Study finds toxic chemicals in health-care workers
Timothy Squires
Posted: 8 October 2009
MERIDEN — A study released Thursday shows that, of 20 doctors and nurses tested across the nation, all of them have toxic chemicals in their bodies. Advocates say the results show there’s a need for more stringent regulation of chemicals found in everyday products.
The full report can be found online, at www.psr.org.
MidState Medical Center’s Timothy Squires volunteered to be one of the health-care professionals tested, and said he wasn’t surprised by the results.
At 55, said Squires, “I figured my exposure levels would be typical.”
Squires is a registered nurse and education specialist at Meriden’s hospital. The study, he said, shows that “the laws protecting people from these chemicals are not very effective.”
“So, in a sense, I see my role as educating my peers and the public,” he said.
Participants donated blood and urine samples for independent laboratory analysis.
Testing, sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility, was for six types of chemical groups, and 62 chemicals in all. Eighteen chemicals were found in every one of the 20 participants. Thirteen participants tested positive for at least five of the six major chemical types.
The six chemical types are:
- Bisphenol A, which is found in plastic bottles and the liners of food and drink cans;
- Mercury, found in some medical instruments;
- Perfluorinated compounds, found in coated pans and stain-repellent fabrics;
- Phthalates, endocrine disruptors found in plastics and personal care products;
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, found in electronics and furniture;
- Triclosan, a chemical found in antibacterial hand soaps and toothpastes.
In a conference call with the media, Dr. George Lundgren, a family doctor who practices in the Minneapolis, Minn., area, said he was surprised to find out that there were such chemicals in his body, some at levels in the 95th percentile. “It was easy to pretend I was in good health,” he said.
Lundgren compared the presence of toxins in his body to plastics in a landfill, which can remain for years.
Kristen Walker-Hood, principal investigator in the study, said the chemicals are connected with certain diseases, “particularly chronic diseases.” Walker-Hood is director of environment and health programs for Physicians for Social Responsibility.
The levels found in the human participants are consistent with previous laboratory testing of animals, Walker-Hood said.
“In order to prevent diseases, our chemical management system must be modernized,” Walker-Hood said.
Advocates are calling for major reform of federal regulations.
They want “labeling and full disclosure mechanisms,” said Charlotte Brody, president of the American Nurses Association, “and I think all of us agree the time is now.”
“As nurses, we want to protect chronic exposure from having a harmful effect on our patients,” said Brody during the conference call.
During the last legislative session, Connecticut became the first state to broadly ban the use of Bisphenol A from its use in infant formula, baby bottles and reusable food and beverage containers.
It’s a good first step, said Sarah Uhl, coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut.
“The idea is that it’s not just one chemical,” Uhl said. “We have a completely broken system of laws and we need to completely rework it at the federal level.”
The study involved 12 doctors and eight nurses in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington.
“Health care professionals see this as an important story, because they’re on the frontlines of chronic diseases,” Uhl said.
Submitted by Jeff Kurz on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 19:46
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