55 new chemicals found in the human body

The chemicals detected most likely come from consumer products or other

industrial sources. They were found both in the blood of pregnant women and in their newborn children. They probably travel through the mother's placenta.

The research team used high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to identify man-made chemicals in humans.

This discovery is alarming: Certain chemicals are passed from pregnant women to their babies, meaning they could be with us for generations. 

Tracy J. Woodruff, Ph.D., Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF

The 109 chemicals that researchers found in blood samples from pregnant women and their newborns are found in many different types of foods.

For example, 40 is used asplasticizers, 28 in cosmetics, 25 in consumer products, 29 in pharmaceuticals, 23 as pesticides, 3 as flame retardants and 7 as PFAS compounds used in carpeting, upholstery and other applications.

There may be other uses for all of these chemicals, the researchers say.

They report that 55 of the 109 chemicals they tentatively identified have not previously been registered in humans.

One substance is used as a pesticide,two are probably used in the production of non-stick cookware and waterproof fabrics, 10 are used as plasticizers (for example, sumilizer GA 80 is used in food packaging, paper plates, small household appliances), two are in cosmetics, four are chemicals with high production volume (HPV). 

Another 37 have virtually no information about their sources or applications.

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