55 New Harmful Chemicals Detected in Pregnant Women and Babies

New research from the University of California, San Francisco, has raised the alarm concerning chemicals entering the human system-and passed on to children during pregnancy.

The researchers discovered at least 55 harmful chemicals, the source of which could be named. But, even more, alarming was unnamed chemicals detected in blood samples of pregnant women and babies.

Scientists Detect New Harmful Chemicals

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The research team utilized high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to determine which human-made chemicals found their way into the human system. Blood samples were obtained from pregnant women and umbilical cords.

Pregnant women and babies are exposed to 109 new chemicals. Previously, researchers have already pinpointed other man-made compounds found in people. Tracey Woodruff, an obstetrics-gynecology professor, said that the research findings prove that people are exposed to many chemicals.

Unfortunately, the research paper's co-author noted that the current technological capacity to measure those chemicals are limited, E&E News reported.  

Professor Woodruff noted that the chemicals could have been present for some time now, but only now has there been sufficient technology to identify them. "We keep seeing chemicals passed on from pregnant women to their babies," the researcher noted. She added, "these chemicals may be with us for generations."

Scientists traced the chemicals back to plasticizers used in food packaging, chemicals used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware, water-proof fabrics, high-production volume (HPV) chemicals, pesticides, PFAs compounds used in carpeting and upholstery, and chemicals found in flame retardants.

More Unnamed Chemicals Found in Pregnant Women and Babies

The study, published in the "Environmental Science & Technology" journal, revealed traces of 55 additional chemicals in pregnant women and babies' blood. These chemicals were never before detected and reported in the human system.

What is even more alarming is the presence of 42 so-called "mystery chemicals," the sources and uses of which are unknown at the time of the research, Mirage News reported.

The researchers spoke concern about the obstacle in their findings-those chemicals they were unable to identify. With that in mind, they encouraged the EPA to look into their chemical industry requirements and standardize the reporting of many more numbers of chemical compounds and their uses.

Such information would be critical to researchers to find out potential health harms of chemicals and for EPA to remove chemicals from the market that carry risks.

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Flame Retardants Raise Risk of Premature Birth

Meanwhile, another research published in the "Journal of Perinatal Medicine" found another chemical in blood samples of pregnant women and babies born early. The substances were polybrominated diphenyl (PBDEs) which are used as flame retardants in furniture and carpets.

The researchers found that pregnant women with high PBDE levels had a 3 in 4 odds of going into early labor even in normal pregnancies. More than four nanograms of PBDE found per milliliter of blood was linked to induced labor and early deliveries via cesarean section.

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