By Emma Patten-Hitt, PhD

ATLANTA, Mar 21 (Reuters Health) - The first ever nationwide report to measure levels of environmental chemicals in the bodies of Americans has found unexpectedly high levels of compounds used in some types of soap, shampoo, and other products.

The study found surprisingly high levels of chemicals called phthalates in some people. Animal studies suggest that long-term exposure to phthalates, also found in hairsprays, nail polish, and flexible plastic products, can cause organ damage and other harmful effects. Whether long-term exposure is harmful to humans is being studied by government agencies.

"Exposure to phthalates appears to be higher than previously believed," said Dr. John Balbus, with the George Washington University School of Public Health at a press conference held in response to the release of the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Other studies of environmental chemicals have relied on measuring levels in the air, water or soil. The current report measured blood and urine levels of 27 chemicals in a sample of about 5,000 Americans during 1999.

"The CDC report suggests that the scientific models of exposure that we use generally underestimates the public's real-world exposure," Balbus said.

"This report should serve as a wake-up call--Americans are clearly being exposed to an array of toxic chemicals--many of which can and probably should be avoided," he said. "Every family in America should be taking note of this unprecedented information and should be asking for more of it."

Dr. Richard J. Jackson, director of the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health noted that "the presence of an environmental chemical in the blood or urine does not necessarily mean that that chemical will cause disease. We will need additional research to determine the health effects from different levels of exposure."

Responding to the report, a group representing phthalate manufacturers notes that the new report "contains no new information that raises questions about the safety of phthalate esters."

"Based on exposures indicated by the CDC's data, consumers can remain confident about using products that contain phthalates," the Phthalate Esters Panel of the American Chemistry Council said in a statement.

Not all the news in the report was bad. According to Dr. Eric Sampson, with the CDC, lead levels in 1999 have decreased for children 5 years of age or younger.

"These lower levels mean that public health actions have been successful in decreasing children's exposure to lead," he said in a teleconference announcing the release of the new data, although he pointed out that lead poisoning among some groups of children is still a public health concern.

"Another exciting finding was that cotinine levels, an indicator of second-hand smoke, have gone down more than 75% since the measurements taken in 1991," Sampson said.

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