It has long been known that carcinogenic chemicals can transfer from mother to child during pregnancy, but a new study has revealed how this transfer occurs. According to a survey conducted by a team of researchers at Fudan University in China involving 1,076 individuals, traces of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in the blood of 65 percent of the participants, as reported by the British newspaper "Daily Mail." These chemicals, known as PFAS, remain in the blood for a long time and are considered highly dangerous due to research linking them to cancer.
The recent study showed that these chemicals infiltrate the placenta and umbilical cord, and even breast milk. From the mother to her fetus before birth, and to her child after birth. The British report states: "These are microscopic chemical substances that take thousands of years to decompose, adhering to proteins in the human body, thus being transported by the maternal bloodstream to the fetal bloodstream."
It continues: "The chemicals present in the mother's blood transfer to the fetal blood through the placenta, which provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, and from there to the temporary muscular structure connecting the mother's womb to the umbilical cord." While the placenta acts as a natural barrier preventing harmful substances like viruses and some medications from passing, it is unable to block PFAS compounds due to their extremely small size and fat-solubility, allowing them to easily reach the fetus.
According to the research team, it is easier for some toxic chemicals to pass through the placenta than to be transferred to the newborn through breastfeeding. The study indicates that persistent chemicals accumulate in body fat and can be released into breast milk, meaning they are passed to the newborn along with essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
These carcinogenic compounds have been dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their ability to persist for hundreds of years, and because of their association with liver, kidney, breast, and ovarian cancers, they pose a significant environmental and health challenge, as stated in the "Daily Mail" report.
Researchers at Fudan University also noted that maternal exposure to PFAS during pregnancy increases the likelihood of the child developing infectious diseases, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These compounds are present in most types of food, as well as in air, water, and soil, in addition to cleaning products, making it possible for them to infiltrate human bloodstreams at any moment.
The report links the quantity of chemicals a newborn is exposed to with the mother’s dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), age at birth, and educational background. Recent research indicates that animal-derived foods and seafood are significant sources of these compounds, explaining their widespread prevalence. The real issue is that these chemicals accumulate in the body quickly, while it takes a long time, ranging from months to a few decades, to eliminate them.
Additionally, Chinese researchers found that these chemical compounds accumulate significantly in the mother's blood during the last trimester of pregnancy, attributed to dietary and consumption patterns during that period. Consequently, these researchers are sounding a serious alarm and calling for a thorough review of dietary consumption patterns and environmental policies to minimize human exposure to these carcinogenic chemicals. They recommend using treated water or bottled water for drinking and cooking, avoiding fast food and microwave popcorn, along with discontinuing the use of Teflon-coated cookware.
