Environmental pollution and exposure to various chemicals has proven to affect not only pregnant mothers but their newborn babies as well.
In a two-year new study commissioned by the Environmental Working group and Rachel's network, samples of blood taken from 10 umbilical cords were tested from minority populations in America (which are usually exposed to high levels of environmental pollution), and detected 232 toxic chemicals present in the blood. Chemicals such as lead, mercury, stain repellents, teflon and perchlorates from rocket fuel just to name a few. Nine out of 10 samples tested positive for BPA, an industrial petrochemical produced by the millions of tons annually to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. This is the first time BPA has been found in newborns. It has been known to cause a variety of serious illnesses and disorders such as cancer, cognitive and behavioral impairments, endocrine system disruption, reproductive and cardiovascular system abnormalities, diabetes, asthma and obesity.
Scientists and health experts are pressing for stronger measures to protect pregnant women and infants from BPA and other environmental pollutants that disrupt the endocrine system. In June 2009, the Endocrine Society, comprised of 14,000 hormone researchers and medical specialists in more than 100 countries, warned that “even infinitesimally low levels of exposure [to endocrine-disrupting chemicals] –indeed, any level of exposure at all– may cause endocrine or reproductive abnormalities, particularly if exposure occurs during a critical developmental window. Surprisingly, low doses may even exert more potent effects than higher doses.”
The American Medical Association Board of Delegates approved a resolution in November 2009 calling on the federal governments help in order to help minimize the public's exposure to BPA and other chemicals.
Environmental Working Group believes that any chemical found in cord blood should be given highest priority for tough regulatory action to protect public health.
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1 comments:
Nadia, Thank you for sharing this information with your readers; we are pleased to see it here on A Good Clean Life.
Given the nature of our findings, we want to also highlight our Top 10 Healthy Pregnancy Tips so pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies in the face of these contaminants: http://bit.ly/4KQZaO.
Thanks so much, Lisa Frack, EWG
PS - If people want to take action on the policy level, we have an activist toolkit for national chemical policy reform here: http://bit.ly/905GH.
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