Toxic chemicals found in the bodies of Vermonters; everyday products are a major source of chemical exposure

Government must fix broken chemical safety system

Researchers, doctors, participants, advocates, and others gathered at the State House today to release a chemical body burden study of Vermont residents. As a project of River Network and the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Vermont, Toxic Exposures in the Green Mountain State, tested the bodies of six Vermonters for a variety of common chemicals found in the environment and consumer products. These chemicals – including bisphenol A (BPA), mercury, organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants known as Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – have all been linked to harmful health impacts ranging from cancer to neurological damage to birth defects.

“While the results of this study are alarming, they confirm exactly what we always suspected to be true – Vermonters are no more protected from toxic exposures than any other population in the country,” said Steve Dickens, Health Program Director of River Network and lead author of the report. “Despite our reputation as a pristine state, our citizens are not immune from the effects of harmful chemicals.”

According to the study, three of the four classes of chemicals tested were found in the bodies of all six individuals and were present at levels suspected of causing health problems. Every single participant had a minimum of thirty-five of the chemicals tested for in their bodies, and thirty of the chemicals tested were found in all of the subjects.

The amount of each chemical found in the bodies of participants varied widely. Chemical levels were sometimes lower or higher – in some cases many times higher – than national norms. According to the study:

· BPA was found in every participant and 33% of the participants had levels above the national mean;

· Levels of mercury were found in four participants, each time equaling or exceeding the national norm;

· Seven types of organochlorine pesticides were found in the blood of all participants, and DDT – banned in 1972 – was found in the bodies of five of the six Vermonters; and

· Twenty different types of flame retardants were present in all of the participants, and Deca was found in all but one of the Vermonters.

“I’m surprised and disturbed to hear about the elevated levels of Deca in my body,” said Katy Farber, the participant with the highest level of Deca in her samples. “Now I question my electronics, my furniture, and the dust I don’t vacuum as regularly as I should. Most importantly, I wonder about the flame retardants my young daughters are exposed to in our home and what the health consequences for them might be. It shouldn’t be this way. We have enough to worry about as parents – we shouldn’t have to worry that merely living in our homes can cause serious health problems.”

According to Dickens, all people – including newborn children – carry a chemical body burden. Humans are exposed to chemicals through a variety of ways including breathing in contaminated air, eating tainted food, or using everyday products such as perfumes, water bottles, and electronics.

“While most people imagine superfund sites or belching smokestacks as our primary toxic threats, in actuality toxic exposure is more likely to come from the ubiquitous chemical ingredients found in the consumer products we use each day,” said Ellen Starr, Vice President of Health Center Operations for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. “The chemical BPA for example, was found in every Vermont study participant. BPA can be found in toys, canned foods, Tupperware, and even baby bottles.”

There are more than 80,000 chemicals used commercially in the United States and another 1,000 more are added each year. Yet, more than 90% of these chemicals have never been fully tested for their impacts on human health.

In 1976, the federal government passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in an attempt to better regulate chemicals in the U.S. However, TSCA grandfathered in 62,000 chemicals and does not require industry to prove the safety of chemicals before they are used in consumer products. Since TSCA became law, the EPA has only restricted the use of five chemicals and has required testing for less than 200.

The failures of TSCA have left the public vulnerable to chemical contamination, and a growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates that these exposures are taking a toll on public health. The chemicals tested for in Toxic Exposures have been linked to a wide variety of serious health problems including miscarriages, neurological damage, cancers, heart conditions, hormone disruption, and more.

“Unfortunately, because our exposure to chemicals is so ubiquitous, no one can diet or shop their way out of this problem,” said Dr. Rebecca Jones, a Brattleboro physician who assisted with the study. “In order to be truly protective of public health, we must use safer alternatives and ask our government – at the state and national level – to adopt policies that prevent our exposure to these toxins.”

While efforts to reform our federal toxics law are already underway, many states – including Vermont –are working locally to protect consumers from toxins. Toxic Exposures recommends that Vermont adopt a comprehensive approach to chemical regulation that:

· Phases out the most harmful chemicals and requires the use of safer alternatives;

· Requires that all chemicals be screened for safety;

· Honors the public’s right-to-know which hazardous chemicals are in what products; and

· Promotes the development of safer alternatives and sustainable design.

In addition, the report emphasizes that until such a system is in place, Vermont should continue to immediately phase out individual chemicals known to be harmful and for which safer alternatives exist.

River Network is leading a nationwide movement to preserve and restore clean and healthy waters. While rivers are our focal point, we work to protect the quality of all fresh waters and the health of all people and ecosystems dependent upon them. For more information go to www.rivernetwork.org.

VTDigger