Considering the uproar and hand-wringing over the President's Cancer Panel's report that concluded a lack of research may have grossly underestimated the toxic reach of environmental toxins, no doubt, this latest report from the University of California-San Francisco about the chemicals discovered in pregnant women -- two dating back almost 40 years -- won't make you feel any better…

Researchers at the University of California-San Francisco learned the 268 pregnant women they studied had similar or lower levels of chemicals than their non-pregnant peers. That was the extent of the good news, however.

Ninety-nine percent of the women studied had detectable levels of many harmful chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and organochlorine pesticides.

What's more, bisphenol A (BPA), a substance still used to coat baby bottles and cash register receipts, was detected in 96 percent of the women studied. Probably the most alarming discoveries: DDT and PCBs, chemicals that were banned in the 70s.

Yes, your body is bombarded by so many untold toxins every day, but you can lessen your exposure to some of them just by paying closer attention, for example, to the cosmetics you use.

Environmental Health Perspectives January 14, 2011

USA Today January 17, 2011

ScienceDaily January 16, 2011