February 17, 2003—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the largest and most extensive assessment of the US population’s exposure to environmental chemicals. The report presents exposure information for 116 environmental chemicals measured in blood and urine specimens from a sample of people representing the US population for the years 1999 and 2000. The CDC says that this assessment will lay the groundwork for future research in ensuring that exposures to chemicals in the environment are not at levels that affect public health.
Public health efforts during the 1990s to reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure have resulted in a 75% decrease in cotinine levels since 1994, according to the study.
The report also shows that blood lead levels for children has declined, another success for public health efforts.
In addition, the report presents extensive data for many other chemicals, including organochlorine pesticides; herbicides; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; carbamate insecticides; organophosphate pesticides; phytoestrogens; phthalates; and mercury, uranium, cadmium, thallium, and other metals.
The complete report, the second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, as well as an executive summary, are available online at CDC/Exposure Report. The report will continue to be released every two years.
