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about this participant:
Darcy White, a Registered Nurse from Raytown, MO, participated in the 2003 biomonitoring investigation entitled "EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk." She gave breast milk for the study on March 11, 2003 at age 28, when her baby, Katelyn, was 25 days old.
Related links:
Location:
Raytown, MO
Participant's groups:
Women of Childbearing Age, Female, Adult
Study:
EWG Study #2, flame retardants in breast milk
Sample Date:
March 11, 2003
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found in this person |
Reproduction and fertility | 26 |
Brain and nervous system | 26 |
![picture of Darcy White](../images/photos/photo_BM_MO.jpg)
Participant: Darcy White
Found 22-26 of 44 tested chemicals
Darcy White's breast milk contained 22-26 of 44 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,
- This participant's samples show the highest levels of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), PBDE-11, PBDE-15, PBDE-7, PBDE-183, PBDE-138, PBDE-140, PBDE-153, PBDE-155, PBDE-100, PBDE-126, PBDE-85, PBDE-47, PBDE-28, PBDE-37 compared to all others in EWG studies
- This participant's samples show above average levels of PBDE-25, compared to all others in EWG studies
Summary of chemicals found in Darcy White
chemical family | level found | health effects | exposure routes |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | high | 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)
22-26 of 44 found
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- cumulative level found: 1080 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
9.51 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1080 |
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Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
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.
- level found: 0.4 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1.23 | |
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Dibrominated 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.
- level found: 0.06 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.06 | |
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- level found: 17.7 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.19 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 17.7 |
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- level found: 0.04 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.04 | |
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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.
- level found: 0.46 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.05 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.46 |
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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.
- level found: 1.76 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1.76 | |
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- level found: 1.93 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.01 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 1.93 |
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- level found: 122 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
1.07 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 122 |
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- level found: 9.8 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.04 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 11.7 |
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- level found: 2.5 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 2.5 | |
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Nonabrominated 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.
- level found: 0.02 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.04 | |
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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.
- level found: 171 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.57 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 171 |
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- level found: 0.22 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.22 | |
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- level found: 17.1 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.05 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 17.1 |
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In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- level found: 91.1 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.76 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 200 |
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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.
- level found: 589 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
5.53 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 589 |
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- level found: 2.2 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.04 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 3.69 |
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- level found: 6.05 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.06 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 8.37 |
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- level found: 0.36 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.01 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.43 |
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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.
- level found: 0.46 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
0.02 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.47 |
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- level found: 0.05 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (95th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.06 | |
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- level found: 43.8 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
0.35 | ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 43.8 |
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- level found: 0.4 ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk
- High vs 20 tested in EWG/Commonweal studies (99th %ile)
ppb (lipid weight) in breast milk | 0.4 | |
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Chemicals not found in Darcy White
18 chemicals
PBDE-32, PBDE-3, PBDE-2, PBDE-1, PBDE-13, PBDE-12, PBDE-35, PBDE-77, PBDE-10, PBDE-207, PBDE-30, PBDE-71, PBDE-116, PBDE-119, PBDE-105, PBDE-190, PBDE-181, PBDE-208
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.)
[2] The chemicals co-eluted in the laboratory analysis.
See results for this participant's group
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