Pollution Threatens Fetuses, Babies Most

Scientists agree that the risk from chemical exposure to unborn babies and developing children is unacceptably high. Children face a greater risk of developing a variety of diseases because of exposure to some very common chemicals. Some 200 scientists agreed Thursday on a statement that calls for increased regulation of chemical pollutants, since many health risk assessments fail to consider the disproportionately large damage some toxins can do to developing fetuses and babies. The health risks include lowered IQ and other neurological damage, cancer or a variety of other diseases -- even obesity and diabetes. Even some common products, like plastics, can leach suspect chemicals in amounts that concern the scientists, who met at the International Conference on Fetal Programming and Developmental Toxicity. As important as the chemical is the time of life when exposure occurs. "The timing makes the poison," the scientists wrote, according to a story in the May 25 Los Angeles Times. For information about raising your child in a toxin-free environment, read The Daily Green story, Four Steps to Organic Motherhood.