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Nycole Turmel


Fri, 11/09/2007 - 17:32 — zlu

51 of 88 chemicals were detected in Nycole, including 34 cancer-causing chemicals.

 

Age: 63
Sex: Female
Occupation: National President, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Place of residence: Gatineau , QC
Exposure to chemicals on the job: No
Height: 5'8" Weight: 140 lb, stable
Diet: Omnivore
Proportion of diet that is organic: 20%
Hours spent in front of computer/day: 0.5
Purchase of products likely to contain brominated flame retardants: Within the last 2 years
Visited malarial area: Yes, 1995
Use of air fresheners: None
Pesticide use: None
Consumption of cigarettes: None

"I think of myself as a healthy person, so of course I found my test results to be unsettling. No one wants to learn that they have heavy metals, PCBs or other toxic chemicals in their blood. But more importantly, my tests results have underlined for me the importance of strengthening CEPA (the Canadian Environmental Protection Act). We need a pollution law with teeth - one that is comprehensive and enforceable. We need a law that will hold polluters accountable and help create a cleaner environment."

Number of chemicals detected in Nycole that are linked to a listed chemical health effect, and the study average

Chemicals' Effect on Health

Number of Chemicals Detected that are
Linked to a Listed Health Effect

In Nycole

Average in Study Volunteers

Carcinogen

34

28

Hormone disruptor

23

18

Respiratory toxicant

17

15

Reproductive/
developmental toxicant

45

38

Number and concentration of chemicals detected in Nycole, and median chemical concentration in study volunteers

Chemical Group

Nycole's Results

Median Concentration in Study Volunteers

Number of Compounds Detected

Median Concentration

Concentration Range

Heavy metals
(umol/L in whole blood)
Beryllium, copper, lithium, lead, zinc, selenium

5 of 6

2

< 0.05 to 120

2.7

Heavy metals
(nmol/L in whole blood):
Arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tellurium, tin, thallium, uranium, mercury

12 of 13

6.7

< 10 to 140

7

PBDEs (ug/L in plasma)

5 of 5

0.029

0.025 to 0.26

0.011

PCBs (ug/L in plasma)

12 of 16

0.049

< 0.01 to 3.5

0.018

PFOS (ug/L in plasma)

1 of 1

11

n/a

10

Organochlorine pesticides
(ug/L in plasma)

10 of 13

0.012

< 0.005 to 2.2

0.0098

Organophosphate insecticide metabolites
(ug/g cre in urine)

4 of 6

1.4

< 0.67 to 12

1.9

VOCs
(ng/mL in whole blood)

2 of 28

< 0.5

< 0.5 to 1.9

< 0.5

Total number of chemicals found in Nycole: 51 of 88

After finding out her test results, Nycole has pledged to eliminate many sources of toxic chemicals from her home. To reduce your household's exposure to toxic chemicals make your own Chemical Reduction Pledge.

Nycole will eliminate the following sources of toxic chemicals from her home:

1. Carpets that contain stain repellants and brominated flame retardants

2. Imported PVC-containing mini-b linds

3. Chemical air fresheners

4. Vinyl floors

5. Food in tin cans

6. Plastic food wrap

7. Microwing food in plastic wrap

8. Dry clean only clothing

9. Cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes with synthetic fragrances

10. Vinyl shower curtains

11. Laundry detergents and fabric softeners with synthetic fragrances

12. Chlorine bleach

13. Chemical pesticides

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