Young Women Show Higher Levels of Suspect Chemicals

[Guest guest]

does anyone see the connection? young women later gets

more cfids than men, and have HIGHER CHEM LEVELS. what

are implications for cfids and autoimmune problems?

nancym

forwarded from the metals list - 02 Sep 2000 by nancy mcfadden

Young Women Show Higher Levels of Suspect Chemicals

[by P. in Connecticut's CTNOW.com.]

http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?bfromind=1425 & eeid=3008365 & eetype

=article & render=y & ck= & userid=206553684 & userpw=. & uh=206553684,2, & ver=1.41

Young Women Show Higher Levels of Suspect Chemicals

Chemicals known to cause birth defects in laboratory animals and

commonly used in beauty products such as nail polish and perfumes

have been detected at higher levels in young women than in adults

in general, federal health researchers said Friday.

" The highest levels of exposure are in women of child-bearing age, "

said Brock, a chemist with the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. " The [chemicals] we found at the highest levels are

the ones typically used in consumer products. "

The study, by the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, for

the first time measures the presence of a family of chemicals called

phthalates in humans.

It shows, the researchers said, that people are being exposed to

phthalates more widely and at higher levels than previously suspected.

But more research is needed before scientists can determine what harm

the chemicals might be causing in people or developing fetuses.

Of particular concern to the health experts are the levels found in

women aged 20 to 40.

T he CDC study measured the levels of seven phthalate metabolites

{ndash} the breakdown products created when the chemicals pass through

the human body {ndash} in urine samples taken from 289 people. The

researchers ultimately plan to examine the levels in several thousand

people, including children 6 and older.

Brock, who leads the CDC's {rsquo} research team, cautioned that the

number of samples analyzed so far is not large enough to represent the U.S.

population. He also said more study is needed to determine the exact sources

of the phthalates being found in people.

The CDC's study will be published in the October issue of the journal

Environmental Health Perspectives. It was published Friday on the journal's

Web site.

The Phthalate Esthers Panel, an industry group that represents the five

major U.S. makers of phthalates {ndash} Exxon, Mobil, Eastman Chemical,

BASF Corp. and Aristech Chemical {ndash} reacted swiftly to the study,

saying that the levels of phthalates in people are not harmful.

" The doses are at or within safety limits, " said n Stanley, a

spokeswoman for the industry group.

The government has not set regulatory limits for phthalates, but

Stanley said the industry's position is based on studies of the effects

of phthalates on laboratory animals in the U.S. and on human volunteers

in Great Britain.

Louis J. Guillette Jr., a University of Florida zoologist who served

on a National Academy of Sciences panel that studied hormone-disrupting

contaminants including phthalates, said the levels found by the CDC in

people " warrant real concern. "

+ Article continues at:

http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?bfromind=1425 & eeid=3008365 & eetype

=article & render=y & ck= & userid=206553684 & userpw=. & uh=206553684,2, & ver=1.41

[Guest guest]

My initial guess is that this is due to difference of life styles....

women are more likely to do gardening (and thus likely more exposed to

garden chemicals)

women are more likely to do household cleaning (and thus likely more exposed

to household chemicals)

The HOME environment is not regulared by ORSA etc. as much (at all?) as the work

environment...

BOTH of these happen on a regular, ongoing basis....

M Lassesen, M.S.

ex " Dr.Gui (MSDN) " , " Dr. VB "

cv: http://www.folkarts.com/kenl/ KenL@...

Phone: 360 297.4717 Cell: 360 509.8970 Fax 520 832.6836

----- Original Message -----

From: G. McFadden

does anyone see the connection? young women later gets

more cfids than men, and have HIGHER CHEM LEVELS. what

are implications for cfids and autoimmune problems?

nancym