Pesticides and pregnancy: bad mix

We all know pesticide exposure is bad, but when you are pregnant, even the smallest exposure can influence the birth weight of your baby. A new study, published in Pediatrcs, suggests that among nearly 500 newborns whose umbilical cord blood was tested for pesticide residue, the babies with the higher levels tended to have the lowest birth weights.

The chemicals tested for include DDT and three other organochlorines which are older, now banned, pesticides. Research has linked all of these chemicals to cancer and other health risks. Still, the pesticides don’t dissipate and hang around the environment.

The chemicals are often found in foods, especially fatty foods like dairy products and oily fish.

The higher levels of DDT not only affected birth weight, but also head circumference. Another chemical, hexachlorobensene (HCB) was connected to a shorter birth length.

The findings do not prove a causal relationship. Since we are exposed to chemicals all day long, it could be that a higher level of all kinds of exposures including the pesticides is causing the birth phenomenon. Pesticides apparently interfere with thyroid function which is a determiner of growth and development.

Still, it’s right to be concerned and if you are pregnant to do what you can to reduce your exposure.

Source: Pediatrics, Reuters