GROUP:
EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Reproduction and fertility | 8 | 7-11 | 11 |
| Brain and nervous system | 8 | 7-11 | 11 |
Group members:
(40 People)
Anonymous Child #17
Anonymous Mom #17
Teo
Bronwyn
Olivia Brune
Mary Brune
Nicolas
Tess
Anonymous Mom #13
Anonymous Child #13
Naomi Carrigg
Laura Spark
Anonymous Child #11
Anonymous Mom #11
Mckenzie Green
Susanne Fleek
Lauren
Christi
Hannelore Peters
Erika Schreder
Conner Adams
Laurie Yung
Brynn Dickman
Hillary Dickman
Elijah Scheinz
Jennifer Scheinz
Natalie Comerford
Teri Olle
Tavin
Greta Hardin
Ruby Alcorn
Katrina Alcorn
Anonymous Child #42
Susan Comfort
Tracy Herndon
Zade Little
Maija West
Eva West
Liz
Evan
Locations:
Riverside, CA
Alameda, CA
Portland, OR
Boston, MA
Washington, DC
Anchorage, AK
Minneapolis, MN
Seattle, WA
Missoula, MT
Colorado Springs, CO
Helena, MT
San Francisco, CA
Lake Forest Park, WA
Oakland, CA
Taos, NM
Clinton, CT
Group: EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children
Found 11 of 20 tested chemicals (40 participants)
The blood of the "EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children" group contained 11 of 20 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,
Summary of chemicals found in EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 10% high 78% moderate 13% low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
11 of 20 found
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 34.9 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Liz, Tess, Laura Spark, Bronwyn, Anonymous Mom #11, Hillary Dickman, Teri Olle, Susan Comfort, Katrina Alcorn, Anonymous Mom #17, Erika Schreder, Christi, Laurie Yung, Tracy Herndon, Natalie Comerford, Anonymous Mom #13, Nicolas, Jennifer Scheinz, Mary Brune, Anonymous Child #13, Evan, Conner Adams, Hannelore Peters, Anonymous Child #11, Susanne Fleek, Brynn Dickman, Anonymous Child #42, Maija West, Teo, Olivia Brune, Tavin , Greta Hardin, Naomi Carrigg, Zade Little, Anonymous Child #17, Eva West, Mckenzie Green, Elijah Scheinz, Ruby Alcorn, Lauren
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
    | ||
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- geometric mean: 0.385 ng/g lipids in blood serum
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group
- found in: Hillary Dickman, Evan, Bronwyn, Liz, Naomi Carrigg, Katrina Alcorn, Mary Brune, Jennifer Scheinz, Christi, Natalie Comerford, Nicolas, Teri Olle, Susan Comfort, Tess, Anonymous Mom #13, Susanne Fleek, Elijah Scheinz, Laurie Yung, Hannelore Peters, Conner Adams, Laura Spark, Olivia Brune, Brynn Dickman, Anonymous Mom #11, Erika Schreder, Tracy Herndon, Ruby Alcorn, Teo, Lauren, Anonymous Mom #17, Maija West, Eva West, Tavin , Anonymous Child #17, Greta Hardin, Zade Little, Anonymous Child #42, Anonymous Child #13, Anonymous Child #11, Mckenzie Green
| 0.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 1.95 |
| | ||
Decabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants currently used in plastics and fabric. The major use is in electronic devices; the minor use is as a backcoating on industrial fabrics. Are directly toxic to mammals and breakdown to more dangerous forms in the environment.
A fire retardant used in TVs, monitors and electronics. Growing evidence that chemical breaks down in the environment to more persistent and toxic forms.
- geometric mean: 1.06 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 22 of 40 people in the group (vs. 37 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Anonymous Mom #13, Bronwyn, Anonymous Mom #11, Hannelore Peters, Naomi Carrigg, Lauren, Olivia Brune, Maija West, Brynn Dickman, Jennifer Scheinz, Anonymous Child #17, Greta Hardin, Laura Spark, Erika Schreder, Zade Little, Tavin , Laurie Yung, Anonymous Child #13, Anonymous Child #42, Anonymous Child #11, Teo, Mckenzie Green
| ng/g lipids in blood serum | 270 | |
| | ||
Heptabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated flame retardants used in plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 0.167 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.0626 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 11 of 40 people in the group (vs. 73 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laura Spark, Anonymous Mom #13, Anonymous Child #11, Zade Little, Susanne Fleek, Lauren, Teo, Anonymous Mom #11, Anonymous Child #42, Greta Hardin, Mckenzie Green
| 0.0122 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 4.31 |
| | ||
Hexabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in foam and plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 0.0231 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.0313 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 8 of 40 people in the group (vs. 51 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Zade Little, Brynn Dickman, Naomi Carrigg, Elijah Scheinz, Ruby Alcorn, Lauren, Anonymous Child #13, Anonymous Mom #13
| 0.0262 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 0.59 |
| | ||
