Should Doctors WARN PREGNANT WOMEN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS?
The main issue in this article is that many doctors do not warn their pregnant patients about toxins and pollutants that could endanger their fetuses. In defense, doctors say that they warn them about more immediate threats and that telling them about every single chemical in foods will create "undue anxiety". 100 chemicals were found in monitored pregnant women, including lead, mercury, bisphenol, phthalates, etc., which are all linked to disruption of brain and reproductive development. Class difference also plays a role in this. Low-income patients do not ask questions about environmental health risks, and they work in nail salons or clean houses, which makes it hard for them to stay away from harmful chemicals. Other doctors believe the physician should have a stronger role.
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I usually hear about women stressing over the potential toxins that could enter their bodies and harm the babies, so it's nothing new. While I do agree that women should be more conscious about the dangers of certain chemicals, I feel that it is just as bad to have the mother with constant anxiety over whether she is poisoning her baby or not. Standardized risk information should be compiled and implemented into health facilities all around, especially those in poor areas. A list of the most toxic products should also be compiled and implemented so that the women can work to avoid the select few that are very harmful, and not have to worry about all the little things.
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