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You may also be interested in the webpages on Pesticides & Health and Food & Fish.
Summary of Information on Washington State
From National Organizations:
We did not find any information on body burdens in Washington State available from national organizations.
From State Organizations:
Lead
The Washington State Adult Blood Lead Registry contains information on monitoring blood lead levels in working adults. The most recent information is in a report called "Washington State Adult Blood Lead Registry Update: March 2006". Between May 1993 and December 31, 2005, a total of 81,726 blood lead level reports were received; approximately 4% of these reports were for individuals with elevated blood lead levels (≥ 25 μg/dl). For cases where a home address could be obtained, the largest number of elevated blood lead reports was for King County residents (55%), followed by residents of Pierce (21%), and Snohomish Counties (6.5%). The 'raw' data are not publicly available because of patient confidentiality.
A 2000 report on "Washington State Childhood Blood Lead Screening Recommendations" summarized the results of childhood blood lead surveys done in Washington State. A high prevalence of elevated blood lead levels was found in children in Yakima (8.4%), but the prevalence of elevated levels in four other cities (Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma) was only 1.2%. The 'raw' data are not publicly available because of patient confidentiality.
Pesticides
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) requires agricultural employers to provide blood testing for workers who handle toxicity class I or II organophosphate or N-methyl-carbamate pesticides, so that their cholinesterase levels can be checked. The cholinesterase rule became effective February 1, 2004. The first report on the program called "Cholinesterase Monitoring of Pesticide Handlers in Agriculture: 2004" was published in 2005.
PBDEs
Two studies have measured levels of PBDEs in breast milk in Washington State. In 2003, a study by the Environmental Working Group found "Record High Levels of Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers" in breast milk from 20 first time mothers. One of these mothers was from Washington State. The study found that the average level of all 20 mothers was 75 times the average found in European studies. The level in the woman from Washington was lower than many others in the study.
The second study "Flame Retardants in the Bodies of Pacific Northwest Residents" (2004). Conducted by Northwest Environment Watch, it looked at levels of PBDEs in the breast milk of 40 women from the Pacific Northwest. It found levels of PBDEs ranging from 6 to 321 parts per billion (ppb), as measured in milk fat, with a median level of 50 ppb. Fifteen of the 40 women had at least 100 ppb of PBDEs in their milk. These levels are comparable to levels found elsewhere in North America, but are 20 to 40 times higher than levels found in Sweden and Japan.
Other Toxic Chemicals
In 2005, ten Washington residents participated in the "Pollution in People" study to test their hair, blood, and urine for the presence of toxic chemicals. The results showed that every person tested had at least 26 and as many as 39 toxic chemicals in his or her body.
From Local Organizations:
We did not find any body burden information on Washington State available from local organizations.
From Academic Institutions:
Researchers at the University of Washington have studied levels of pesticides in children’s urine in the State. Their studies include:
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Information on Washington State in Context
There is very little body burden information available on Washington State, however, this is true for other states as well. Thus, it is difficult to put the Washington State information in a national context.
A paper on "Blood Lead Levels in Young Children – United States and Selected States, 1996-1999" shows that children's blood lead levels in Washington State (1996-99) are lower than in many other states.
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Quality of Information on Washington State
As noted above, there is very little body burden information available on Washington State, and there is an urgent need for more information. The Washington State Department of Health has a 2003 plan "Washington State Plan for Priorities for Biomonitoring", but it has not been funded.
Blood lead testing is a notifiable condition in Washington State. Laboratories have been required to report all blood lead levels for Washington state residents to the Department of Health since 1993 (children and adults).
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General Information Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/
Environmental Health Perspectives: ehp.niehs.nih.gov/
Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org/
Sightline Institute: www.sightline.org/
Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries: www.lni.wa.gov/
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The Collaborative on Health and the Environment – Washington
