Dear Frank Otto Steindler,

Thank you very much for participating in the NJHANES study. As part of this study, levels of various environmental contaminants or associated metabolites are measured in the blood and urine of New Jersey volunteers to determine general NJ population exposures to environmental contaminants and their potential sources.

Since you chose to receive your results, your first set is enclosed and includes lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium levels from your urine and blood samples. You are only receiving your lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium results now because there are known acute health effects associated with them. You will be contacted again with all our findings from the completed study once the study is over and after all blood and urine samples from NJHANES participants have been analyzed. The following pages are broken down into sections for each group of contaminants. Each section includes a summary of your blood or urine results, levels found in the US population through a nationwide study conducted by the CDC, and information about the following contaminants:

Part 1: Lead 

  Part 1a: Lead (Pb) in urine 
  Part 1b: Lead (Pb) in urine 
  
Part 2: Mercury 

  Part 2a: Mercury (Hg) in urine 
  Part 2b: Mercury (Hg) in blood

Part 3: Arsenic (As) in urine
      


Part 4: Cadmium
  
  Part 4a: Cadmium (Cd) in urine 
  Part 4b: Cadmium (Cd) in blood 

Among the analytes, all are within the US population ranges. Please refer to the report for each analyte about the specific information about their exposure, health effects and approach to minimize the exposure.

Thank you again for your support of this study. Your participation in NJHANES will help improve the understanding of exposures and sources of environmental contaminants to the general NJ population. If there are any questions about the report, please contact us using the information below.

Sincerely,

Tina Fan, PhD

Principal Investigator of NJHANES

Director of Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services New Jersey Department of Health

ecls.biomonitoring@doh.nj.gov

609-406-6924

The following pages contain a table with lead result in urine, a table with lead result in blood, followed by a page explaining more about lead exposure.

Part 1a: Lead (Pb) in Urine

Laboratory Results for Lead (Pb) in Urine

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Urine	Lead	0.348	ug/L	0-1.15

*The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

**Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How can I interpret my results?

The urine lead result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about lead exposure.

Part 1b: Lead (Pb) in Blood

Laboratory Results for Lead (Pb) in Blood

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Blood	Lead	2.86	ug/dL	0-2.41

* The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

** Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How to Interpret Your Results

The blood lead result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about lead exposure.

FACT SHEET ABOUT Lead (Pb)

What is Lead?

Lead is a toxic metal commonly found in:

• Peeling paint, dust, and soil in and around homes built before 1980 (lead was banned in house paint since 1978)
• Job sites or hobby areas like construction, painting, shooting ranges, and electronics, battery, and scrap metal recycling
• Some candies and spices from Mexico and Asia
• Some traditional remedies, especially brightly colored remedies like Azarcón and Greta
• Many consumer products, including some ceramic dishes and pottery; some pewter and crystal pitchers and goblets; some baby bibs, electrical cords, purses, garden hoses, and other products made of vinyl or imitation leather; some toys, art supplies, costume jewelry, cosmetics, and hair dyes; and some brass faucets, fishing sinkers, and curtain weights

What are potential health concerns, if elevated?

• Can affect brain development and contribute to learning problems in infants and young children
• Can increase blood pressure, decrease kidney and brain function, and cause reproductive problems
• May increase cancer risk

What are suggested ways to reduce exposure in daily life ?

• Keep children away from chipped and peeling paint. Use certified professionals if you plan to remove or seal lead-based paint
• Cover bare soil with grass, bark, or gravel, especially near homes built before 1980
• If you work with lead/do renovation, use protective gear. Keep dust from home, shower after work, wash clothes separately
• Use cold water for drinking or cooking to reduce lead from some faucets and old pipes;use a water filter that removes lead
• Wash your and your children’s hands before eating or drinking
• Clean your floors regularly, using a wet mop where you can, and dust with a damp cloth
• Eat a well-balanced diet rich in calcium, folate, iron, and vitamin C, which reduce the amount of lead that your body absorbs

The following pages contain a table with mercury result in urine, a table with mercury result in blood, followed by a page explaining more about mercury exposure

Part 2a: Mercury (Hg) in Urine

Laboratory Results for mercury (Hg) in Urine

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Urine	Mercury	<0.500	ug/L	0-1.05

*The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

**Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

^a This value is below the instrument’s reporting limit.

How can I interpret my results?

The urine mercury result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about mercury exposure.

Part 2b: Mercury (Hg) in Blood

Laboratory Results for Mercury (Hg) in Blood

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Blood	Mercury	5.07	ug/L	0-3.87

* The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

** Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How to Interpret Your Results

The blood mercury result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about mercury exposure.

FACT SHEET ABOUT Mercury (Hg)

What is Mercury?

Mercury (aka quicksilver) is a toxic metal commonly found in:

• Certain types of fish and seafood, which is the most common source of exposure to mercury
• Some imported face creams used for skin lightening, anti-aging, or acne
• Some herbal medicines and other traditional (ayurvedic) remedies, especially from China and India
• Silver-colored dental fillings
• Glass thermometers, older barometers, and blood pressure gauges
• Fluorescent lights, including compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs

What are potential health concerns, if elevated?

