Summary of Bill Moyers' test results:

• 2 organophosphate pesticide metabolites
• 2 heavy metals - lead and methylmercury
• 13 dioxins and furans
• 31 PCBs
• 3 organochlorine pesticides and metabolites
• 4 phthalates
• 29 semivolatile organic compounds*

* Some of the semivolatile compounds were also found in solvent blanks or may have been added from sampling equipment contamination. This means that identification of these chemicals could have resulted either from contamination or because they were present in Mr. Moyers’ blood sample. Further testing is needed to confirm the origin of the chemicals.

Potential health effects of chemicals detected:
Many of the compounds identified in Bill Moyers’ blood and urine samples are capable of causing a variety of health problems such as cancer or nerve damage. Most have been linked to several different types of health problems, based upon studies of heavily exposed workers or laboratory animals. Very little is known about the effects of low level exposures.

• Carcinogen: 48 chemicals

  These chemicals are known to cause cancer in animals and suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

• Developmental toxicant: 52 chemicals

  Sometimes called teratogens, these chemicals may interfere with development of children in the womb, causing birth defects and other problems, including low birth weight, brain damage and neurological problems. Usually chemicals are passed to the child through the mother, but sometimes a father's toxic exposure before a baby is conceived can also cause problems. Exposures to these chemicals in early childhood may interfere with growth and development.

• Cardiovascular or blood toxicant: 17 chemicals

  Exposure may damage the heart, blood vessels, and the blood cells themselves - possibly leading to serious heart problems including abnormal heartbeat and decreased blood flow to the heart. Blood cell toxicants may attack the white blood cells that are critical to the body's immunological defences.

• Endocrine system toxicant: 21 chemicals

The endocrine system includes all of the organs and glands that secrete hormones - the thyroid, pancreas, pituitary, adrenals, ovaries, testes and others. Endocrine disrupting chemicals interfere with hormonal functions that are critical to maintaining many bodily functions - diseases resulting from exposure to endocrine disrupters may include diabetes, hypothyroidism and cancer.

• Gastrointestinal or liver toxicant: 23 chemicals

These chemicals may damage the stomach, intestinal tract, liver, or gall bladder.

• Immune system toxicant: 17 chemicals

Immunotoxicants attack the body's complex defense system in a variety of ways - sometimes resulting in more frequent and severe bouts with infectious diseases and greater susceptibility to cancer.

• Kidney toxicant: 16 chemicals

These chemicals may damage the kidney, ureter, or bladder - sometimes resulting in permanent damage that requires dialysis or in kidney failure. In addition to serving as the primary excretory organ, the kidneys play an important role in regulating blood pressure and blood volume.

• Brain and nervous system toxicant: 25 chemicals

Neurotoxicants may attack the brain, the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms of neurotoxicity include muscle weakness, tremors, dizziness, eye pain, blurred vision, confusion, numbness, twitching, paralysis, and death. Learning, memory and other higher brain functions may also be affected.

• Reproductive system toxicant: 20 chemicals

These chemicals may decrease fertility, alter sexual behavior, or induce the loss of the fetus during pregnancy. They sometimes lower sperm counts or cause deformities in sperm, leading to sterility in men. Women may suffer menstrual problems, early puberty, and premature menopause, as well as pregnancy problems.

• Respiratory system toxicant: 21 chemicals

Respiratory toxicants may damage the lungs as well as the nasal passages, pharynx, trachea, and bronchi, leading to problems ranging from irritation and bronchitis, to pulmonary edema, emphysema, and cancer.

• Skin and sense organ toxicant: 21 chemicals

  Effects on the skin range from itching, burning and inflammation to the severe skin rash called chloracne and cancer. Effects on the sensory organs include impaired vision and hearing, and problems with smell and taste.

The chart above includes chemicals both known or suspected to cause the health effect listed, based upon federal and state government health effects registries. For more information on specific chemicals or health effects, please visit the Environmental Defense website at http://www.scorecard.org/health-effects/