Pollutants in humans

The massive use of plasticisers or flame retardants leads to an increasing burden on humans with industrial chemicals. In this human biomonitoring study conducted for the first time in Austria, the Federal Environment Agency investigates whether and to what extent pollutants are absorbed by the human body. Blood, urinary and hair samples from 150 people were tested for the presence of a number of industrial chemicals as well as the heavy metal compound methylmercury. The results show that there is a burden on the Austrian population, especially on children, with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and phthalates. It was also possible to establish a link between the health problems of the test subjects and their concentrations of pollutants in the body.