NPR: How High Are the Levels of Chemicals in Our Bodies?

How High Are the Levels of Chemicals in Our Bodies?

How's your "body burden"? That's the term being used to describe the levels of sometimes toxic chemicals Americans carry in their bodies.

A new study by a group of nongovernmental organizations measured those levels. The chemicals examined can often be found in personal cosmetics like hand creams, in flame retardants put on furniture or in plastics used in shower curtains, to make water bottles harder or to keep teeth from getting cavities.

Thirty-five people from seven states were tested for the toxins. Sharyle Patton, director of Commonweal's Health and Environment Program, one of the NGOs conducting the study, told Day to Day's Alex Chadwick that the levels found in human bodies were equivalent to levels that have been shown to produce "bodily changes" in animals.

Journalist and author David Ropeik says this study contributes to a growing body of evidence that we all carry chemicals we weren't born with. But he says it's important to remember that when a study comes out — especially one with a small sample — it's just one brick in a wall of evidence, "not the defining answer."

6:38 PM ET | 11- 8-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

It is ridiculous that we are poisoning ourselves. Even with the media attention it seems like too much work to fight industries? I'ts our lives people!!! IF you're not outraged you're not paying attention!

Sent by jennifer michaels | 6:25 AM ET | 11-09-2007

growing - in this world seems to be more and more complicated. I try hard at 48 to take the best care of myself and my family, emphasizing read ingredients, that's been a motto for several years. Water, vegetables, suntan lotion, cosmetics, hair care - what people don't care is scary all for vanity. Everyone-corporations, manufacturers take a moment to care.

Sent by Linda | 9:51 AM ET | 11-09-2007

Yes America is one of the most unhealthiest places to live, that's it.

Sent by SKM | 10:49 AM ET | 11-09-2007

it's usually easier, and almost always cheaper to continue using the toxic products. and many people don't even know that many products they use contain so many toxins... it's hard to know what to stay away from when it's so hard to tell what's good and what's bad.

Sent by Nate | 11:35 AM ET | 11-09-2007

Our lifestyle of conveniences has its consequences. Those industries wouldn't be in business if there wasn't a demand for their products. As a community on this planet Earth, what are we willing to change or give up and how far are we willing to go to make it happen?

Sent by JLS Athens GA | 12:23 PM ET | 11-09-2007

Exposing ourselves to toxins is probably a good idea. In the same way that the immune system becomes deficient if we are not exposed to germs and viruses and such.

Even if the chemicals we're talking about shorten the lifespan, I say that's a good thing. We are altogether too obsessed with self preservation (especially when so few people really contribute anything to the human project over the course of their lives). We already live far longer than humans ever have historically. If we continue to live longer we'll only accelerate our de-evolution!

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:28 PM ET | 11-09-2007

And yet we are living longer lives than any time in history. Perhaps it's the preservatives?

Sent by Barry | 1:42 PM ET | 11-09-2007

Of course the study is by "a group of
nongovernmental organizations".
The administration of George W. Bush
values corporate profits highly, and the
health of U.S. citizens not at all.

Sent by Dave Randolph | 4:34 PM ET | 11-09-2007

Just to make something clear, the reason why most people in advanced, industrialized nations are living longer than ever has more to do with the drop in infant/childhood mortality rates. Because in these countries children are better fed and have better healthcare, many more of them make it to adulthood, thus raising the overall average age. Plus modern western medicine is pretty good at pulling adults and children from the jaws of death after an accident or severe wounding. It's possible that some of the chemicals we ingest contribute to a longer life, but you have to prove that and as this new study suggests, many of these chemicals are likely to be keeping people from living even longer.

Sent by John R. Otten | 1:59 PM ET | 11-12-2007

Why are we surprised with the contents of chemicals in our bodies!!?. The chicken, the beef, the corn, the paddy etc do not have the luxury to look at the source of their nutrition that they depend upon in this industrial boom. We feed them nothing natural. At the same time an average American ingests many Kilograms of analgesics (Tylenol etc) in a life span of 70 years or so. Chemicals are every where in our food, air and water. Human interference is everywhere. We, the 21st century humans, are at war with nature, for more food,
lazy lifestyle, comfort, longer lives etc. In-spite of all these ,I have yet to see a 150 years old living Hollywood star without wrinkles, real glittering teeth, cowboy walk and seductive smiles etc. WE do not know how many new isomers of amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids we have created during this leap, that our body does know how to handle them. I believe Nature is still very powerful that our hardly 2giga bite brain fails to analyze!!!

Sent by anser azim | 2:17 PM ET | 11-13-2007

the particular chemical mentioned on the air is not mentioned in the summary, so I can't check to see if my furniture is affected. Please tell me the name of the offending product. Thank you, Catherine Frost

Sent by Catherine Frost | 1:34 PM ET | 02-27-2008

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