Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Michelle Hammond and Jeremiah Holland were intrigued when a friend at the Oakland Tribune asked them and their two young children to take part in a cutting-edge study to measure the industrial chemicals in their bodies.

"In the beginning, I wasn't worried at all; I was fascinated," Hammond recalled.

But that fascination soon changed to fear, as tests revealed that their children -- Rowan, then 18 months, and Mikaela, then 5 -- had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents.

" been on this planet for 18 months, and he's loaded with a chemical I've never heard of," Holland said. "He had two to three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats."

The technology to test for these flame retardants -- known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) -- and other industrial chemicals is less than 10 years old. Environmentalists call it "body burden" testing, an allusion to the chemical "burden", or legacy of toxins, running through our bloodstream. Scientists refer to this testing as "biomonitoring".

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/22/body.burden/index.html

[Trillo]

1. More than any other single reason,

this is why I believe the corporatist doesn't have profit-free health insurance for all of us.

From OP's link

"My concern about this trend about measuring chemicals in the blood is it's leading people to believe that the mere ability to detect chemicals is the same as proving a hazard, that if you have this chemical, you are at risk of a disease, and that is false," she said. Whelan contends that trace levels of industrial chemicals in our bodies do not necessarily pose health risks.

<sarcasm> Perhaps we should start drinking gasoline if we're thirsty, since doing so, according to Whelan's implication, isn't a proven hazard. </sarcasm> I've read it's cheaper than bottled water.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. I couldn't believe that statement either

We've been told for decades that if it harms lab rats it could potentially harm humans.

Yet in this case where most scientist freely admit they don't know for sure what the ramifications are, this person is boldly saying that there is no hazard for small children in their formative years to have significant levels of these toxins in their bodies.

[Trillo]

6. These tests have been available for a number of years,

but some ~20 years ago when I wanted one, I had to find the laboratory that performed them, then advise (and pay) the doc to send that lab the blood sample. (Yep, lots of petroleum products were in that blood, but if I get cancer, I will probably be told it's because I drink alcohol once in awhile)

What the results mean for all of us will be clear with some hindsight. I'm sure we're seeing some of the physical symptoms right now (male infertility -- not necessarily a bad thing given the population problem, mind you), but with all the the political noise surrounding the issue, as well as desires to limit liability, the dots aren't getting scientifically connected in the public's mind -- yet.

[AngryAmish]

3. Unfortunately, most kids have very high levels of dihydrogen monoxide

In high levels it will kill them.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Yep.

Water can kill.

[TalkingDog]

10. Hey, Snarky. Why don't you drink a couple of gallons? n/t

My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[noonwitch]

4. Flame retardants are never good-we all (in MI) got poisoned with PBB

In the 70s. No one ever talks about it anymore.

[susanna]

12. But we all "live" with it. n/t

[girl gone mad]

13. Makes me think about..

all of the chemicals they are dumping on California right now.

[Auntie Bush]

7. Not to worry dear parents...your children can

take thyroid replacement pills the rest of their life...no problem.
Run along now and take your pills with you.

Kind of reminds me of Christy Whitman and Gouliani telling folks the air was fine to breath after 9/11 and now many of those people are dying.

[AllyCat]

8. And don't forget to buy them through your outrageous Rx drug plan

...what? You don't have one? Well, let us sign you up! Just give us all your money and we'll give you a 20% discount on your pills for the next 3 months or so. Then you're on your own.

[mod mom]

9. When you have Monsanto hosting Rural Americans for Hillary at their lobby firm

what do you expect? We need leadership who stand UP TO CORPORATE INTEREST instead of joining with them.

[allisonthegreat]

11. Sponsored by Korporate Amerika...n/t