Limousin doctors are launching a campaign to limit the exposure of pregnant women and their fetuses to endocrine disruptors.
They are everywhere: on our plates, in the air we breathe, in the creams we apply. Endocrine disruptors invade our daily lives and disrupt the hormonal systems of populations, over several generations. The first to suffer are babies exposed in utero, particularly sensitive to the deleterious effects of these chemicals.
To fight against this health scandal, known and recognized without ever getting rid of swelling, more than 2,000 doctors, gynecologists and endocrinologists are launching an information campaign on endocrine disruptors and the means to limit exposure. With the slogan “society must protect pregnant women and their babies”, this campaign initiated by the association “Alerte des Médecins sur les Pesticides” focuses on the most vulnerable populations.
Identify risky situations
From this Thursday, these doctors will post awareness messages in the waiting rooms of medical offices and hospitals – two hospital services in Limoges have already shown their support. They will also distribute brochures to couples who are about to have a child.
Daily actions are scrutinized to determine people’s exposure levels. “I heat food in plastic containers or with non-stick coatings”, “I plan to redo a baby’s room”, but also “I use many cleaning products and insecticides in the house” … So many situations that should alert future parents.
Practical advice
In a very practical way, doctors provide advice to limit exposure – use glass containers, consume organic, ban insecticides and herbicides, wipes for changing babies, room fragrances, stoves coated with Teflon , avoid food contact with all kinds of plastics (particularly when heated in the microwave), prefer organic cosmetics, etc.
“It is time to translate research data into prevention objectives”, insist the professionals, while scientific data on the toxicity of endocrine disruptors is accumulating in general indifference and political immobility.
In fact, to date, only bisphenol A is prohibited in baby bottles and food containers. Aware of the risks, Europe banned endocrine disruptors in 2013 as a precautionary principle. However, since that date, a list of criteria must be established in order to define what is an endocrine disruptor and what is not. Three years later, we are still waiting for the list.
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