Chemical Group

Medium Tested Units of Measurement

Chemical Tested

Chemical Description

Phthalates

Tested in Urine

Results reported as nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or parts per billion (ppb)

MMP

Mono-methyl phthalate

A metabolite of DMP (dimethyl phthalate)

MEP

Mono-ethyl phthalate

A metabolite of DEP (diethyl phthalate)

MBP

Mono-butyl phthalate

A metabolite of DBP (dibutyl phthalate)

MBzP

Mono-benzyl phthalate

A metabolite of BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate)

MEHP

Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate

All three are metabolites of DEHP, which is di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

MEOHP

Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate

MEHHP

Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate

PBDEs

Tested in blood

Results reported as picograms per gram (pg/g) on a lipid weight basis or parts per trillion (ppt)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

46 different PBDEs were measured of the 209 congeners that exist. See Table 2 for full list.

PBDE congeners are named from BDE-1 to BDE-209. They differ only by the location and number of the bromine atoms, which varies from 1 to 10. Congeners are chemical compounds that share the same basic structure.

PFCs

or perfluorinated chemicals

Tested in blood

Results reported as nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or parts per billion

PFBA

Perfluorobutanoic acid

PFOA is the most prominent among this group of perfluorinated carboxylic acids. It has eight carbon atoms. The related compounds in this group range from having four to twelve carbon atoms. While PFOA is being phased out of some products, all of these compounds are possible breakdown products or manufacturing intermediates of other commercial PFCs.

PFPeA

Perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid

PFHxA

Perfluorohexanoic acid

PFHpA

Perfluoroheptanoic acid

PFOA

Perfluorooctanoic acid

PFNA

Perfluorononanoic acid

PFDA

Perfluorodecanoic acid

PFUnA

Perfluoroundecanoic acid

PFDoA

Perfluorododecanoic acid

PFBS

Perfluorobutanesulfonate

Among these perfluorinated sulfonates, PFOS was phased out of Scotchgard in 2000 and replaced with PFBS. PFHxS is still used.

PFHxS

Perfluorohexanesulfonate

PFOS

Perfluorooctanesulfonate

PFOSA

Perfluorooctanesulfonamide

A breakdown product of PFCs, which breaks down itself into PFOS

BPA

Tested in blood

Results in ng/mL or ppb

BPA

Bisphenol A

Monomer for polycarbonate plastic

BADGE-4OH

A metabolite of BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) used in epoxy resins

Metals

Lead: tested in blood

Results in ug/dL

Methylmercury: tested in hair

Results in ng/g or ppb

Arsenic: tested in urine

Results in ug/L or ppb

Lead

A soft metal that readily escapes from products with skin contact, as a dust that can be ingested or inhaled, or dissolved in drinking water.

Methylmercury

A highly toxic form of mercury produced by bacteria in wetland environments from mercury pollution of the air and water, which builds up to high levels in fish and wildlife.

Arsenic (total, inorganic and As(III)

Total arsenic includes organic arsenic which is relatively low in toxicity as well as highly toxic inorganic arsenic. Arsenic(III) is the most toxic form of inorganic arsenic.