Should Doctors Warn Pregnant Women about
Environmental Risks?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-doctors-warn-pregnant-women-about-environmental-risks/
When visiting a doctor regarding the news of being pregnant many advise a women to be careful, to avoid gasoline fumes, pesticides, and certain foods. But it has come to the attention to many that women are not being informed about the danger in patients about chemicals in food, the consumer products that can endanger the fetus. Doctors argue that the mothers should be warn about the immediate dangers found in the environment. There are about 100 chemicals found inside a women that can harm a fetus during the development. The chemicals vary from mercury, toluene, perchlorate and others. These chemicals can risk birth defects or lead to cancer, immune problems, asthma, fertility problems and the list continues. Even knowing of the effects doctors still do not advise the women of the risks. Only about 44% said that they talk to the pregnant ladies about the effects of being exposed to the dangers in the environment. A researcher in UCSF said that " only four out of every ten doctors said that they discuss the contamination with pregnant women". The Food and Drug Administration have warned women avoid the consumption of mercury and yet 1 of 14 (300,000) newborns are exposed to levels of methylmercury that exceed the guidelines. In order to decrease the consumption is to stop eating fishes that have high levels of mercury such as shark, and to read the labels. Regarding who are the women who have the higher rates of toxic chemicals found in their body are those in the lower class due to house cleaning supplies and hard labor works. It is recommended for women to know what they eat and the environment around them.
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When reading this is what shocking to know that pregnant women are in tittle to be in more danger that anyone else. Since they now live, eat, and sleep for two. Being in any environment that is harmful can cause an extensive list of risks for the newborns from asthma, fertility issues, cancer, brain issues and the list continues. It is interesting to know that some doctors do not advise pregnant women about the dangers in some foods, such as specific fishes that have high levels of mercury which are one of the main problems for the women and the baby. Some doctors just do not want to discuss the theme of it, or just do not find in necessarily. As a female my self, I want to know all the information needed to keep me safe and when I do decided to have children keep them safe as well. Now knowing that some doctors refuse to give information regarding a patient, it is important to one maintain informed and to know the true dangers that are found in the environment.
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