Environmental Chemical Exposure During Pregnancy
The Dangers of Environmental Chemical Exposure During Pregnancy and the Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring
Dr. Kurt Woeller, DO | Sunrise Functional Medicine
A study published a decade ago in Environmental Health Perspectives (2016) showed a significant correlation between pesticide exposure, particularly organophosphates, and other chemical exposures during pregnancy leading to an increase in autism-spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities in children. Unfortunately, this problem continues today.
Various chemicals such as 1,3-butadiene (found in petroleum products), styrene (found in plastics and exhaust fumes), perchlorate (found in airplane fuel and fertilizers), vinyl chloride (found in personal care products) and many others are all known to create biochemical imbalances adversely affecting the brain and nervous system, hormones, cardiovascular function, immune health, etc.
Ideally, women should be screened prior to getting pregnant, but also knowing chemical levels during pregnancy may also help to identify certain exposures that can at least be decreased to lessen the potential for problems. Other individuals can also be checked to evaluate their exposure risks as well.
A urine test from Mosaic Diagnostics Laboratory called the TOX Detect Profile analyzes multiple environmental chemicals all known to adversely affect health. Identifying chemicals you or your family are being exposed to can help prepare for changes in food, water or environmental exposures. Many chemicals are acquired through contaminated water or non-organic foods.
The Toxicity Mastery Course (https://integrativemedicineacademy.com/toxicity-mastery-course/) through Integrative Medicine Academy (https://integrativemedicineacademy.com) is a detailed educational course for health professionals focusing on environmental chemical, glyphosate, heavy metal, mold and mycotoxin exposures. In this course, the TOX Detect Profile which includes glyphosate is discussed in detail.