Contaminated from the mother’s womb? Members of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) – American activists specialized in the search for toxic chemicals – analyzed 40 studies that detected the presence and health effects of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) in the umbilical cord. The 40 searches “reported the detection of a wide range of PFAS in the blood” of all the cords studied, they explain in their study, published in mid-September.
PFAS are a family of thousands of chemicals, “some of which are known to accumulate in living things and cause toxic effects,” writes the European Chemicals Agency (Echa).
“Even before you’re born, you’re already exposed to PFAS,” Uloma Uche, a researcher in environmental health sciences at the EWG, worries The Guardian.
“Damage to fetal and child development”
The 40 included studies were conducted in the United States and 11 other countries, the EWG explains, including Brazil, China and Japan. A total of 30,000 samples were analyzed, specifies the guardian. Of the 40 scientific articles, sixteen demonstrated links between PFAS exposure in umbilical cord blood and “changes in vital molecules in the body” as well as “harm to fetal and infant development.”
And at least fourteen studies have shown “an association between PFAS in cord blood, detection of PFAS later in childhood, or increased risk of health impacts in adulthood, or a combination of all three.”
Umbilical cords were tested because this is how the fetus feeds and therefore absorbs what the mother ingests, but fetuses are “more vulnerable to these exposures because their developing bodies don’t have the mechanisms to deal with the chemicals.” explains Uloma Uche. .
According to their observations, the health problems that can be caused after exposure to PFAS in the umbilical cord blood can be multiple, from an increase in cholesterol to cardiovascular problems later in life.
“Eternal Chemicals”
If the focus of this study is on fetuses, what we read there is, above all, that PFAS can be found almost everywhere, all the time. They are even nicknamed “everlasting chemicals” because they are poorly degradable in the environment and some accumulate.
If they are still used it is because of their very interesting properties for the industry, for example they remain stable at high temperatures and some are waterproofing. They are found in the “aeronautics and defense, automotive, aviation, food contact materials, textile, leather and clothing, construction and household products, electronics, firefighting, food processing, and medical industries” industries. throw.
“Extremely persistent, PFAS are found in all compartments of the environment and can contaminate populations through food or water consumed,” writes the ANSES (Medicines Agency).
To limit your exposure to PFAS as much as possible, the EWG recommends purchasing a PFAS filter for tap water, avoiding “products that advertise long-lasting, nonstick, and waterproof properties” and fast foods “because of grease-resistant coatings on packaging.” food”. “. The organization also calls on public authorities to act to ban these chemicals.
Source: BFM TV
