A new study has found that in the human body there are 42 chemicals of unknown origin, it is not known from where they enter the human body. The study that revealed these disturbing results was published on March 17 in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Information from the study indicates that scientists at the University of California at San Francisco (UC San Francisco, for short UCSF) collected 60 samples from 30 pregnant women for testing, 30 samples from the fetus themselves, and 30 samples. infant umbilical cord.
The reason for screening pregnant women, the study explains, is that “pregnancy is a critical time that reflects the health risks for the next generation.” If certain chemicals are detected in the body of the pregnant woman and in the umbilical cord, it means that these ingredients have been transmitted to the fetus through the umbilical cord.
The study identified a total of 109 chemicals from these samples and compared them to chemicals found in chemicals known to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There are 55 types of substances that have never been seen in the human body before, of which 42 types of “mysterious chemicals” of unknown origin have been detected.
Why are there so many unknown chemicals in the human body? According to research, this is closely related to the chemical industry in modern society. One of the researchers, Tracey J. Woodruff, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF, said: “It is possible that these chemicals were in the human body from the start, but it is not only because of the work. their chemical composition. “
Although it is generally possible for researchers to guess their chemical makeup, this study aimed to compare chemicals found in all products of the chemical industry in order to clarify the identity of chemicals. However, to date, many manufacturers do not strictly adhere to the regulations on the composition of the chemical profiles of their products.
For example, the study cites a manufacturer who no longer updates the composition of the fluorinated surfactant (PFAS) it uses, leading researchers to be unsure of what type of compound they are using in the new material. These new materials are widely used in carpets and many home decorations.
This study lists the possible origins of dozens of chemicals that have never been found in the human body before:
– A substance that is an ingredient used in a pesticide;
– Two types of perfluorinated substances (PFAS), commonly used in non-stick pans and waterproof materials;
– Ten types of plasticizers used in materials such as food packaging bags, disposable paper plates, small electrical appliances;
– Two types of ingredients used in beauty products;
– Four types of high volume pharmaceutical substances (High Production Volume. Chemicals, HPVC);
– More than 30 kinds of unknown ingredients can not find information about the origin and use; They can be used in products such as perfumes and paints.
Professor Woodruff said: “There are so many chemical compounds that we cannot determine their uses and origins, which is very worrying. The United States Environmental Protection Agency should strengthen oversight of the chemical industry to develop regulations and report on compounds used and their uses.
As a scientist who worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Woodruff said, “These chemicals are passed on from mother to next generation, which means they will accompany the human body through. the human body. generations, it is a question of vigilance. “
