New study suggests chemicals' effects linger for generations
(NEWSER) - Can the recent increase in autism, obesity, and anxiety disorders be traced back to chemical exposure? That's what a new study involving pregnant rats suggests, AFP reports. Pregnant rats who were exposed to the common fungicide vinclozolin had descendants who, three generations later, weighed more, were less sociable, and displayed more anxiety and stress than descendants of rats who had not been exposed. That's significant because, the lead author explains, "We are now in the third human generation since the start of the chemical revolution, since humans have been exposed to these kinds of toxins." More»