“10 Americans” Research Study by Environmental Working Group

The 10 Americans Study is a powerful and widely cited investigation conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in collaboration with Commonweal. It was published in 2005 and played a major role in raising awareness about prenatal and early-life exposure to environmental toxins.

• Title: Body Burden – The Pollution in Newborns
• Published by: Environmental Working Group (EWG)
• Year: 2005
• Participants: Umbilical cord blood from 10 newborn babies born in U.S. hospitals.

• Only 413 chemicals were tested for, but on average, 200+ industrial chemicals, pollutants, and pesticides were found in each baby’s cord blood.
• A total of 287 chemicals were detected across all 10 samples.
  • 180 of these are known carcinogens
  • 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system
  • 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal studies

• Mercury
• Lead
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – flame retardants
• Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – used in non-stick cookware (like Teflon)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Dioxins and furans
• Phthalates
• Organochlorine pesticides like DDT and its breakdown products

• These chemicals were found before birth, indicating that babies are exposed to pollution even in the womb.
• The developing fetus is highly sensitive to chemical exposure, making early exposure potentially more harmful than similar exposure later in life.
• The study challenged the idea that the placenta protects the fetus from environmental harm.
• The blood brain barrier does not protect fetuses from these chemicals