Banned Chemicals in 99% of Pregnant Women

Ick... it's bad enough that pregnant women need to be aware of their exposure to common irritants and dangers such as cigarette smoke, alcohol and all the different food restrictions, but now we are told that we are walking vats of banned chemicals that could be potentially harmful to our babies?

Okay, that could be a weee bit of an over statement.

Here are the facts according to this study;

"Analyzing data for 163 chemicals, researchers detected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), phenols, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perchlorate in 99 to 100 percent of pregnant women. Among the chemicals found in the study group were PBDEs, compounds used as flame retardants now banned in many states including California, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an organochlorine pesticide banned in the United States in 1972."

"Bisphenol A (BPA), which makes plastic hard and clear, and is found in epoxy resins that are used to line the inside of metal food and beverage cans, was identified in 96 percent of the women surveyed. Prenatal exposure to BPA has been linked to adverse health outcomes, affecting brain development and increasing susceptibility to cancer later in life, according to the researchers."

Exposure to chemicals during fetal development has been shown to increase the risk of:

•preterm birth and birth defects
•childhood morbidity
•adult disease and mortality

Pesticides have certainly been investigated as a potential cause of autism and developmental disorders, as well as ADHD.

Further, the researchers noted that chemicals can 'cross the placenta and enter the fetus.' Other studies have found that chemicals detected in a mother's urine and serum have also been found in amniotic fluid, cord blood and meconium."

Now as wonderful as all of that news is, I'll bet your asking; "But, but...what the heck can I do about it if it is already in me?"

Was I right? It's the first thing I thought of after reading the study.

I guess, it is just a good wake up call to clean out the cupboards and ditch the non-stick cookware, plastic food storage containers and read over the ingredient list of the things I put in and on my body.

In the end, we all need to take responsibility for our own health and just do the best we can with the information we have.