People & Environment
The developing child and environmental pollution
International research increasingly shows that disruptions during the early development of the fetus and the young child can have significant consequences for later health. Environmental pollutants, especially hormone disrupters, require further research in this regard.
A number of environmental substances can reach the fetus via the placenta; environmentally contaminated substances can also be transmitted to the baby via human breast milk. VITO together with PIH and the University of Antwerp is studying the presence of persistent organic substances in breast milk samples from mothers living in rural areas. Earlier biomonitoring campaigns indicated that inhabitants of rural areas had elevated concentrations of these substances in their blood.
The European ATHON project (Assessing the Toxicity and Hazard of Non-dioxin-like PCBs present in food) is investigating the health risks of non-dioxin-like PCBs that enter our body especially via foodstuffs (www.cascadenet.org/~athon (new window)). Attention is chiefly being paid to the consequences of exposure during pregnancy.
The European OBELIX project (Obesogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals: linking prenatal exposure to the Development of obesity later in life) (http://www.theobelixproject.org/ (new window)) is studying whether exposure before birth to hormone disrupters present in our food plays a role in the development of obesity and associated health problems. OBELIX is a multidisciplinary project that combines epidemiological research with neonatology, endocrinology, toxicology, analytical chemistry and risk assessment. VITO is coordinating the epidemiological studies.
Contact:
Greet Schoeters
Tel. + 32 14 33 51 67
Fax + 32 14 58 05 23
Mobile + 32 477 42 77 46
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