Unborn babies carry pollutants, study finds

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U2Girl1978

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By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
2 hours, 49 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Unborn U.S. babies are soaking in a stew of chemicals, including mercury, gasoline byproducts and pesticides, according to a report released on Thursday.

Although the effects on the babies are not clear, the survey prompted several members of Congress to press for legislation that would strengthen controls on chemicals in the environment.

The report by the Environmental Working Group is based on tests of 10 samples of umbilical-cord blood taken by the American Red Cross. They found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFOA.

"These 10 newborn babies ... were born polluted," said New York Rep. Louise Slaughter, who spoke a news conference about the findings on Thursday.

"If ever we had proof that our nation's pollution laws aren't working, it's reading the list of industrial chemicals in the bodies of babies who have not yet lived outside the womb," Slaughter, a Democrat, said.

Cord blood reflects what the mother passes to the baby through the placenta.

"Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical-cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests," the report said.

Blood tests did not show how the chemicals got into the mothers' bodies, or what their effects might be on the babies.

MERCURY AND PESTICIDES

Among the chemicals found in the cord blood were methylmercury, produced by coal-fired power plants and certain industrial processes. People can breathe it in or eat it in seafood and it causes brain and nerve damage.

Also found were polyaromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are produced by burning gasoline and garbage and which may cause cancer; flame-retardant chemicals called polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans; and pesticides including DDT and chlordane.

The same group analyzed the breast milk of mothers across the United States in 2003 and found varying levels of chemicals, including flame retardants known as PBDEs. This latest analysis also found PBDEs in cord blood.

Slaughter had similar tests done on her own blood.

"The stunning results show chemicals daily pumping through my vital organs that include PCBs that were banned decades ago as well as chemicals like Teflon that are currently under federal investigation," she said in remarks prepared for the news conference.

"I have auto exhaust fumes, flame retardant chemicals, and in all, some 271 harmful substances pulsing through my veins. That's hardly the picture of health I had hoped for, but I've been living in an industrial society for over 70 years."

The Government Accountability Office issued a report on Wednesday saying the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the powers it needs to fully regulate toxic chemicals.

The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, found that the EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act gives only "limited assurance" that new chemicals entering the market are safe and said the EPA only rarely assesses chemicals already on the market.

"Today, chemicals are being used to make baby bottles, food packaging and other products that have never been fully evaluated for their health effects on children -- and some of these chemicals are turning up in our blood," said New Jersey Democrat Sen. Frank Lautenberg (news, bio, voting record), who plans to co-sponsor a bill to require chemical manufacturers to provide data to the EPA on the health affects of their products.
 
Lancemc said:


I'm so ashamed this made me laugh as hard as it did.:silent:

That was the plan. :wink:

I got a reaction
I got a reaction, didn't I
 
Among the chemicals found in the cord blood were methylmercury, produced by coal-fired power plants and certain industrial processes. People can breathe it in or eat it in seafood and it causes brain and nerve damage.

All the while, the medical community is still shaking their heads over skyrocketing Autism rates, "where did this come from?"

And President Bush = loves methylmercury emissions.
 
I'm just thinking, perhaps this would be better moved to FYM, it would be less likely to generate 'humorous' responses?
 
Fine, shit, here's a mature reaction.

We really can't be surprised what with the filth we live in from day to day and all the pollutants in our air. It's inevitable seeing as how we don't live in pristine conditions.

Better?
 
inmyplace, i can't believe that you are actually acting put out because YOU made some disgusting, innappropriate reamark and people didn't like it.

"getting rid of" unborn babies is a joke to you?

i mean, you can't see why that's offensive?

you only said it to see if you could "get a reaction?"

you need a hobby. or professional help.
 
The comments that have been made are really innappropriate. Obviously some of you don't care that it could hit close to home for some people on here. I should have posted it in FYM. Clearly it seems LS has deteriorated into high school hijinks.
 
thumbs up for sarcasm

bonosgirl84 said:
inmyplace, i can't believe that you are actually acting put out because YOU made some disgusting, innappropriate reamark and people didn't like it.

"getting rid of" unborn babies is a joke to you?

i mean, you can't see why that's offensive?

you only said it to see if you could "get a reaction?"

you need a hobby. or professional help.

i must say im with him here

people should brighten up a little
 
Sorry. :sad:

In all seriousness though, I do mean the last thing I said. If every single one of us is all icky on a day to day basis, you'd the a woman who was preggers would transfer her ickiness to her unborn child.

This is why everyone should carry hand sanitizer with them at all times.
 
Re: thumbs up for sarcasm

Cassis said:


i must say im with him here

people should brighten up a little

I can't believe you told people to "brighten up" over this.

You really have no fucking clue.
 
pax said:


Wow, you're so cool.

Jackass.

How he acted may not have been right, but name-calling is not allowed...and I know you know that.

Okay...that aside...I think this topic might fare better in FYM, so...off it goes.
 
Re: thumbs up for sarcasm

Cassis said:


i must say im with him here

people should brighten up a little


Maybe you should grow up a little :happy:

Do ever think that there may be some women here who've lost babies or would love to have one but can't....the comment that set this all off was flip and not funny. I like stupid humor. That wasn't even stupid--it was asinine.
 
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