FULL REPORT
News Release
1: Executive summary
2: Babies are vulnerable to chemical harm
3: Human health problems on the rise
4: Recommendations
Detailed findings
Methodology
Questions and Answers
References
About This Report
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Related News Coverage
Related EWG Investigations
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EWG Letter to Chemical Lobby (PDF)
Chemical Lobby Response #1 (PDF)
Follow-Up Letter to Chemical Lobby (21 July)
Stmt from US Rep. Slaughter (PDF)
Stmt from Minority Leader Pelosi (PDF)
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Content Index
Executive Summary. EWG tested 10 newborn babies for 413 industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides. We learned that these 10 babies were born polluted with hundreds of chemicals. Click here to learn more.
Babies are vulnerable. The low doses that we found are more toxic to babies than adults. Learn more here.
Human health problems on the rise. Autism, certian childhood cancers, obesity, asthma and other health problems are all increasing. Chemical exposures are a leading suspect. Learn more here.
Guide to testing. An interactive testing summary guides you through what we found in each baby tested and what the health concerns might be. Learn more about each baby's testing profile here, or choose from among the chemical families shown below.
Online guide to chemical families tested in 10 newborns
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Mercury (Hg) - 1 tested, 1 found
Pollutant from coal-fired power plants, mercury-containing products, and certain industrial processes. Accumulates in seafood. Harms brain development and function. |
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Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - 18 tested, 9 found
Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulates in food chain. |
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Polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans (PBDD/F) - 12 tested, 7 found
Contaminants in brominated flame retardants. Pollutants and byproducts from plastic production and incineration. Accumulate in food chain. Toxic to developing endocrine (hormone) system |
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Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) - 12 tested, 9 found
Active ingredients or breakdown products of Teflon, Scotchgard, fabric and carpet protectors, food wrap coatings. Global contaminants. Accumulate in the environment and the food chain. Linked to cancer, birth defects, and more. |
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Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and furans (PBCD/F) - 17 tested, 11 found
Pollutants, by-products of PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer in humans. Persist for decades in the environment. Very toxic to developing endocrine (hormone) system. |
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Organochlorine pesticides (OCs) - 28 tested, 21 found
DDT, chlordane and other pesticides. Largely banned in the U.S. Persist for decades in the environment. Accumulate up the food chain, to man. Cause cancer and numerous reproductive effects. |
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - 46 tested, 32 found
Flame retardant in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulates in the food chain and human tissues. Adversely affects brain development and the thyroid. |
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Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (PCNs) - 70 tested, 50 found
Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Common PCB contaminant. Contaminate the food chain. Cause liver and kidney damage. |
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - 209 tested, 147 found
Industrial insulators and lubricants. Banned in the U.S. in 1976. Persist for decades in the environment. Accumulate up the food chain, to man. Cause cancer and nervous system problems. |
Adult Blood Test Results. We tested three adults for the same suite of 413 industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides tested in newborns. Learn more
here.
Why are babies born polluted? Our system of public health safeguards does not protect babies in the womb from exposures to hundreds of industrial contaminants. As a society we have an obligation to fix it. Learn more
here.
Related EWG Materials
EWG BodyBurden - The Pollution in People (2002 report)
EWG Home Page
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