Thread: Toxic chemicals traced in US mothers

Toxic chemicals traced in US mothers

High blood levels of several toxic and cancer-causing chemicals, including some compounds which their use are banned for almost 40 years, are found in the body of most US pregnant women.


Press TV
Jan 16, 2011


Searching for the traces of 163 chemicals, most of which used to be found in household products, University of California scientists have found 43 of them in the blood and urine of almost every pregnant woman who had participated in their study.

Almost all the studied women had traces of dangerous banned chemicals such as cancer-causing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and flame retardants containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers along with organochlorine pesticides, perchlorate and phthalates, compounds found in cosmetics, detergents, vinyl floors, toys, plastic bottles and hundreds of other products, said researchers.

They also traced a pesticide named PBDEs in some women despite its use had been prohibited since 1972 in the US, according to the study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives.

While the health effects of these chemicals on developing fetuses was not studied in the present study but previous studies have reported that many of these trace chemicals may pass through the placenta and concentrate in the fetus.

High concentrations of some of these trace elements have been linked to problems with brain development in childhood and potential fertility concerns.

While the effects of many of these chemicals still remain unclear, some experts believe their combination in the environment or body may lead to the development of unidentified toxic chemicals and subsequently health concerns.

“We should be concerned about the number of chemicals pregnant women have in their bodies and we should we taking steps to find out what the implications are for exposure to multiple chemicals,â€

Good grief!! That's terrible.