News

9th September 2005

Chemicals reaching unborn babies

Chemicals found in some cleaning products and perfumes can cross the placenta and reach the baby in the womb, according to new research.

The report, which was produced by WWF-UK and Greenpeace, is calling for a ban on potentially dangerous chemicals in everyday products.

Tests of umbilical cord blood were carried out on 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.

All of the samples tested positive for some of the 35 chemicals looked for, with some of the blood tests showing the presence of 17 different chemicals.

The researchers said they were concerned by their findings b ut health experts said pregnant women should not be alarmed.

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."

He said it was vital for the health of future generations that new legislation by the European Union 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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