July 15, 2005

Unborn babies carry pollutants Unborn babies in the United States are soaking in a stew of chemicals, including mercury, gasoline byproducts and pesticides, according to a report released yesterday. . . "If ever we had proof that our nation's pollution laws aren't working, it's reading the list of industrial chemicals in the bodies of babies who have not yet lived outside the womb". . .

The report, by the Environmental Working Group, is based on tests of 10 samples of umbilical-cord blood taken by the American Red Cross. They found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFOA. Okay so maybe it's just these 10 babies. Maybe they're going to be superheroes like the Fantastic Four or something. apologies for the NewsFiliter, I just thought this was pretty stark.