Two environmental groups have joined forces to carry out biomonitoring tests on nine people. The process costs $5,000 per person and involves the testing of blood, urine, and breast milk for environmental contaminants. David Baltz, a committed environmentalist who works for Commonweal, one of the groups involved in the study, has already been tested. Results showed that a whole host of pesticides, flame-retardants, and other man-made chemicals had accumulated in his body despite his best efforts. Baltz said of the findings: “What that told me is that no matter what I tried to do, the plumes of chemicals that we are passing in and out of everyday give us exposure.” Although such tests are showing that our bodies are host to a wide number and variety of pollutants, what is not yet clear is the effect that they have upon our health.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.ap.org on the 25th December 2003.
