Babies Exposed to Toxic Chemicals

Research in Europe has shown that the blood of unborn babies is swimming with dangerous compounds found in everyday household cleaners, perfumes and even pans and furniture.

The chemicals, passed from the mother through the umbilical cord, have been linked to cancers, genital abnormalities and birth defects.

Researchers checked for 35 common chemicals in blood taken from the umbilical cords of 30 newborn babies and from more than 40 new mothers. All the babies had at least five compounds in their blood and some had as many as 14.

The study revealed that mothers can pass on up to a third of the pollutants which may have built up in their bodies over long periods. Among with the chemicals were phthalates, which are used in soap, make-up and plastics and were shown earlier this year to disrupt the development of baby boys' reproductive organs.

The recent research was carried out by scientists at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and commissioned by Greenpeace and WWF. Shane Heaton, BFA nutritionist and organic food researcher, says the study parallels similar research earlier this year in the United States, which found some 287 chemicals in the umbilical cords of ten randomly chosen newborns, including mercury, pesticides, flame retardants, and incineration pollutants.

"Till recently scientists thought that the placenta shielded cord blood and the developing baby from most chemicals and pollutants in the environment. This is the first time many of these pollutants have ever been found in cord blood."

"And the exposure doesn't stop there. Australian research has confirmed that breast milk can contain pesticides and other pollutants at higher than set safety levels."

"So what can be done about it?" asks Heaton. "While you can't avoid all environmental pollutants, you can lower your avoidable exposure, and lower your childrens' avoidable exposure. Food is a good, and important, place to start. Go organic."

Researchers at the University of Washington have recently confirmed that children eating mostly organic food had far lower levels of pesticides in their urine than children eating mostly non-organic food. A follow-up study has also shown how levels of pesticides fall dramatically when children switch to organic food, then rapidly rise when they start eating non-organic food again.

Heaton concludes "There will be scientists who say these pollutants are doing us no harm. That the levels are too low. If you'd rather not gamble your health, and your children, on the chance they may be wrong, there's never been a more important time to watch what you put in and on your body."

E: info@bfa.com.au W: www.bfa.com.au

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