Ever wonder what’s in umbilical cord blood? Me neither, until I read a review on Local Forage of ‘Ten Americans,’ a presentation conducted by Ken Cook, founder of the Environmental Working Group. According to data compiled by the well-known eco-toxicology organization, there are on average 200 industrial chemicals found in the umbilical cord – all of which are ingested by fetuses along with genetic material, nutrients and antibodies. It turns out that mothers pass down everything that they are exposed to, although until recently scientists believed that the placenta absorbed toxins, protecting the growing baby.
EWG researchers analyzed the blood from ten different umbilical cords of American-born babies. The samples themselves were drawn by Red Cross workers and, before you knock the sample size, consider the hefty $10,000 price tag on each full analysis. The blood was tested for 413 known chemicals and 69% – or 287 actual chemicals – were found. While the range in chemical presence spanned from 154 to 231, 101 chemicals were present in all cord blood samples. Further, all of the possible nine classes of chemicals were represented, providing a diverse range of exposure.
Among the 287 industrial chemicals found in cord blood were the usual suspects: PVCs such as Bisphenol A from plastics, Dioxins from burning garbage and coal, Aromatic Hydrocarbons from burning coal and oil, Parabens from personal care items, and pesticides from fruits and vegetables. 47% of the chemicals are known carcinogens, 55% can cause neurological disorder, and 65% are implicated in the increased rate of infertility. In fact, over the past 10 years, the instance of male and female infertility has risen 20%, with its highest increase in women under the age of 25. Of course, neurological disorders such as ADHD and Autism have skyrocketed and childhood cancers (particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors) are at an all-time high.
There is no definitive causation between fetal exposure to toxins and the unprecedented levels of health problems and malfunctions that we see today, but it hardly seems like a coincidence. In the meantime, EWG suggests treading as lightly as possible when it comes to chemicals. That means eating organic fruits and vegetables, filtering tap water, and choosing naturally-derived house and personal cleaners.
