The Chemicals in Me: The Vermont Body Burden Study (part 2)

I'm a big "better in theory" person. You know, let's do X Y or Z with the kids, and it doesn't go as planned, or is even worse then staying at home. Better in theory, and the reality can be much less fun.

Well, that is pretty much what happened with my participation in the body burden study. I had a couple health issues that I thought were going to take me out of the study. While I was bummed I thought I couldn't contribute to the study, to forward the knowledge of chemicals in people, and possibly future legislation and greater awareness from the public, I was inwardly so relieved.

I wouldn't have to give 10 vials of blood.

I wouldn't have to lose a chunk of hair (which I thought would only be a few strands: WRONG!).

I wouldn't have to pee in a cup.

But then I got better, we moved the date and it was back on. Suddenly I found myself analyzing my every move. When one of my girls dripped milk on the couch, I wiped it up, then moistened my finger to rub off the stain. I put said finger in my mouth to re moisten, and gasped. Wasn't the couch finished with awful stain resistant chemicals, that I just purposely ingested? Would this skew the study?

Then I started thinking about food. Sure, I buy organic produce, specifically the dirty dozen. But what about all the time I eat out, or have done so, in the past 20 years? I looked down at my store bought veggie sandwich suspiciously, as if to say, "What have you done to me??".

The day came for the appointment, and I was happy and confident. I met Sally Cargill, the lead doctor in the study. At the clinic, they were used to seeing patients for daily health needs. Everyone was very nice, but clearly, what we were doing was out of the ordinary. Normally, they only take a vial of blood, and today they had to take 10 from me.

And I don't have very hospitable veins. They roll, they avoid that needle. Who could blame them?

I winced, I shuddered, and a very nice medical assistant talked with me the whole time. When at vial 4 or so, she thought it wasn't going well, I thought, "Why exactly am I doing this?" But then the blood kept flowing, and it was over. I saw little stars in my vision, and picked out a lollipop.




Then Sally came in and promptly informed me that she was instructed to take a pencil eraser size of hair from my head. Cut it off. The blood was hard enough, my thought was to give only a few strands of hair. I am vain, and didn't want a bald, poky spot of hair sticking out for years until it grew back to shoulder length with the rest. She assured me she found a hidden spot in the back of my head, but I can't be sure.

Afterward, I was asked to fill out a survey about my mercury exposure. Interesting questions, topics discussed often on this blog, were:

*flu shots (if I had received them)

*mercury in dental amalgams (did I have any)

*what my total fish consumption was

*and if I take fish oil.

So it's all off to the testing lab in British Columbia. I will know in six weeks what my results are (gulp). At least the 10 vials of blood is behind me now. And please don't say anything to me if you notice my hair in a pony tail, with one short patch that sticks out behind my ear. Please. It's all for the greater good, right?

(That is me during the blood draw, and my 10 vials of blood, courtesy of Kurt Budliger Photography)