Mom’s exposure to toxic chemicals shows up in newborn
We as parents go to great lengths to ensure our newborns are safe from any harm that may come their way. According to a few recent studies though, caution should be taken before our little bundles of joy are brought into this world.
One recent study found that pregnant women and newborns can be exposed to nearly 60 chemicals. These aren’t just questionable chemicals either, these are industrial pollutants. Researchers have found varying levels of “polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), mercury, and lead, among other chemicals.” The greatest concern isn’t that they were detected in pregnant women; it’s that they were “detected in greater than 99 percent of US pregnant women, according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.”
While it might be safe to assume the biggest concern is the harmful toxins were found in the mother’s blood, "several PCBs and OCPs were often higher in umbilical cord samples than in maternal blood samples…” Experts warn that the “findings highlight the need to inform policymakers and the public about the potential health risks of prenatal chemical exposures…”
To learn more about how newborns can be exposed to toxic chemicals through the umbilical cord, click here: http://bit.ly/2f5idZF