Dr. Alan Bates
Oregon State Senator
Ashland, OR
Dr. Alan Bates, 62, lives in Ashland. Dr. Bates has been a physician for 30 years and currently practices family medicine in Southern Oregon. In addition to practicing medicine, he is also a Democratic state senator who represents the Medford-Ashland area. He has served in the Oregon Legislature since 2001, first as a two-term representative and currently as a senator. In his spare time, Alan enjoys skiing, fly-fishing, and playing basketball.
Alan had the highest level of three types of phthalates and the second highest total phthalates. He had the highest mercury level in the group, but doesn’t typically consume large amounts of fish. Dr. Bates had the lowest PCB levels and no pesticides were detected in his body.
| Chemical Class |
Commonly Found in |
Potential Effects on Health |
Found in Participant? |
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| Phthalates | Personal care products, certain plastic toys and food
containers, medical devices, and vinyl (PVC) products such as flooring,
shower curtains, and wall covering |
Effects on reproductive development, including feminization of male genital and early puberty onset in girls |
 |
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| Mercury |
Heavy metal which enters the environment through multiple
exposure routes—including coal-fired power plants, cement manufacturing
plants, abandoned mines and consumer products |
Harms nervous system development and can harm organs |
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| PFCs (Perfluorinated chemicals) |
Group of chemicals used as surfactants and stain protectors. The two PFCs most commonly found in the environment are known as PFOS and PFOA. They have been in use since the 1950s, and build up and persist in the environment and in animals | Cancer and organ damage |
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| Insecticides are commonly used in agriculture and to a lesser extent in urban areas |
Toxic effects may include nervous system harm, cancer, and hormone disruption |
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| Bisphenol A |
Reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, the linings in metal food cans and dental sealants |
BPA has been linked to reduced fertility, breast cancer,
prostate cancer, and obesity. Recent scientific studies have shown that
even low-dose exposure can have negative health impacts |
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| PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) |
Manufacture of PCBs ended in 1977, after extensive production for use as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment |
PCBs bioaccumulate and persist in the food chain and in our bodies, and have been linked to cancer, effects on the immune and reproductive systems, and effects on nervous system development |
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