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Cleaning chemicals 'reach baby'
Chemicals found in perfumes and cleaning products can cross the placenta and
reach the baby in the womb, research shows.
Tests of umbilical cord blood shows many chemicals, ranging from those used
to make plastics and artificial musks, are present.
WWF-UK and Greenpeace who produced the report want to see regulations to ban
such substances in every day products.
But health experts said pregnant women should not be alarmed by the findings.
Crossing the placenta
They said there was no clear evidence that the chemicals were causing
damage to unborn children.
For the report, tests were carried out on blood samples from the
umbilical cords of 27 newborn babies and 42 new mothers.
The samples were tested for eight groups of chemicals, including those
found in cleaning products and non-stick and waterproof coatings.
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It's not something to be alarmed
about. These substances have probably been around for years and
years
Consultant obstetrician Professor Andrew
Shennan |
All of the samples tested positive for at least some of the 35 chemicals
tested.
Some of the umbilical cord blood samples contained as many as 14, and two
of the mothers tested positive for 17 of the chemicals.
The researchers said they were concerned by their findings.
Safety laws
Helen Perivier, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace International said: "It
is shocking that such chemicals are in the human body at any stage of our
life, let alone at the very start, when the child is most vulnerable."
Andrew Lee of WWF-UK said: "These chemicals should not be in products,
let alone in developing babies."
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THE 8 TYPES OF CHEMICALS
Alkylpheonols - found in detergents and pesticides; possible
link with sperm defects
Artificial musks - found in perfumes; possible cancer link
Bisphenol A - found in tin cans and baby bottles; possibly
effect on reproductive organs
Brominated flame retardants - found in textiles and electrical
appliances; possible link with learning disorders
Organochlorine pesticides - present in some foods such as fish;
possible cancer link
Perfluorinated compounds - found in non-stick pans; possible
cancer link
Phthalates - found in PVC products like Clingfilm; possible
birth defects and asthma link
Triclosan - found in toothpaste and deodorant; possible link
with liver damage
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The European Union is currently revising its chemicals policy.
Mr Lee said it was vital for the health of future generations that this
legislation was effective and called for a wider ban on potentially toxic
chemicals.
WWF said "safer alternatives" existed and should be substituted.
Professor Andrew Shennan, consultant obstetrician and a spokesman for
Tommy's - the baby charity - said: "It's not that surprising that we find in
the blood things that are in the environment.
"Mother and baby communicate directly, although the placenta does filter
out some toxic substances.
"Without knowing that the substances are in some way harmful, it is
difficult to gauge the potential seriousness of this finding."
He said the baby was able to deal with toxic substances in a similar way
to adults.
However if they were exposed to something very harmful before birth and
onwards, that might be damaging.
But he added: "It's not something to be alarmed about. These substances
have probably been around for years and years.
"We are designed to live in hostile environments."
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