Medical expert of the article
New publications
American scientists have created a new type of blood test during pregnancy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A new type of analysis reveals in the blood of a woman more than seven hundred different toxic substances that can harm an unborn baby.
The high level of industry, the traffic load of cities makes living in some countries potentially dangerous to health. For example, in the United States, more than fifteen tons of chemical waste is produced per person per year. If we take into account that the economic growth continues, the environmental problem is aggravated every year. And this is not surprising, because consumers are striving all for great household and material benefits.
The influence of industrial and domestic toxic substances on the body of a pregnant woman and on the development of the unborn child, unfortunately, is currently little studied. Although doctors suggest that serious genetic disorders, disorders of the endocrine and metabolic functions, the phenomena of hypoxia are to some extent related to the influence of the external environment. In most countries, there are already regulated bans on the use of mercury compounds, arsenic, etc. However, few people know that every day every parent is confronted with other potentially dangerous substances that have not yet been sufficiently studied.
For example, can you answer the following questions:
- What is the composition of your phone?
- What is the paint, which painted children's toys?
- Why does the bleaching agent smell not bleach, but have a rather pleasant aroma?
Have you thought about this? But many different chemical components invisibly implanted in our body and poison it. So, quite recently, physicians discovered the endotoxic effect of phthalates, which are present in plastic and slowly destroy the endocrine system of children. Moreover, such their property was discovered by chance. What to speak about other substances unfamiliar to us?
Moreover, the negative properties of many components are known, but manufacturers and higher authorities turn a blind eye to this. For example, toxic Bisphenol-A, which inhibits the work of female reproductive organs, is used as part of plastic for baby bottles.
Another substance 1,4-dioxane is used as an industrial solvent. According to the classification of the EPA, this component is a probable carcinogen, but it continues to be part of disposable cups. According to statistics, almost 30% of Americans every day receive a decent dose of dioxane, using coffee. At the same time, federal standards for the content of this substance in products have not yet been determined.
In order to identify such toxic substances in the blood of a pregnant woman, scientists have created a new blood test that will prevent the negative impact of toxins on the future generation. This innovative screening will be able to control the environmental risk, as well as provide an opportunity to take action on time if a substance is more than the permissible norm.
More information about the study can be found on the pages of the publication Environmental Health Perspectives.