Many doctors do not warn pregnant women to avoid gasoline fumes, pesticides, certain types of fish and some household cleaners and cosmetics. A nationwide survey of 2,600 obstetricians and gynecologists found that most do not warn their pregnant patients about chemicals in food, consumer products or the environment that could harm their fetuses. More than half said they don’t warn about mercury, and barely any of them give advice about lead, pesticides, air pollution or chemicals in plastics or cosmetics. Most just tell their patients to not smoke or drink, and to eat nutritious foods and take vitamins. Many doctors don't tell their patients about environmental problems because it might cause anxiety and say that their priority is protecting pregnant women from immediate danger like obesity and pre-term labor.
Monitoring of pregnant women found more than 100 different chemicals, 43 of them were in all women tested. Some of the chemicals include lead, mercury, bisphenol A, flame retardants and more. Studies shows that low levels of exposure to some of the chemicals in the womb may alter development of the brain or reproductive systems. Others may increase the risk of birth defects and can lead to cancer and asthma and other disorders later in life. However, most pregnant women or women wanting to become pregnant do not about these risks. According to a nationwide survey conducted by University of California San Francisco researchers, 86% of doctors discuss workplace hazards and 68% talk about second-hand smoke. But only 19% warn about pesticides and only 12% discuss air pollution with their patients. 44% say they talk about mercury and 11% mention volatile organic compounds, which are fumes released by gasoline and paints. Only 8% warn their patients about BPA and 5% warn about phthalates.
Since 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have warned pregnant women to avoid eating high-mercury fish such as swordfish, shark and albacore tuna. Yet an estimate of 300,000 newborns each year are exposed to levels of methylmercury that exceed the guidelines that the EPA set to avoid neurological effects in fetuses. Mercury in the womb has lead to reduced IQs and other effects on developing brains. However, fish is a good protein source for women; it just depends on what fish you eat. The problem is that most doctors are not being taught about nutrition or contaminants in school. The good thing is that since people have internet access now, they know about chemicals in cosmetics and plastic. But those women are middle-to-upper class women; the low-income women don't read articles online and don't know about environmental risks. Most of these women work in nail salons or clean houses, so they are exposed to chemicals constantly.
I think it's not fair that doctors are not telling pregnant women about environmental problems. Some are, but not enough are warning about the risks of exposure to chemicals and fumes. Doctors need to be educated about contaminants and environmental problems so they can warn their patients about them. Also, all women need to be educated about chemicals in plastics and cosmetics, BPA in canned food and beverages, and mercury in certain types of fish. If women know this information, the risks of birth defects will reduce. Education is the key in fixing all the world's problems. Let's go educate both doctors and women!
Monitoring of pregnant women found more than 100 different chemicals, 43 of them were in all women tested. Some of the chemicals include lead, mercury, bisphenol A, flame retardants and more. Studies shows that low levels of exposure to some of the chemicals in the womb may alter development of the brain or reproductive systems. Others may increase the risk of birth defects and can lead to cancer and asthma and other disorders later in life. However, most pregnant women or women wanting to become pregnant do not about these risks. According to a nationwide survey conducted by University of California San Francisco researchers, 86% of doctors discuss workplace hazards and 68% talk about second-hand smoke. But only 19% warn about pesticides and only 12% discuss air pollution with their patients. 44% say they talk about mercury and 11% mention volatile organic compounds, which are fumes released by gasoline and paints. Only 8% warn their patients about BPA and 5% warn about phthalates.
Since 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have warned pregnant women to avoid eating high-mercury fish such as swordfish, shark and albacore tuna. Yet an estimate of 300,000 newborns each year are exposed to levels of methylmercury that exceed the guidelines that the EPA set to avoid neurological effects in fetuses. Mercury in the womb has lead to reduced IQs and other effects on developing brains. However, fish is a good protein source for women; it just depends on what fish you eat. The problem is that most doctors are not being taught about nutrition or contaminants in school. The good thing is that since people have internet access now, they know about chemicals in cosmetics and plastic. But those women are middle-to-upper class women; the low-income women don't read articles online and don't know about environmental risks. Most of these women work in nail salons or clean houses, so they are exposed to chemicals constantly.
I think it's not fair that doctors are not telling pregnant women about environmental problems. Some are, but not enough are warning about the risks of exposure to chemicals and fumes. Doctors need to be educated about contaminants and environmental problems so they can warn their patients about them. Also, all women need to be educated about chemicals in plastics and cosmetics, BPA in canned food and beverages, and mercury in certain types of fish. If women know this information, the risks of birth defects will reduce. Education is the key in fixing all the world's problems. Let's go educate both doctors and women!