Soaps, Etc. Can Harm Pregnant Women
UF Researchers: Too Much Of Chemical Could Harm Developing Baby
POSTED: Friday, November 5, 2010
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Your family probably uses anti-bacterial products like soaps and sanitizers to avoid getting sick, but a new study by researchers at the University of Florida says one common germ-fighting chemical in those products and things like certain toothpastes could be harmful to pregnant women.
The chemical called triclosan is found in hundreds of household products to help prevent bacteria from growing.
UF researchers have discovered that too much triclosan can cause some serious problems to a developing baby.
Researchers said the chemical hinders an enzyme that helps break down estrogen. Estrogen plays a critical role in a fetus' brain development and regulating genes in the growing baby.
Estrogen also effects how much oxygen a baby gets from his or her mother.
This latest study isn't the only one worrying health experts. Six months ago, the Food and Drug Administration started taking a closer look at triclosan when other studies raised the same concerns about the chemical and what it does to the enzyme that breaks down estrogen.
Triclosan is a material that is all around people in low levels. The question now is: How much of it does it take to cause problems in developing fetuses?
UF researchers said more research is needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment