Study: Americans Have Fewer Environmental Chemicals In Blood
Organization Says CDC Only Tested For Fraction Of Chemicals
POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005
ATLANTA -- A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Americans have lower levels of potentially dangerous substances in their blood than they did 10 years ago. That includes lead and byproducts of secondhand smoke. Federal health officials called the findings "an astonishing public health achievement."In the early 1990s, 4.4 percent of the nation's children between the ages of 1 and 5 had raised lead levels. But the latest survey showed that dropped to 1.6 percent between 1999 and 2002.CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said the findings "help relieve worry and concern.""Exposure to secondhand smoke continues to plummet, and blood lead levels in children are way down," Gerberding said in a news release. "However, many challenges remain."The report suggests that more research is needed on the health effects of low levels of exposure to the metal cadmium. But the Pesticide Action Network North America said the CDC only tested for a "really small slice" of chemicals in the environment. A leader of the group said the CDC tested for just 43 pesticides in the report -- but more than 1,200 are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency."This study highlights the tip of a toxic iceberg," said Margaret Reeves, of the Pesticide Action Network. "(The) CDC evaluated only a fraction of the total number of pesticides used every day in agricultural fields, homes and gardens and found many of these toxic chemicals present in our bodies." Additional Resources:
- Full Report: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Reaction: Pesticide Action Network North America
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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