A couple months ago I contemplated whether environmental pollutants cause obesity or type 2 diabetes. One of my conclusions was…
Humans, particularly those anticipating pregnancy and child-rearing, might be well advised to minimize exposure to the aforementioned chemicals. For now, I’ll leave you to your own devices to figure out how to do that. Good luck.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists just published a position paper on pollution risks to babies and pregnant women…
Toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous other long-term health problems, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
***
The scientific evidence over the last 15 years shows that exposure to toxic environmental agents before conception and during pregnancy can have significant and long-lasting effects on reproductive health. “For example, pesticide exposure in men is associated with poor semen quality, sterility, and prostate cancer,” said Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, president of ASRM. “We also know that exposure to pesticides may interfere with puberty, menstruation and ovulation, fertility, and menopause in women.”
Other reproductive and health problems associated with exposure to toxic environmental agents:
- Miscarriage and stillbirth
- Impaired fetal growth and low birth weight
- Preterm birth
- Childhood cancers
- Birth defects
- Cognitive/intellectual impairment
- Thyroid problems
Read the rest of the brief article.
Here’s their advice on staying safe from chemicals during pregnancy.
Whether all this will seem reasonable 20 years from now is anybody’s guess.
