Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals - Shorts

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Dec, 2003  by Jule Klotter

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In January 2003, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. The first report, released in March 2001, measured the presence of 27 metals and chemicals in blood and urine samples from some 1999 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants. NHANES collects data on the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population. The second report looked for 116 toxic chemicals (including the original 27) in the blood and urine samples of about 10,000 NHANES participants during 1999-2000. The data was further categorized according to age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Future reports, which will be released every two years, will include information on special-exposure groups, such as people living near hazardous waste sites or those who apply pesticides. The CDC is also open to requests to add specified chemicals to their survey. The surveys provide a baseline for environmental chemical exposure and also indicate the effectiveness of government regulations concerning known toxins, such as lead.

These reports focus solely on the amount of chemical being absorbed by the body. They do not look at how much is in the environment, nor do they look at safety. The Introduction to the 260-page report says, "Research studies, separate from the Report, are required to determine which blood or urine levels are safe and which cause disease. The Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals is available at www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/ or by contacting the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health at 1-866-670-6052 (toll-free) or ncehdls@cdc.gov.

Arnold, David. CDC report: Americans carry fewer toxins in bloodstreams. The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) 1 February 2003.

CDC. Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. www.cdc.gov/exposurereport

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