- geometric mean: 7.66 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.1 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 116 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laura Spark, Anonymous Mom #11, Erika Schreder, Christi, Bronwyn, Susan Comfort, Hillary Dickman, Tess, Teri Olle, Nicolas, Brynn Dickman, Natalie Comerford, Hannelore Peters, Anonymous Mom #17, Liz, Anonymous Mom #13, Anonymous Child #11, Naomi Carrigg, Mary Brune, Anonymous Child #13, Laurie Yung, Evan, Eva West, Maija West, Jennifer Scheinz, Tracy Herndon, Katrina Alcorn, Anonymous Child #42, Olivia Brune, Teo, Lauren, Greta Hardin, Conner Adams, Mckenzie Green, Anonymous Child #17, Tavin , Zade Little, Ruby Alcorn, Elijah Scheinz, Susanne Fleek
| 0.238 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 76.9 |
| | ||
- geometric mean: 2.48 ng/g lipids in blood serum
- found in 38 of 38 people in the group
- found in: Brynn Dickman, Hillary Dickman, Bronwyn, Tess, Laura Spark, Laurie Yung, Nicolas, Anonymous Mom #11, Christi, Naomi Carrigg, Anonymous Mom #17, Mary Brune, Tracy Herndon, Maija West, Susanne Fleek, Greta Hardin, Katrina Alcorn, Tavin , Eva West, Erika Schreder, Susan Comfort, Conner Adams, Olivia Brune, Mckenzie Green, Anonymous Child #11, Lauren, Ruby Alcorn, Teo, Hannelore Peters, Zade Little, Jennifer Scheinz, Liz, Anonymous Child #17, Evan, Anonymous Child #42, Teri Olle, Natalie Comerford, Elijah Scheinz
| 0.45 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 15.4 |
| | ||
Pentabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 2.73 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 3.03 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 1,918 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Liz, Katrina Alcorn, Anonymous Mom #11, Bronwyn, Erika Schreder, Laura Spark, Tess, Laurie Yung, Teri Olle, Susan Comfort, Anonymous Mom #17, Hillary Dickman, Jennifer Scheinz, Tracy Herndon, Christi, Susanne Fleek, Mary Brune, Conner Adams, Natalie Comerford, Nicolas, Hannelore Peters, Anonymous Child #11, Anonymous Mom #13, Evan, Anonymous Child #13, Brynn Dickman, Teo, Anonymous Child #42, Olivia Brune, Maija West, Mckenzie Green, Greta Hardin, Zade Little, Tavin , Naomi Carrigg, Anonymous Child #17, Elijah Scheinz, Ruby Alcorn, Eva West, Lauren
| 0.00528 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 32.6 |
| | ||
- geometric mean: 0.235 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.839 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 17 of 40 people in the group (vs. 512 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Anonymous Child #11, Evan, Greta Hardin, Anonymous Child #42, Brynn Dickman, Tavin , Maija West, Olivia Brune, Zade Little, Naomi Carrigg, Mckenzie Green, Anonymous Child #17, Teo, Elijah Scheinz, Lauren, Ruby Alcorn, Eva West
| 0.000971 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 2.27 |
| | ||
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- geometric mean: 2.83 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.32 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 1,395 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Liz, Katrina Alcorn, Tess, Laurie Yung, Laura Spark, Erika Schreder, Anonymous Mom #11, Hillary Dickman, Bronwyn, Anonymous Mom #17, Anonymous Mom #13, Tracy Herndon, Susan Comfort, Teri Olle, Jennifer Scheinz, Natalie Comerford, Mary Brune, Conner Adams, Anonymous Child #13, Hannelore Peters, Nicolas, Susanne Fleek, Christi, Anonymous Child #11, Evan, Greta Hardin, Maija West, Anonymous Child #42, Brynn Dickman, Tavin , Zade Little, Olivia Brune, Teo, Mckenzie Green, Naomi Carrigg, Elijah Scheinz, Eva West, Anonymous Child #17, Ruby Alcorn, Lauren
| 0.0786 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 31.2 |
| | ||
Tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- geometric mean: 16.1 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 15 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 1,975 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Liz, Katrina Alcorn, Laura Spark, Laurie Yung, Bronwyn, Anonymous Mom #11, Tess, Tracy Herndon, Anonymous Mom #17, Jennifer Scheinz, Teri Olle, Hillary Dickman, Susan Comfort, Susanne Fleek, Erika Schreder, Anonymous Mom #13, Conner Adams, Anonymous Child #13, Christi, Natalie Comerford, Anonymous Child #11, Evan, Nicolas, Mary Brune, Hannelore Peters, Anonymous Child #42, Teo, Mckenzie Green, Tavin , Brynn Dickman, Zade Little, Maija West, Anonymous Child #17, Olivia Brune, Greta Hardin, Elijah Scheinz, Eva West, Naomi Carrigg, Ruby Alcorn, Lauren
| 0.33 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 143 |
| | ||
Tribrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 0.728 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 40 of 40 people in the group (vs. 100 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Katrina Alcorn, Liz, Bronwyn, Anonymous Mom #17, Tracy Herndon, Anonymous Child #13, Anonymous Mom #11, Laura Spark, Anonymous Child #11, Jennifer Scheinz, Susanne Fleek, Tess, Conner Adams, Susan Comfort, Evan, Anonymous Mom #13, Teri Olle, Christi, Nicolas, Hillary Dickman, Mckenzie Green, Tavin , Anonymous Child #42, Anonymous Child #17, Natalie Comerford, Erika Schreder, Zade Little, Laurie Yung, Mary Brune, Teo, Ruby Alcorn, Eva West, Naomi Carrigg, Lauren, Brynn Dickman, Elijah Scheinz, Hannelore Peters, Olivia Brune, Maija West, Greta Hardin
| 0.0385 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 6.17 |
| | ||
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.)