• Can affect brain development and cause learning and behavior problems in infants and children who were exposed in the womb
• Can harm the nervous system and kidneys
• May affect the heart
• May increase cancer risk

What are suggested ways to reduce exposure in daily life ?

• Choose fish that are lower in mercury, such as salmon, tilapia, trout, canned light tuna, sardines, anchovies, and oysters
• Avoid fish that are high in mercury like shark, swordfish, orange roughy, tuna, tilefish, king mackerel, and marlin
• Do not use imported skin lightening, acne treatment, or anti-aging creams unless you are certain that they do not contain mercury
• Properly recycle CFL bulbs with your municipality or local hardware store
• Properly clean up broken thermometers, CFL bulbs, and other items containing mercury. Do not let children play with silver liquid from items like mercury thermometers
• More information can be found at the US EPA website on mercury:http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/

Part 3: Arsenic (As) in Urine

Laboratory Results for ** arsenic (As)** in Urine

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Urine	Arsenic	20.1	ug/L	0-61.5

*The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has notbeen cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

**Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

^a This value is below the instrument’s reporting limit.

How can I interpret my results?

The arsenic result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about arsenic exposure.

FACT SHEET ABOUT Arsenic (As)

What is arsenic?

Arsenic is a toxic metal that was used extensively as a pesticide until the 1980s and a preservative until 2003. It is commonly found in:

• Some foods including seafood*, especially shellfish; rice and foods with rice-based ingredients, such as some hot and cold cereals, some infant formulas, and rice cakes; and Hijiki seaweed (short, black, noodle-like seaweed)
• Some drinking water sources, including places in the Piedmont Physiographic Province in New Jersey
• Some pressure-treated wood** used in outdoor structures, like decks and playgrounds
• Cigarettes and other tobacco products grown using As-contaminated soil or groundwater
• Additive(s) put in some chicken and turkey feed to prevent parasites
• Some herbal medicines and other traditional remedies, especially from China and India
• Some herbicides in limited use on golf courses, cotton, and at sod-growing facilities

What are potential health concerns, if elevated?

Some forms of arsenic:

• May harm the developing fetus, especially brain function
• May harm the nervous system and affect learning in children
• May contribute to cardiovascular disease, skin disorders, diabetes, and may affect lung function
• Can increase cancer risk

What are suggested ways to reduce exposure in daily life?

• Include plenty of variety in your and your child’s diet
• If you have an infant, breastfeed if you can. Include alternatives to rice-based foods in your infant’s diet
• Do not burn older pressure-treated wood (manufactured before 2004) and avoid using it for home projects
• Have children wash their hands after they play around older wooden structures or decks; apply a sealant every two years
• If your water comes from a private well, have it tested for arsenic (Public water suppliers already test regularly for arsenic.)

*If you ate seafood within a few days before your sample was collected, your result may show an elevated level of arsenic; the form of arsenic in seafood is not considered to be a health concern.

**As-treated wood was phased out in 2004

The following pages contain a table with cadmium result in urine, a table with cadmium result in blood, followed by a page explaining more about cadmium exposure.

Part 4a: Cadmium (Cd) in Urine

Laboratory results for cadmium (Cd) in urine

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Urine	Cadmium	0.343	ug/L	0-0.832

*The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. **Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How can I interpret my results?

The urine cadmium result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about cadmium exposure.

Part 4b: Cadmium (Cd) in Blood

Laboratory results for cadmium (Cd) in blood

Matrix	Analyte	Your Result*	Unit	U.S. Population Range**
Blood	Cadmium	0.678	ug/L	0-1.28

*The result is not intended for diagnostic evaluation or treatment purposes. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

**Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How can I interpret my results?

The blood cadmium result is within the range expected in the general US population. Please refer to the fact sheet below for more information about cadmium exposure.

FACT SHEET ABOUT Cadmium (Cd)

What is cadmium?

Cadmium is a toxic metal commonly found in: - Cigarette and other tobacco smoke - Some inexpensive metal jewelry, including some charms - Rechargeable batteries labeled “NiCd” or “NiCad” - Metal plating and solder - Some red, yellow, and orange decorative paints, which may be used on glassware and pottery - Some foods including fish and shellfish from contaminated water; potatoes, root vegetables, leafy vegetables, and fruit grown in contaminated soil; certain organ meat, such as liver and kidney

What are potential health concerns, if elevated?

• May affect brain development in young children
• Can damage the lungs and kidneys and increase lung cancer risk
• Can weaken bones

What are suggested ways to reduce exposure in daily life?

• Do not smoke or let children breathe cigarette or other tobacco smoke
• Do not wear or let children wear or play with inexpensive metal jewelry or charms
• Do not let children handle rechargeable batteries labeled “NiCd” or “NiCad”; properly recycle batteries
• If you do any welding or metalworking, be sure that your work area is well ventilated and use proper protective equipment
• Keep children away from welding fumes and other metal vapors and dust.
• Make sure your and your child’s diet is well-balanced and includes iron, which reduces the cadmium your body can absorb

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