First of all, what is PBDE? PBDE stands for polybrominated diphenyl ether. It is a chemical used in flame retardants for decades. This chemical is found in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets and plastics. The recent study published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is the first study to examine the relationship between PBDEs and fertility.
The results are very interesting. Women with higher levels of PBDEs in their blood stream took longer to get pregnant. The good news is that the 2 largest manufacturers of one type of PBDE has agreed to phase out the chemical. The message is this – fertility is vulnerable to environmental toxins. We don’t know the extent to which the environment can impact our fertility.
As we gather more information, we can hopefully improve things for future generations to come.
See the full articles here
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.0901450
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-fertility27-2010jan27,0,3698965.story
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