Download SB1379 Fact Sheet The California Environmental Contaminant

SB1379 Fact Sheet
The California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring
Program
We monitor the pollution in our air, our water, and even our fish.
It’s time to start looking at the pollution in our bodies.
Background Facts

Over 100,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use today in the United States, with an additional 1,000 new
chemicals added each year, yet less than 10 percent of these chemicals have been tested for their effects on human
health. Large numbers of these chemicals are found in products we come into contact with every day.

Advances in science have shown that the traditional belief of “the dose makes the poison” is no longer true.
Hundreds of studies reveal that even very small amounts of toxic chemicals can have destructive effects, particularly
in pregnant mothers, infants and small children.

Many toxic chemicals, including solvents, phthalates, metals, pesticides, and chlorinated chemicals, have been linked
to serious chronic diseases. Many of these chemicals persist in the environment, and accumulate in the human body
and remain there for long periods of time.

Chronic disease has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. An estimated 125 million Americans, or 43
percent of the population, have at least one chronic illness. Cancer, asthma, birth defects, endometriosis, and infertility
are increasingly common, and mounting evidence links incidence and severity of these diseases to exposure to
environmental toxicants.

Today, nearly 12 million school-age American children are affected by developmental disabilities, including learning
disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mental retardation, and autism. Nearly 7 million
children are receiving special education services in the U.S., including 2.9 million with learning disabilities. Some of
these development disabilities are associated with toxic chemical exposure.
What is biomonitoring?
 Biomonitoring, or “body burden,” studies detect the presence of harmful chemicals in the body. Using urine, blood,
or breastmilk samples, scientists can measure the level of chemical contaminants in people.

Biomonitoring is a reliable tool that has been used for decades by government agencies and health researchers around
the world.
What have biomonitoring studies found?
Biomonitoring research has detected toxic chemicals including flame retardants, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
DDT, and other pesticides in breastmilk, urine, and blood. Toxic chemicals are now found in the bodies of everyone who is
tested.

In a 2005 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) measured and analyzed 148 chemicals in
the blood and urine of Americans of all ages and races. The study found that Mexican Americans had three times
the levels of the pesticide DDT as other participants, despite the fact that DDT has been banned in the United
States for over 30 years. The study also found that children have twice the level of the pesticide Dursban than
adults. Virtually across the board, women had higher levels of phthalates than men. Phthalates are commonly found
in personal care and beauty products. While we applaud the CDC biomonitoring efforts, the data was aggregated
nationally and does not tell states and local communities about their specific chemical body burdens.

A 2005 study by the Environmental Working Group measured 287 chemicals in the umbilical cord of newborn
infants. Each sample contained an average of 200 chemical compounds that cause cancer, brain damage, birth
defects and reproductive damage. This study completely destroys the notion that the placenta is an impervious
barrier that protects the fetus from environmental contaminants.

A recent study led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine, revealed over 167 synthetic chemicals in the blood and urine
of nine volunteers. Of the 167 chemicals found, 76 cause cancer in humans or animals, 94 are toxic to the brain and
nervous system, and 79 cause birth defects or abnormal development.

A 2003 study by the Environmental Working Group on flame retardants in breastmilk found that first-time mothers
in the U.S. had levels in their bodies 75 times higher than their counterparts in Europe. The flame retardants were
detected in every breastmilk sample and included measurements that were among the highest ever recorded
worldwide.
Why do we need biomonitoring in California?

While we applaud the federal CDC for conducting national biomonitoring studies, it does not give us information
about how Californians are uniquely exposed to California chemicals.

California has many cutting edge technology firms with unique chemical uses.

Additionally, California uses more pesticides than any state in the nation—185,000,000 pounds—many of them are
highly toxic.

Biomonitoring will help the state know which chemicals are getting into our bodies and which are not.
What does SB 1379 do?

Creates a statewide biomonitoring program to measure chemical contaminants in humans. All biomonitoring will be
voluntary, and individuals’ results will be strictly confidential.

Allows program participants to receive results if they so choose.

Conducts smaller studies to examine the difference between individual communities and sub-populations.

Establishes a science guidance panel to oversee the biomonitoring program.

Creates educational and outreach materials and require public participation.

Ensures the program is conduced in an ethical and participatory manner.
Biomonitoring is the essential first step in the next generation of public health policy. Biomonitoring data can
help scientists, medical professionals, and community members make more informed decisions to better protect
public health. SB 1379 will create a model for the nation by establishing the first-ever statewide biomonitoring
program.
For more information about SB 1379, please contact
Breast Cancer Fund: Gretchen Lee at (415)346-8223 x. 33 –ORCommonweal: Davis Baltz at (510) 848-2714