Pollution in People: A Study of Toxic Chemicals in Oregonians, a new study conducted by the Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Collaborative on Health and the Environment, indicates that a diverse group of people from across the state have been exposed to more than a dozen toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, the one trait they probably share with all Oregonians is the unwelcome presence of toxic chemicals in their bodies.

"I’ve lived in the same community for most of my life," said Vicki Berger, Oregon State Representative from Salem and study participant. "And, although I haven’t lived in industrial areas, I still have all these pollutants in my body."

The results of the tests revealed in the Pollution in People: A Study of Toxic Chemicals in Oregonians report include several key findings. Among them, toxic chemicals from consumer products, food, and industrial pollution contaminate our bodies. Each person tested in this study had at least nine and as many as 16 of the 29 toxic chemicals tested for in their body. While some of these toxic chemicals come from contaminated soil, air, and water, many of the pollutants also come from food, everyday household dust, and from direct contact with such everyday products as personal care items, plastic products, consumer electronics, and stain-resistant furniture.

These toxic chemicals are cause for concern because they can lead to what are otherwise preventable health problems. State and federal regulations have failed to prevent the use of harmful chemicals in consumer products, manufacturing processes, and food production.

"When it comes to many toxic chemicals used in consumer products, there are few if any laws regulating their use," said Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Ph.D., MPH – Program Director, Oregon Environmental Council. "By eliminating unnecessary exposure to these toxic chemicals in children’s toys and consumer products, Oregon can be an innovator in its approach to preventive health."

The Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Collaborative on Health and the Environment strongly recommend that our state and federal governments develop and adopt comprehensive policies to ensure that only the safest chemicals are used in consumer products and in manufacturing and production processes.

The report also outlines solutions and personal actions Oregonians can take to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals. This includes using safer products at home and at work. Low-cost solutions can help reduce toxic exposure until our broken chemical safety system is fixed by policy makers; for example, eating fish low in mercury, choosing organic produce, and avoiding personal care products containing phthalates and other toxic chemicals are simple preventive measures.

To find out how you can reduce your exposure to chemicals identified in this study, click here.

"When I was pregnant with my first child, I didn’t know there were safer choices I could make about the types of bottles I used, the types of mattresses I used," said Cathy Bloome of Portland. "With my second child, I knew about phthalates and made the choice to avoid them. Many of these changes have not been costly and have made a difference in my personal phthalate levels."

To help identify the extent of the presence of these chemicals, 10 Oregon women and men volunteered to have their bodies tested in this study. The chemicals tested for included:

• Phthalates – endocrine disrupting chemicals found in a variety of everyday consumer products. Recent scientific studies in humans have linked low-level phthalate exposure to reduced sperm count, feminization of male genitals, and premature delivery. Every participant was contaminated with phthalates.
• Mercury – a potent neurotoxin that is of particular concern for young children and the developing fetus. Every participant had mercury in his or her blood, and all but one participant had blood mercury levels higher than the national median.
• Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – have potential health risks for cancer and liver damage. These chemicals have been in use in household products since the 1950s as surfactants and stain protectors. PFOA, a chemical of the PFC class, is a likely human carcinogen and was detected in each participant.
• Organophosphate pesticides – insecticides commonly used in agriculture whose toxic effects may include nervous system harm, cancer, and hormone disruption.
• Bisphenol A (BPA) – a chemical widely used to make reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, the linings in metal food cans, and dental sealants. Animal studies have linked BPA to reduced fertility, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and obesity. Scientific studies have shown that even low-dose exposure can have negative health impacts. Bisphenol A was found in 80% of the participants.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – the manufacture of PCBs in the United States ended in 1977 after extensive production and use. However, PCBs bioaccumulate and persist in the food chain and in our bodies, and have been linked to cancer, disrupted immune and reproductive systems, and negative effects on nervous system development.

The study participants came from different professions, both genders, various ethnic backgrounds and live in different parts of the state. The Oregonians tested were:

• Dr. Alan Bates, Ashland, OR: physician, Oregon Senate Majority Whip
• Vicki Berger, Salem, OR: Oregon State Representative from District 20
• Cathy Bloome, Portland, OR: occupational therapist and consultant, mother of two
• Donalda Dodson, Salem, OR: Interim Executive Director of the Oregon Child Development Coalition
• Linda Hornbuckle, Portland, OR: professional singer
• Doug Phillips, Bend, OR: founder and president of Metolius Climbing Company
• Danya Rumore, Corvallis, OR: student
• Doug Stamm, Portland, OR: Chief Executive Officer of the Meyer Memorial Trust
• Don Sampson, Pendleton, OR: Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
• Jeff VonAllmen, Portland, OR: firefighter

To read or get a copy of Pollution in People: A Study of Toxic Chemicals in Oregonians visit: www.oeconline.org/pollutioninpeople.