California Injury Lawyers Concerned About Pregnant Women And Chemical Hazards

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A new report in Time magazine illustrates that many pregnant women in the United States are walking around with dozens of potentially toxic chemicals in their bodies, absorbed through a number of sources in their environment. As our dependence on toxic plastics increases, California injury lawyers are worried about the potential long-term impact on these fetuses.

A study conducted by researchers at the Program on Reproductive Health and Environment at the University Of California San Francisco and published in the Environmental Health Perspectives analyzed data on 160 chemicals, and found that almost all of these chemicals were present in pregnant women. The researchers analyzed the number of chemicals that pregnant women are exposed to, and found that out of the 160 chemicals that were tracked in the study, 43 were found in more than 99% of pregnant women.

Some of those chemicals that were found in these women include phthalates which have already registered on every California injury lawyer's radar. These chemical compounds are added to plastics to soften them. They're found in a wide variety of consumer products from shampoo and hair dyes to pacifiers and bottles. It's the health hazard caused to infants and babies that has caused the highest concern. Male children exposed to high concentrations of phthalates may be at a high risk of genital abnormalities and reproductive defects. The Consumer Product Safety Commission Act of 2008 set stricter standards for palettes, but we are still far from keeping our children safe from these toxins.

The other chemicals that were found in the pregnant women's bodies include organochlorine pesticides, phenols, and perchlorate. Women who use a sunscreen have a high risk of exposure to benzophenone-3, one of the ingredients in sunscreen. What is really concerning about the study is that some of the chemicals that are found in pregnant women's bodies have been associated with problems in brain development in early childhood. Other chemicals have been linked to fertility concerns.

The chemicals found in consumer products are regulated by the US Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. This archaic law has not been updated for more than three decades, while there has been a multi-fold increase in the number of chemicals that are now used in consumer products. The law is flimsy, and allows chemicals to be used in products without the need for safety checks. There is obviously a great need to revise these laws. There is also greater need for research into the kind of chemicals that pregnant women are carrying around in their bodies, and the potential long-term implications for the health of the fetuses.

While this post is not meant to be alarmist, pregnant women in particular would do well to take extra steps to minimize their exposure to toxic chemicals. Choose personal hygiene and personal care products extremely carefully, choosing more organic products. Wash your hands as much as possible to avoid contact with chemicals.


About the Author:
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at
trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.



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