After years of research on the subject, it’s now more or less common knowledge that chemical exposure during pregnancy affects fetuses considerably more than their pregnant moms. Now, new genetic science is starting to examine the potential effects of chemical exposure before conception ever happens.

In a new paper published in the journal Endocrinology, researchers explain how when parents are exposed to chemicals, prior to conceiving, they can influence epigenetics, which are the cues that turn genes off and on. In turn, these epigenetic changes can affect how genes are passed on to offspring later in life.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, dioxin, and some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are the main chemicals that have been studied largely in laboratory animals. In some cases, the chemical exposure essentially “reprograms” an individual's’ genome. These permanent changes can then be passed down from generation to generation, resulting in serious transgenerational effects.

Expanding on these findings, the researchers of this paper conclude with a strong statement on the implications of failing to properly regulate these dangerous chemicals. Rather than looking at massive, short-term exposure, low-level exposure over an individual’s lifetime must be examined. Additionally, the paper’s authors note how testing models should consider how various chemicals may interact and become more dangerous than the sum of their parts.

Along with other serious concerns, Health Care Without Harm also supports further assessing low-level exposure and conducting additional research on chemical mixtures. Stay tuned as we continue to cover the reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), currently being debated in Congress.

Source: [Healthline]