Toxic Chemicals Found in Almost All Pregnant Women
A blog post entitled Nearly all pregnant women harbor potentially harmful chemicals in today's Washington Post discusses the presence of toxic chemicals in pregnant women's bodies. Of most concern, of course, are chemicals that cross the barrier of the placenta and affect the developing fetus.
Jennifer LaRue Huget writes, "Research published this morning in Environmental Health Perspectives analyzed data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-04, checking for the presence of 163 different chemicals in the women's blood, urine and serum. Many chemicals (such as PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PFCs, phenols, PBDE flame retardants, phthalates, polycyclic 14 aromatic hydrocarbons and perchlorate) that are associated with adverse health effects were found in 99 percent to 100 percent of pregnant women, and nearly all women carried multiple contaminants. Some of the contaminants studied, such as mercury, bisphenol-A, heavy metals and hormone disruptors, can cross the placenta and thus affect the fetus. Many of the chemicals remain in current use, though others have been banned."
The lead author of the study, Tracey Woodruff, director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, offered some tips for how pregnant women can protect themselves from some of these chemicals, which can cause neurological damage or affect the male reproductive system, among other adverse effects. These tips include:
• Eat a healthy diet, choosing organic foods whenever possible.
• Avoid cigarette smoke. Using an air purifier can help rid the air of harmful contaminants.
• Remove dust from your home environment.
• Wash hands before meals.
• Choose personal care products with fewer toxic ingredients.
Jennifer LaRue Huget writes, "Research published this morning in Environmental Health Perspectives analyzed data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-04, checking for the presence of 163 different chemicals in the women's blood, urine and serum. Many chemicals (such as PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PFCs, phenols, PBDE flame retardants, phthalates, polycyclic 14 aromatic hydrocarbons and perchlorate) that are associated with adverse health effects were found in 99 percent to 100 percent of pregnant women, and nearly all women carried multiple contaminants. Some of the contaminants studied, such as mercury, bisphenol-A, heavy metals and hormone disruptors, can cross the placenta and thus affect the fetus. Many of the chemicals remain in current use, though others have been banned."
The lead author of the study, Tracey Woodruff, director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, offered some tips for how pregnant women can protect themselves from some of these chemicals, which can cause neurological damage or affect the male reproductive system, among other adverse effects. These tips include:
• Eat a healthy diet, choosing organic foods whenever possible.
• Avoid cigarette smoke. Using an air purifier can help rid the air of harmful contaminants.
• Remove dust from your home environment.
• Wash hands before meals.
• Choose personal care products with fewer toxic ingredients.
Comment
