Posted by Dr. Diane Romeo on Jul 15th 2016

Lead Exposure - Pregnant Women and their Babies

Lead Exposure Pregnant Women and their Babies

The exposure that we have on a daily basis to toxic contaminants in our air and water affect out body not only daily, but on a cumulative basis.  Many disorders start from very early in life.  The start of the "Toxicity Process"  begins with pregnant women, when they ingest toxic food  that are loaded with contaminants.  This adversely affects the development of the fetus because lead and other toxic contaminants are transported in the woman's bloodstream and will pass throught the placenta to her baby.

      Recently,  in Flint, Michigan Water Supply, which was just the tip of the iceberg. It was a dramatic event where you had a lot of lead exposure to the population over a period of more than a year and now shows abnormal changes to the children in the community. Lead is a very common toxic heavy metal toxin that is in our environment. It is present in almost all water systems in the U.S. because you have old main pipes that have lead in them. Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children are at greatest risk for health problems. Their small, delicate bodies absorb more lead.

         Symptoms can range from headaches, stomach pains, anemia, metabolic taste in mouth, behavior problems, seizures, decreased IQ and can affect a child’s developing brain. Chronic long term exposures will deposit lead in their bones which adversely affects calcium absorption and weaken the bones.

          Did you know…….

-Lead can be inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.

-Lead can be found in glazed dishes painted with lead paint. Also recently we have become aware that many of the stainless steel bottles that  are used as water containers manufactured in China have extractable lead and heavy metals in them.

-Contaminated soil from lead extends into our food.

      To determine if lead is in your water or to discuss our new lead reducing filters, please call us at CWR 800-444-3563.