Last July, a report was published by a federal government department, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It dealt with the analyses of exposure to chemicals present in the environment of the American society.

The main results of the study revealed that:

• A high level of cadmium was detected in the urine of 5% of adults. This situation is caused by tobacco comsuption or exposure to tobacco fumes;
• phtalates (products used in the industry to soften PVC items that have been recently banned in the European Union) are present in the blood. The percentage found can endanger the health of individuals exposed to these substances;
• Pyrethroides, a chemical used in most insecticides, have been found in most blood samples;
• A high quantity of lead was found in the blood of 1,6% of children between the ages of 1 and 5;
• According to the study carried out by the CDC, substances containing dioxin were found in the blood but in smaller quantities than in the past.

According to the WWF the study reveals "the tip of the iceberg". The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) also criticizes the report because it only takes into account 43 out of the 1,200 pesticides commonly used. 

• Read the report: Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals