----- forwarded message ----- Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 07:06:46 -0700 From: Teresa Binstock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Chemicals in our Bodies: Physicians say Americans are bearing a toxic burden
> Physicians for Social Responsibility > Press Release & Summary > > Chemicals in our Bodies, Physicians say Americans are bearing a toxic burden > > Contact: Susan Marmagas (x224 or 703-629-5351), Karen Perry (x249) > 202-667-4260 For Immediate Release > > WASHINGTON � Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) responded to a new > government study about toxic chemicals in Americans� bodies with a warning: > Our health is at risk from a wide variety of environmental pollutants. > > A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) > documents levels of more than 100 toxic chemicals found in the bodies of > Americans. In response, PSR has issued �Bearing the Burden: Health > Implications of Environmental Pollutants in Our Bodies� as a companion report > to help interpret the CDC�s findings. PSR�s report shows that many of the > chemicals measured by CDC can have serious health effects, even at low levels > of exposure. > > �CDC�s study shows that the American public is exposed to a variety of > chemicals, many of which have been linked to cancer, learning disabilities, or > other chronic conditions like Parkinson's disease,� said Robert K. Musil, > Ph.D., M.P.H., PSR�s CEO and Executive Director. �It�s time for our government > to do more to crack down on these toxic pollutants in our air, water, and > food.� > > Among the most startling revelations in the CDC report are: > > > Children have twice the levels of chlorpyrifos (Dursban) and other commonly > used organophosphate insecticides as do adults. Mexican Americans have three > times the levels of the pesticide DDT as do whites and blacks. DDT is a > global contaminant that, while long banned in the US and more recently in > Mexico, continues to be used against malaria in some countries. Levels of the > chemicals called phthalates that are found in cosmetics are higher in adults, > especially African American women, while the more toxic phthalates found in > soft PVC plastic products are higher in children. > > > �The CDC�s biological monitoring program is a valuable tool in disease > prevention,� said Susan Marmagas, M.P.H., PSR�s Environment and Health Program > Director. �As part of a nationwide environmental health tracking system, it > can help us connect the dots between the environment and human disease, and > make all Americans safer and healthier.� > > PSR�s report is available online at > www.envirohealthaction.org/bearingtheburden and includes information about the > chemical types included in the 2003 National Exposure Report. For many > chemicals, there are detailed profiles describing potential sources of > exposure, health effects, methods for detecting exposure, and federal > regulations for protecting human health. PSR is a leading environmental > health organization representing more than 22,000 members nationwide. > > > Bearing the Burden: Health Implications of Environmental Pollutants in Our > Bodies > > >ttp://www.envirohealthaction.org/environment/biomonitoring/articles.cfm?article_ID=164 > > REPORTERS--FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SPEAK TO AN EXPERT, CALL PHYSICIANS FOR > SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AT 202-667-4260 > > In response to CDC's 2003 National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental > Chemicals, Physicians for Social Responsibility, a nonprofit public health > organization with over 22,000 members, has issued a companion report, Bearing > the Burden: Health Implications of Environmental Pollutants in Our Bodies, to > help interpret CDC's findings. PSR's report provides user-friendly profiles, > describes the chemicals and discusses their adverse health effects. Click here > to read the press release. > > PSR's Bearing the Burden includes information about the chemical types > included in the 2003 National Exposure Report. Detailed profiles for many of > the chemicals can be found in the full report which describe potential sources > of exposure, health effects, methods for detecting exposure, and federal > regulations for protecting human health. An easy-to-read chart is also > available for a quick comparison of the most recent research linking chemical > exposure to health effects in both animals and humans. > > Bearing the Burden: Health Effects of Environmental Pollutants in Our Bodies > (complete list of chemical profiles) > > Executive Summary > > Table of Contents > > [Comment: the CDC did not study arsenic, nor did the CDC study several types > of phthalates, especially types that are found in the human body. A similar > but more thorough study by a major foundation, the Environmental Working Group > can be obtained at its url http://www.ewg.org ] > > > Industrial Chemicals and By-Products > � Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Chemicals > � Polycyclic Aromatic Hydorcarbons (PAHs) > � Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) > � Phthalates > � Heavy Metals > Lead > Mercury > Cadmium > (others) > Antimony Molybdenum > Barium Platinum > Beryllium Thallium > Cesium Tungsten > Cobalt Uranium > > Pesticides and Pest Repellents > � Organochlorine Pesticides > DDT > Chlordane > Lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) > Pentachlorophenol > � Non-Persistent Pesticides > Carbamate Pesticides > Organophosphate Pesticides > Malathion > Chlorpyrifos > Diazinon > (others) > Azinphos-methyl Methyl parathion > Chlorethoxyfos Naled > Chlorpyrifos-methyl Oxydemeton-methyl > Coumaphos Parathion > Dichlorvos Phorate > Dicrotophos Phosmet > Dimethoate Pirimiphos-methyl > Disulfoton Sulfotepp > Ethion Temephos > Fenitrothion Terbufos > Fenthion Tetrachlorvinphos > Methidation Trichlorfon > � Herbicides > Atrazine > 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) > Alachlor > � Fungicides > Ortho-phenylphenol > � Pest Repellents > DEET
