Discovery News just broke this story about how chemicals that are frequently found in most households do hold a link to infertility in women.  This study is the first of the subject, and the results are troubling.  Since the study is the first into this topic, further research needs to be done, claims Chunyuan Fei.  Fei is a Ph. D. student in epidemiology at the University of California.  Fei feels that her results are worrisome enough to research the matter more in depth.

The study looked into chemicals that are grouped together called perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs.  PFCs are incredibly potent greenhouse gases, with a greenhouse warming potential (GWP) that is higher than carbon dioxide by staggering amounts.  The production of PFC is regulated as part of the Kyoto Protocol.  PFCs are common in household products, from pesticides to aluminum.  This study in particular looked at perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfleurooctanoate (PFOA).

Previous studies on the matter of PFOA and PFOS have linked it to toxic effects in the liver, immune system, and reproductive system in animals.  Evidence of PFC derivatives, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, can be found in blood samples.  Fei's study focused on these effects in people, and found that women with multiple children had lower levels of PFOA and PFOS in their blood, while women with fewer children had a higher amount.

The team collected blood, as well as surveyed, more than 1,200 newly pregnant females who were a part of the Danish National Birth Cohort, a long-term study of health.  All the participating women were pregnant on purpose.  About 30% of the women had tried to conceive for more than six months before becoming pregnant, according to the results.  Half of those women had been trying for longer than a year.

The study separated women into groups depending on their chemicals.  Their research showed that women with higher amounts of PFOS in their blood had a higher likelihood of needing six months or more to become pregnant.  Women with the most PFOA had an even higher likelihood to have problems conceiving.

While PFOS and PFOA are near impossible to avoid, there are things you can do to make sure your house has the least amount of it as possible.  Research PFCs and find out what products have higher amounts than others, and make an active effort to change your purchases.  Refrain from using pesticides in your garden, as those can affect your PFC levels.  Use all natural cleaners in your home, and limit the use of chemicals you spread into the air.

While there are many reasons to live green and cut out greenhouse gases, this could be one of the most important.  Living green is about cleaning up the Earth and giving it to our children in better shape than we inherited it in, but what if we can't have children to give it to because of how we lived?