The health of a woman before she conceives—her weight, her blood pressure, control over any medical problems she may have—all contribute to the “environment of health” that she passes on to her child. But in more recent times, exposure to chemicals in our environment—in the food we eat, the personal care products we use, or the medications we consume–has become an increasingly prominent health concern.
Exposure to unsafe chemicals in the environment, particularly during preconception, has been recognized as an important risk factor for infancy and childhood health problems. Recent studies have shown that pregnant women carry multiple harmful chemicals in their bodies and are completely unaware that they are affected. The chemicals can come from sources such as food and beverage cans and packaging, as well as sunscreen and make-up. These chemicals can have adverse effects on not only pregnant women, but also future generations including their children and grandchildren.
Dr. Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, Calif., is president elect of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Dr. Conry received her PhD in biological sciences and ecology, and her experience as a former biologist gives her unique knowledge and perspective on how our environment ultimately affects our health. Now a practicing physician, Dr. Conry has devoted much of her time to advancing children’s environmental health by promoting better prenatal and preconception care and encouraging women to create a safe and healthy environment of care for themselves before, during and after pregnancy. It is crucial for pregnant women to be aware of the entire environment of care they provide to their unborn child and how they can avoid exposing themselves or their families to factors that might harm health.
Additionally, Dr. Conry suggests that physicians exercise and encourage extreme caution with their patients when discussing how unsafe, everyday chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), often present in foods and packaging, can impact a woman’s health and eventually, the health of her children and future generations of her family.
In the video below, Dr. Conry elaborates on the dangers that harmful chemicals pose to everyday health and how many common diseases are the result of environmental factors.
