The UC San Francisco research team tested 25 second-trimester pregnant women from Northern and Central California seeking care in San Francisco in 2008 and 2009 and found they had high levels of the chemicals in their blood, putting their babies at risk, according to the study published in Wednesday's Environmental Science and Technology journal.
Researchers believe the women's high PBDE levels were due to California’s strict flammability regulations enacted in the 1970s, which led manufacturers to add flame retardants to a wide variety of products, from electronics to furniture.
Q: You and other California researchers have studied these chemicals and their effect on women before -- what's new about this study?
A: The average levels of PBDE chemicals are the highest reported to date among pregnant women worldwide. Q: So why study pregnant women?
A: There’s a wealth of research that shows these chemicals interfere with development and can lead to lower IQs later on.
A: We’re still replacing these chemicals with other chemicals that in many cases are structurally similar and have not been thoroughly tested. Ultimately the goal is to go toward an approach where we’re thoroughly evaluating chemicals, particularly their effects on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and developing children. In my study, I summarized all the studies of pregnant women to date of PBDEs. The levels in pregnant California women were 10 to 100 times higher than pregnant women in Europe and Asia, about two to three times higher than pregnant women in other parts of the U.S.
Q: Why would the levels be higher in California than other parts of the U.S.?
A: Technical bulletin 117, a unique flammability standard, unique to California. The high levels are likely a result of California’s unique flammability standard.
Q: Are minority and low-income California residents disproportionately exposed to these chemicals?
The theory is Mexico used less of these chemicals, so an immigrant’s exposure in Mexico was lower than when they were in California. Q: So what can low-income pregnant women do to prevent exposure?
If you have furniture that’s ripped or the foam is exposed, patch your furniture so there’s no exposed foam. The chemicals are in the food supply and accumulate in animal fat, so we can also eat lower on the food chain.
Pregnant women can dust and wet mop their home, wash their hands frequently, try to avoid products made from foam. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are usually used as flame retardants in a wide range of products ranging from electronics to furniture. As per a study conducted by UCSF scientists, large proportions of (PBDEs) are seemingly found in pregnant women of California.
This chemical apparently weakens ignition and the speed at which flame grows as affirmed by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study enrolled 25 pregnant women from Northern and Central California who were inspected in San Francisco. They were all undergoing their second trimester tests when the scientists found supposedly high levels of PBDEs along with its products formed when the flame retardants crack down in the body. Exposure of people to this chemical has seemingly risen as crib mattresses, carpet padding and upholstered furniture wear out and expel it in air and dust. These chemicals appear to be present at maximum levels in California household dust. This inference seems to second a previous study that disclosed that low income groups are likely to face greater exposure to PBDEs.