Researchers have found 55 chemical compounds by no means earlier than reported in individuals in a examine involving pregnant girls and their new child infants.
The analysis crew from the College of California, San Francisco, used high-resolution mass spectrometry to establish human-made chemical compounds in blood samples taken from umbilical cords and pregnant girls. That approach is one that’s often used to check the human physique’s metabolic cycle.
The crew recognized 109 chemical compounds complete after which in contrast them with present databases of compounds which were beforehand present in individuals.
“That is simply additional proof that we’re uncovered to many chemical compounds, and our technological capability to measure them is restricted,” mentioned co-author Tracey Woodruff, a professor of obstetrics gynecology and reproductive sciences who used to work at EPA.
Most of the compounds discovered within the study, which was printed within the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Know-how, are utilized in pesticides, nonstick cookware, waterproof materials, meals packaging and cosmetics. Researchers had been unable to hint the makes use of of 42 of the chemical compounds.
It is unclear precisely how the 30 girls and their infants within the examine had been uncovered to the chemical compounds or how the substances bought into their our bodies. Most of the compounds are generally utilized in client merchandise, however co-author Dimitri Abrahamsson mentioned that is simply “one pathway” of doable publicity.
“Even should you do not buy the product, should you purchase fish that incorporates the chemical, otherwise you breathe air or drink the water that’s contaminated, you might be uncovered in numerous methods,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, there may be at the least some proof that a number of the publicity is coming from client merchandise, as a result of girls within the examine who had increased socioeconomic backgrounds tended to have extra chemical compounds of their blood. Whereas lower-income and minority communities usually tend to dwell in polluted areas and be uncovered to poisonous substances by way of contaminated air and water, these with increased buying energy may very well be utilizing extra merchandise that include the chemical compounds.
“You probably have a better socioeconomic background, you possibly can afford extra of these items: It’s possible you’ll purchase extra takeout meals that is available in wrapping papers with these nonstick chemical compounds, you might purchase extra cosmetics or private care merchandise,” Abrahamsson mentioned. “Although we won’t know for positive, it’s a very possible rationalization.”
It is also not clear “what the well being results are going to be” from the examine’s findings, “particularly throughout these crucial occasions of improvement,” Woodruff mentioned.
She needs EPA to do extra to require chemical corporations to reveal which compounds they manufacture and the way they’re generally used.
EPA, she mentioned, “wants to make use of their authority to make sure that we have now satisfactory data to guage potential harms and take away chemical compounds from the market that pose a danger.”
