ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Enviroblog is a project of EWG Action Fund. (More. . .)

FEED

 Subscribe in a Reader

Subscribe by Email

An EWG podcast for environmental health news on the go.

TWITTER UPDATES

TIPS

Did we miss something? Email Amanda.

BLOGROLL

STAY CONNECTED

Get our monthly eNewsletter, action alerts, & environmental tips. [Privacy policy, About EWG]

Confirmed: New shower curtain smell is gross

House bill would ban BPA in food, beverage packaging

Chemical injections in Colorado

FEATURED

BPA in your body: How to minimize your exposure

Caution: These 7 household items may feminize baby boys

BPA in infant formula: This is not a call to panic

Cheatsheet: Bisphenol A

7 ways to reduce your exposure to PBDEs

Your BPA questions, answered

Ask EWG

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Is there eco-friendly jewelry?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

SEARCH

ARCHIVE

select month June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

« USDA Weakens National Organic Food Standards | Main | Ford under fire for concealing safety tests »

May 25, 2004

Study: American Pesticide Levels Are High

A new study by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) found that a large percentage of people who had their blood and urine tested carried pesticides above levels considered safe by government health and environmental agencies.

This analysis is but one of an increasing number of ‘body burden’ studies, as scientists refer to them, that are providing researchers with troubling insights into the health risks of everyday human exposures to toxic chemicals. Scientists have spent decades researching chemical contaminants in air, water and on land, and have now begun to turn their attention to an important pollution site they have by and large neglected until now: people.

In 2003, in an investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and Commonweal, researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants, and other chemicals in the blood and urine of nine volunteers, with a total of 167 chemicals found in the group.

These findings about environmental contaminants in people have prompted unusually swift and rigorous actions on the part of government officials and companies as well as ongoing questions as to how these chemicals got into our bodies in the first place. These actions include a State of California lawsuit to force grocery store chains to label mercury-contaminated seafood and the forcing of 3M Company to alter its original Scotchgard formula after it was found to have contaminated every American.

Related links:

EWG Files Legal Challenge to FDA Mercury Health Advisory
Study Finds Record High Levels of Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers
Toxic Fire Retardants Are Building Up Rapidly in San Francisco Bay Fish: And People
PFCs: A Family of Chemicals That Contaminate the Planet

« USDA Weakens National Organic Food Standards |