baby #2, Baby #5, Baby #1
| 130 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 384 |
| | ||
Total Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
9 of 12 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 5.86 ng/g in whole blood (vs. 4.46 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Baby #6, Baby #9, Baby #10, Baby #4, Baby #1, Baby #2, Baby #5, Baby #7, Baby #8, Baby #3
| 0.736 | ng/g in whole blood | 27.8 |
| | ||
Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
brominated dioxins & furans
6-7 of 12 found — see each chemical
Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 12 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14.8 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 7 of 10 people in the group (vs. 2,163 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #7, Baby #6, Baby #3, Baby #4, Baby #2, Baby #5, Baby #1
| 7.72 | pg/g lipids in blood serum | 1440 |
| | ||
Total Brominated dioxins & furans
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.
- geometric mean: 0.713 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #5, Baby #4, Baby #10, Baby #3, Baby #7, Baby #1, Baby #9, Baby #6, Baby #8, Baby #2
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
| | ||
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.)
