Asthma Can Be Caused By Prenatal Exposure
Pregnant Women Exposed To Chemicals Can Affect Their Child's Health
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Dioxins and DDT (a commonly used pesticide) are known to be toxic to humans. This is a well documented fact, however their toxic effects prenatally are not well known. A study by Guo YL, Lambert GH, Hsu CC, Hsu MM: Yucheng, Health Effects Of Prenatal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Dibenzofurans. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2004, 77: 153-158, tested the children of a population in Taiwan that had accidentally ingested dioxin contaminated rice oil in 1978-1979. It was shown that the children were adversely affected by their prenatal exposure. They exhibited among other symptoms, retarded growth, delayed cognitive development and increased middle ear infections.
Pregnant Women and Babies Tested For PCBs and Infections
In a study conducted by Anders Glynn, et al., Immune Cell Counts and Risks Of Respiratory Infections Among Infants Exposed Pre- and Post-Natally To Organochlorine Compounds: A Prospective Study, Environmental Health 2008, 7:62, the researchers set out to see if there was a connection between children acquiring respiratory infections after being exposed in utero (their mothers were exposed to PCBs while pregnant. The study included 325 late term pregnant women whose serum lipid levels were tested for PCB and DDE (another common pesticide). The chemicals levels found in the serum were then used to estimate the exposure levels for the infants. Three weeks after the babies were delivered, the researchers sampled the mother’s milk and tested it for the same chemicals. The baby’s blood was also sampled after they were three months old and their white blood cells (WBCs) and lymphocyte percentages were evaluated. The mothers were also questioned about the general health of their babies during the three month period.
PCB Levels Relate To Increased White Blood Cell Counts
The study showed conclusively that mothers that had high levels of certain PCBs in their lipid serum showed an increase in the risk of their babies having respiratory infections. The results of the infant’s blood tests showed higher WBCs and lymphocyte counts especially in those babies who were exposed to chemicals while prenatal. Higher WBCs are indicative of infections or inflammations. Early respiratory infections increase the risk for asthma and middle ear infections. The same exposed children also exhibited diminished motor and mental development.
How Are Pregnant Women Exposed To Dioxins and PCBs
Exposure to these chemicals is never intentional but can occur accidentally. The most common way pregnant women are exposed is environmental. These contaminents can be breathed in, eaten or contacted (through the soil) in day to day activities. PCBs which have been banned from use can still be consumed through diet. The animals feed on contaminated surfaces and the PCBs enter into the food chain. Even though PCBs are no longer used their presence has persisted in the environment especially in the soil and sediments. Dioxins can be inhaled through the burning of waste (backyard trash burning), wood fuel (old wood stove heaters) and gasoline pollution. Dioxins can also be released during forest fires.
Pregnant Women Should Avoid Wildfire Smoke
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