More than 200 toxic chemicals were found in the blood of umbilical cords sampled from racial and ethnic minority babies in a report coming out Wednesday. The analysis discovered for the first time in cord blood bisphenol A (or BPA), a perfluorocarbon used in non-stick and weather-proofing products, as well as certain forms of PCBs and synthetic fragrances.
Yuck. Remember this is measuring exposure to fetuses, the most vulnerable time for most stages of human development.
The study comes from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit group that’s made a name for itself by testing people for pollutants, and was done in partnership with Rachel’s Network. The group sampled was admittedly small — 10 babies of African American, Hispanic, and Asian descent. But it took a look at a large range of pollutants found in consumer goods.
The research adds to a recent study from the Washington Toxic Coalition that analyzed blood and urine samples from nine pregnant women in Washington, Oregon, and California. It looked for 23 chemicals and found 13, including BPA and a PFC.
Lately BPA has in particular been in the hot seat for those ... Read more
