1. Chemical Pollutants in the Pacific Basin David O. Carpenter, MD Director Institute for Health and the Environment

3. Possible Human Health Effects of Environmental Contaminants Cancer Birth Defects Immune System Defects Reduced IQ Behavioral Abnormalities Decreased Fertility Altered Sex Hormone Balance Altered Metabolism Specific Organ Dysfunctions

5. The Stockholm Convention (“the POPs treaty”) was adopted and opened for signature on 22 May 2001. This treaty calls for international action to eliminate manufacture and use of 12 persistent organic pollutants, including chlorinated pesticides, industrial chemicals, such as PCBs and hexachlorobenzene, and unintended by- products such as dioxins and furans. Over 150 countries have signed the treaty.

8. Mean total DDT in Breast Milk by Region

13. Bertazzi et al., 1998

14. Longnecker et al., 2001

15. Adjusted* Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Relation with Maternal Frequency of Use† of Pesticides in the Garden, the Yard, and on Interior Plants *Adjusted for maternal age and maternal level of schooling; Cases and controls are matched for age, sex, and geographical region. †Exposure of the mother from 1 month before pregnancy to the end of pregnancy.

16. Geschwind, SA., et al., Am. J. Epidemiol. 135: 1197-1207, 1992.

17. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Cancer Causing Vinyl Chloride Benzene Chloroform Methyl chloride Styrene (?) Tetrachloroethylene (?) Trichloroethylene (?) Neurotoxicity Xylene Toluene Ethylbenzene Tetrachloroethylene Acute Liver Toxicity Carbon tetrachloride

18.  Large doses can be fatal  Fever, anorexia  Peripheral neuropathy  GI, cardiovascular and hematopoietic Toxic Effects of Acute Exposure to Arsenic

19. Nordstrom, Science 296: 2143-2145, 2002.

23. Schwartz, Environ Health Perspect 78: 15-22, 1998.

24. Sokol et al., Biology of Reproduction 33: 722-728, 1985.

25. Environmental pollutants alter human intelligence and behavior and increase the risk of many human diseases, including the common chronic diseases of old age. We must find ways to reduce human exposure to dangerous environmental chemicals.