PSR report: Toxic chemicals in health care workers

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) released an important study last week. They studied the toxic chemicals found in 20 health professionals for a first-ever look into chemicals in their bodies. The sample study tested major chemical types in ten Safer States: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Main, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, New York and Washington.

Health care professionals are exposed to different, and more, chemicals due to their work environment, and the study confirmed this:

• Eighteen of the same chemicals were detected in every single participant,
• All twenty participants had at least five of the six major types of chemicals tested,

• Thirteen participants tested positive for all six of these major chemical types,
• All participants had bisphenol A, phthalates, PBDEs and PFCs, which are priority chemicals for regulation by the EPA and associated with chronic illness such as cancer and endocrine malfunction.

Deborah Lerner, a study participant and doctor from California said,

"What's most disturbing about my results is the apparent randomness: I expected high levels of Teflon-related chemicals, but instead I had higher levels of flame retardants and I don’t know why. How can I prevent exposure? Now I have far more worries about my kids’ contamination levels of the whole gamut of chemicals we tested for."

Studies like this underline the need for stricter laws against toxic chemicals in all states. Charlotte Brody, RN, National Field Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families says, "Stronger laws are necessary to keep us safe from toxic chemicals. In 33 years, the EPA has tested for safety only 200 and banned only five of the more than 80,000 chemicals in commerce. We need to do better to protect public health."

Reaction throughout the Safer States

Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut: "As a registered nurse, I recognize the impact biohazards such as the chemicals being tested in this project can have on the health of individuals and communities," said Timothy Squires RN-BC, MS, who works as a Clinical Professional Development Consultant at the MidState Medical Center. "As our nation experiences a growing epidemic of chronic health problems, some of which have clear links to chemicals in our environment, reducing exposure is an important primary prevention measure."

The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, MA: Is calling for the passage of the Safer Alternatives Bill which will systematically replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives when feasible, targeting those that are significant hazards in the workplace or for children.

Ecology Center, MI: Is working with the Michigan legislature to back more control of toxic chemicals including HB 4763-69, the Children's Safe Products Act, which will give parents information about toxic chemicals in children's products. That bill is currently awaiting committee hearing in the State Senate.

Clean Water Action, MN: Deanna White, Healthy Legacy Co-Director and Clean Water Action program director says, "Toxic chemicals are threatening our health and the health of our water. We see these effects all around us; from rising rates of cancer to intersex fish in our waters. This report provides an important snapshot of the exposure and risk chemicals pose to all of us and is another arrow pointing to the need to fix our broken national system for dealing with chemicals."