Body Burdens

also see glyphosate, antibacterials , under 2,4-D, Pesticide fact sheets/Organophosphates, body burdens

Organophosphate (OP) Pesticides in Agricultural Area Residents’ Urine Year Round    (Beyond Pesticides, April 28, 2023) 'A study published in Science of The Total Environment finds agricultural communities encounter chronic and measurable pesticide exposure regardless of seasonal pesticide applications. Several biomonitoring studies demonstrate people living adjacent to or within agricultural areas often experience elevated levels of organophosphate (OP) insecticides, even while not working directly with OPs. Six dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites (breakdown products) of OPs persist in urine during the spraying and non-spraying seasons.' This is likely due to widespread contamination of foods woth OPs and household use.' 

EPA confirms PFAS can leach from shipping containers into food, other products   (By Shannon Kelleher, The New Lede, 12 September 2022)       Toxic chemicals knowns as PFAS leach from the walls of shipping containers into the products they contain, potentially contaminating food, pesticides, and other products transported all over the world, according to study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).   The EPA analysis found that 8 types of PFAS compounds leached into water and methanol samples stored in fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers after just one day.    The EPA said the analysis provided “a clear indication” of the migration of PFAS from container walls to the liquid solutions in the container. The agency said the amount of PFAS leached into the solutions generally increased with time during the agency’s 20-week testing period.     The levels of contamination the EPA found were far higher than the updated drinking water health advisory level of about 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) that EPA recently set for PFOA, one of the PFAS chemicals identified in the barrels.'   see also EPA Confirms PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Leach into Pesticides from Storage Containers (Beyond Pesticides, September 14, 2022)   SNAP Comments: Canadian Water guidelines for PFAs (June 2019)  'Treatment options for PFAS: PFAS can be removed by treating well water: using either an activated carbon filter installed at the tap or where the water enters the house; or using a reverse osmosis system installed at the drinking water tap. Reverse osmosis systems should only be installed at the tap, as the treated water may cause corrosion to the plumbing and cause other contaminants, like heavy metals, to leach into the water.'

Four Out of Five People in U.S. Contaminated with Glyphosate (Beyond Pesticides, July 12, 2022) More than four out of five U.S. children and adults over the age of six have detectable levels of glyphosate in their bodies, according to data recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).     A total of 2,310 urine samples retained from studies conducted in 2013-2014 were analyzed by NHANES researchers for the presence of glyphosate. Participants included both children and adults above age six. Out of these samples, 1,885 (81.6%) contain glyphosate at or above the detection limit. 

One in three Americans have detectable levels of toxic weedkiller, study finds  
(Nina Lakhani, The guardian,  9 February 2022)   'Human exposure to 2,4-D has substantially risen despite a multitude of health and environmental concerns.   As the pesticide grew in popularity among farmers and gardeners, so did evidence of human exposure, rising from a low of 17% in 2001-02 to a high of almost 40% a decade later.  Exposure to high levels of 2,4-D, an ingredient of Agent Orange used against civilians during the Vietnam war, has been linked to cancers including leukemia in children, birth defects and reproductive problems among other health issues... While little is known about the impact of low-level exposure to the herbicide, it does disrupt the endocrine system. Link to the study Environmental Health,    Overall, the amount of 2,4-D applied in agriculture increased 67% between 2012 and 2020, but its use will almost certainly grow sharply over the next decade due to the widespread use of the controversial weedkiller Enlist Duo – a relatively newly approved combo (2,4-D and glyphosate) for genetically modified crops.'   SNAP Comment: In Canada the PMRA currently registers 142 pesticides containing 2,4-D.

The Canadian Health Measures Survey   The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) is a national survey that is led by Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, which collects information from Canadians about their general health.  Each cycle also contains a Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada 

Increased Accumulation of Disinfectant Chemicals in the Body during the Pandemic Threatens Health, Despite Available Alternatives    (Beyond Pesticides, February 1, 2022) A study published in Environmental Science and Technology finds that concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs or QACs) in the human body have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising health and safety concerns. QACs include a variety of chemicals in personal care, pharmaceutical, and medical products used as disinfectants, sanitizers, antimicrobials. However, over the past 70 years, large-scale production and use of these compounds led to accumulation in the environment, including surface water, sediment, and soil. Previously, researchers thought most QACs lack the potential to bioaccumulate,  as the chemicals are highly water-soluble, while dermal and oral absorption rates are low. However, emerging evidence demonstrates that specific QACs bioaccumulate in blood and other body tissues and can cause a range of toxic effects.  The results show 15 out of the 18 QACs are detectable in blood samples, with QAC concentrations significantly higher during the pandemic than prior to it. The main routes of exposure include diet, inhalation, ingestion, or the skin. '

Study Shows Organic Food Diet Reduces Residues of Glyphosate in Body   (Beyond Pesticides, August 13, 2020) 'Levels of the notorious herbicide compound glyphosate in the human body are reduced by 70% through a one-week switch to an organic diet.'

Chemical Levels Found to Be Higher in Children from Low Income Families  (Beyond Pesticides, August 19, 2011) 'The chemicals measured included phthalates, organochlorine pesticides, organophosphate pesticides, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile organic compounds. ..The children studied had higher concentrations of many of the 75 chemicals tested compared to national surveys of children.'

Environmental Working Group; to the left, click on Health/Toxics, then body burdens / Human testing of pesticides. Scroll to research and click more to find great reports including Body Burdens identifying many dozens of contaminants in people.You can also search for Pesticides and children for more resources.

Body Burden, The Pollution in Newborns, Environmental Working Group (2005)

CDC National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals Fourth report in 2009. Updated 2012 tables. In the 4th report, 75 new chemicals tested for the first time. 75% of US population have the anti-bacterial pesticide triclosan in their urine. Triclosan is shown to alter thyroid function, is linked to bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistance, dioxin contamination and contamination of surface waters and sewage sludge. Synthetic pyrethroids and/or their metabolites were all found in greater than 50% of the subjects tested. Exposure to synthetic pyrethroids has been reported to trigger asthma, lead to headaches There are also serious chronic health concerns.

Pesticides in Our Bodies/ A Toxic Legacy} (October 18th, 2004) Report on the Montreal conference of the same name by Paule Hjertaas. 

Contaminated Without Consent video