Unborn babies stewing in a sea of chemicals... Autism link?

[mamadadawahwah]

Just read a reuters news piece yesterday on a study done on feotuses. Here's the link:

news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050714/hl_nm/chemicals_dc

It says :


"Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical-cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests," the report said.

Blood tests did not show how the chemicals got into the mothers' bodies, or what their effects might be on the babies.

MERCURY AND PESTICIDES

Among the chemicals found in the cord blood were methylmercury, produced by coal-fired power plants and certain industrial processes. People can breathe it in or eat it in seafood and it causes brain and nerve damage.

Also found were polyaromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are produced by burning gasoline and garbage and which may cause cancer; flame-retardant chemicals called polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans; and pesticides including DDT and chlordane.

The same group analyzed the breast milk of mothers across the United States in 2003 and found varying levels of chemicals, including flame retardants known as PBDEs. This latest analysis also found PBDEs in cord blood.

I knew this all along, the question is what effect is this having? Any comments?

[mumfor1sttime]

More scaremongering IMO. Dont listen to things like this - bloody scientists. We have enough to worry our heads with. How do they it is same for every feotus?

[mamadadawahwah]

Its disappointing that the first response to this alleges its scaremongering. WHat do other people think?

[aloha]

I think this is extremely important and serious research! Don't you think we should study the impact that chemicals are having on our environment, on our bodies and those of our children? Why not? Why is it scaremongering to do this? Was it scaremongering to publish research showing that smoking caused lung cancer? It is only research like this that will provide the catalyst for change.

[mamadadawahwah]

Regarding plastics for a start, we know nothing of the effect of plastics. Two kids from the same family i know who are autistic constantly chew plastic (pica). Ok this is far from a scientific study, but we really know nothing about its effect. We know what makes up plastic is NOT good but do the petro companies really want us to know?

I tried never to put boiling water in my ds plastic bottles for when he was a baby for fear of breaking down the chemicals in the plastic. Its just something to think about.

[misdee]

its a shame the world is full of these chemicals. think the main thing we can do in our own home is cut down on the amount oif chemicals we use in the home. things like air freshenrs, bleach, anti-bac stuff etc.

[mamadadawahwah]

Thanky u aloha. I have lots more to post, but fear i will be driven off of mumsnet. Do people want to keep their heads in the sand? In my opinion we are kept from this information and the resources which provide this kind of data are not widely known.

[mamadadawahwah]

What people are really afraid of maybe is the fact that all this info is coming out now, and they fear that because they didnt know about it beforehand that they may have unwittingly contributed to their children's bad health in the future. Of course, no one does this on purpose. But we just didnt know. I didnt know that the 40 odd cavities in my teeth filled with mercury was NOT GOOD FOR ME.

Did you know this when you were seven and your mom took you to the dentist? Nope, me neither.

[mamadadawahwah]

Im going to post another thread about scientists lying about their research as well. Apparently, its an epidemic. Universities do it to obtain funding. Doctors and scientists have been struck off for toying with their "evidence". Its all about money. If it wasnt about money, we would be a lot healthier.

[mumfor1sttime]

IMO studies about anything scare people, always we here- dont eat this, dont do that, etc yawn yawn.....I want to live my life, not worry about the fact my ds might have been 'stewing' in my supposed nasty chemicals - how evil of me.

[aloha]

I am increasingly interested in reducing chemicals in my home - I buy organic cosmetics/soaps etc and am replacing cleaning products with less toxic ones. On a global scale research like this and the public pressure it creates means manufacturers are providing alternatives to, say, pthalates (sp?) and are removing certain plastics from toys and baby bottles. So this sort of research serves a very practical purpose.
I won't be having any more babies, but that doesn't mean I am uninterested in the welfare of future generations.

[mamadadawahwah]

Here is the link to a study done by Martha Mendoza. There are dozens like it on the internet and in journals.

the link: abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=925476&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

If it dosent work look up martha mendoza fake research on google. You will find it.

[GetMakosiorVanessaorOrlaithOut]

I think it's total over analysis and if you think about it too much you are going to drive yourself up the wall.

And I'm a scientist so I am well aware that studies are important etc but new ones come out everyday and many of them are crap.

[TracyK]

Its all just too depressing. Have a look on friends of the earth and they list all the bad things. Plastic sports water bottles, tin cans etc etc.
I think we are all destined to have some sort of cancer or soemthing before we die and we're all to blame. But when we invent something thats hailed as fabby - after 10 or 20 years we all find out what the side effects are. Its too late for us - we just have to do the best we can I spose. But I agree we shouldn't stick our heads in the sand.

[mamadadawahwah]

Martha Mendoza

Allegations of Fake Research Hits New High
Assoc. Press

Jul 10, 2005 ? Allegations of misconduct by U.S. researchers reached record highs last year as the Department of Health and Human Services received 274 complaints 50 percent higher than 2003 and the most since 1989 when the federal government established a program to deal with scientific misconduct.

Chris Pascal, director of the federal Office of Research Integrity, said its 28 staffers and $7 million annual budget haven't kept pace with the allegations. The result: Only 23 cases were closed last year. Of those, eight individuals were found guilty of research misconduct. In the past 15 years, the office has confirmed about 185 cases of scientific misconduct.

... it goes on.

[GetMakosiorVanessaorOrlaithOut]

It's a wonder we're not dead already isn't it.

[mamadadawahwah]

this is not to discount the millions of researchers and scientists out there with ethics. What it says though is NOT to believe everything you hear. Where research is concerned, there is money involved too. Money and health do not a good mix make.

[GetMakosiorVanessaorOrlaithOut]

EXACTLY!!! Do you believe that's just because they are trying to hide something from you? How come you don't think your original article is rubbish then?

[mamadadawahwah]

Aloha just hit the nail on the head again. I want my son's kids to have a healthier and brighter future than we did. I dont want his kids to get sick before they are five or die of some curious cancer or something. If we only think about ourselves what about our grandchildren. Are they all doomed?

[GetMakosiorVanessaorOrlaithOut]

Oh my days.

[mamadadawahwah]

Dear Get, do you know how universities fund think tanks and why? Do you know the machinations behind lobbying? Are you aware why certain research receives money and other research does not. Research does not exist in a vacuum. Scientists on mumsnet please speak up.

[mamadadawahwah]

further I suspect many of us are aware that this month the government and euro union will be taking over 200 vitamins and supplements off the shelf.

What is the reasoning behind that? Yet, I can go and buy the most horrid cocktail of pollutants at my supermarket. Hmmmm

[mamadadawahwah]

this is not a conspiracy theory. Its in your face stuff.

[JakB]

mamadada, why are you so antagonistic on every thread you go on?

[misdee]

i was watching a programme yesterday about tazmanian devils. they are all dying because of tumours and they dont know why. they suspect its because of chemicals used in some tree logging type place. the devils dont munch the trees but consume animals that have done. its quite scary really, if it carries on the tazmanian devil will be gone from out planet. another bad thiong for chemicals i think, if a little obscure link.

[tamum]

There is very little, if any, political influence on research funding in the UK. Good science gets finded, crap science does not. I sit on committees, I know what goes on. I get so bored with these conspiracy theories.