Ob-Gyns Join in the Fight for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Ob-Gyns Publicly Advocate for Policy Changes to Protect Women from Environmental Chemicals that Harm Reproductive Health

This news came across my inbox Monday and was embargoed until Tuesday and I totally forgot to share. Oops. :( Kind of big news and news that actually surprised but encouraged me in my fight for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. In fact, I am going back to DC at the end of October to lobby for safer chemicals and will be joining with 200 concerned citizens to demand action on the chemicals that are in consumer goods today. The fact that The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) is with us only serves to strengthen our cause.


Approximately 700 new chemicals are introduced into the US market each year, and more than 84,000 chemical substances are being used in manufacturing and processing or are being imported.

“Lawmakers should require the US Environmental Protection Agency and industry to define and estimate the dangers that aggregate exposure to harmful chemicals pose to pregnant women, infants, and children and act to protect these vulnerable populations,” said Jeanne A. Conry, MD, PhD, president of The College.

It's Time to Update Our Chemical Laws

“The scary fact is that we don’t have safety data on most of these chemicals even though they are everywhere—in the air, water, soil, our food supply, and everyday products,” Dr. Conry said. “Bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor, is a common toxic chemical contained in our food, packaging, and many consumer products.”

See http://www.breastcancerfund.org/ for the Breast Cancer Fund’s recent report on prenatal BPA
exposure and breast cancer risk.

Toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous other long-term health problems, according to The College and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). In a joint Committee Opinion, The College and ASRM urge ob-gyns to advocate for government policy changes to identify and reduce exposure to toxic environmental agents.

I have been working alongside many consumers, bloggers and business owners to demand updated chemical laws and we now have The College's support, bipartisan support and we are making progress.

YOU CAN JOIN US BY TAKING ACTION TODAY!

The Scientific Evidence is Clear

The scientific evidence over the last 15 years shows that exposure to toxic environmental agents before conception and during pregnancy can have significant and long lasting effects on reproductive health.

“For example, pesticide exposure in men is associated with poor semen quality, sterility, and prostate cancer,” said Linda C. Guidice, MD, PhD, president of ASRM. “We also know that exposure to pesticides may interfere with puberty, menstruation and ovulation, fertility, and menopause in women.”

Other reproductive and health problems associated with exposure to toxic environmental agents:
·         Miscarriage and stillbirth
·         Impaired fetal growth and low birth weight
·         Preterm birth
·         Childhood cancers
·         Birth defects
·         Cognitive/intellectual impairment
·         Thyroid problems

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P.S.- People always ask me where I get my organic food and personal care products and I love to tell them about The Green PolkaDot Box! Backed by the Organic Consumer's Association and EnvironmentalBooty.com, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online.  It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living! You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. Enjoy!