A recent feature Toxic Chemicals Finding Their Way Into the Womb in CNN's series "Toxic America" highlights the chemicals unborn babies are exposed to while still in their mothers' wombs. Over 200 types of potentially hazardous chemicals have shown up in newborns' cord blood, including the following:

• Bisophenol A – found in water bottles, food can linings, dental sealants and linked to reproductive and behavioral problems, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.


• Perfluorochemcials – used on non-stick coatings and stain and grease protection in carpets and furniture; exposure is linked to low birth weight and possibly cancer.


• PBDEs – flame retardants found in televisions, electronics, and older foams and mattresses; this chemical contaminates house dust and is linked to cognitive and behavioral problems.


• PCBs – banned since the mid-1970s, this chemical can leach from landfill into the food supply; it's linked to cancer, behavioral problems, and damage to the body's nervous system, immune system, and chemical signaling system.


• Dioxins – spewed into the air by power plants and other industries, dioxins can cause cancer.


• Methylmercury – found in contaminated fish and seafood and linked to cancer and lower motor function, attention, and verbal skills.

While there is nothing we can do to control many of these chemicals in our environment, experts suggest minimizing potential exposure to these and other types of chemicals by:

• Incorporating organic food into your diet.


• Keeping your home as dust free as possible because many of these chemicals contaminate household dust.


• Avoiding toxic chemicals found in common household products.

For more chemical-free household products, see our Eco-Friendly Products page.