Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released an assessment on the exposure of the U.S. population to more than two hundred chemicals found in the environment.  The assessment was based on a two year study in which blood and urine samples from 2,400 individuals were collected and analyzed.
It is not surprising that this report confirms that the U.S. population is exposed to more than 200 chemicals found in the environment.  What is surprising is that the report has identified a number of chemicals for the first time in the U.S. population. These are commonly used substances that are used as fire retardants, plastic food containers and non-stick cookware.
 Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are fire retardants used in the manufacture of household products such as televisions, computers and residential upholstered furniture.   One type of polybrominated diphenyl ether,P BDE-47, was reported for the first time in blood samples of nearly all participants in the study.
 Each type of PBDEs has different uses and different toxicity. In 2009, three major producers of Deca-BDE arrived at an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop producing, importing and selling Deca-BDE by the end of 2012. Taking a more proactive approach, the State of Washington passed a state law to eliminate the use of Deca-BDE by 2011.
 Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, is used in making plastic food containers, water bottles and even baby bottles.  BPA can mimic the body’s own hormones and has been linked to concerns in fetal and infant brain development and other negative health effects.  The CDC reported finding BPA  in more than 90% of the urine samples collected in the study.
When foods containing carbohydrates are cooked at high temperatures (e.g., French fries), small amounts of acrylamide are formed. This chemical may also be found in tobacco smoke.  Most people are exposed to acrylamide through the foods they eat and from smoking.
Acrylamide has been classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) IARC as a possible human carcinogen.  The CDC reports that exposure to acrylamide is “extremely common” in the U.S. population.
 The report also has some good news.  Results of sampling indicate that considerable progress has been made in reducing childhood exposure to lead.  Blood lead levels in children have decreased, indicating that public health efforts to reduce childhood exposures have been successful.
Information in the report will be used by federal agencies in regulating or banning the production of some of the chemicals reported in CDCs study. An executive summary of CDC’s report  that includes a list of the chemicals being reported for the first time is available from LEPC NEWS at:  http://lepcnews.squarespace.com/cdc-toxic-exposure-report/.