Exposure to organic solvents during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect
As some of the most common birth defects, neural tube defects occur in 1 out of 1,000 newborns in the United States. There are two types of neural tube defects, namely open and closed. While the former refers to the brain or the spinal cord being exposed through a defect in the skull or vertebrae, the latter occurs when the spinal defect is covered by skin.
Between 50% and 70% of neural tube defects can be prevented if the pregnant woman supplements her diet with folic acid. Insufficient folic acid is one of the main causes of neural tube defects. The following are the most common neural tube defects:
- spina bifida
- anencephaly
- encephalocele
- lipomyelomeningocele
- tethered cord
- lipomeningocele
Nevertheless, even if the pregnant woman who is exposed to PFAS takes enough folic acid, the risk of giving birth to a child with a neural tube defect is high, as these chemicals are highly toxic. The primary source of PFAS on military bases throughout the country is AFFF, a fire suppressant used to put out jet fuel and petroleum fires by military firefighters and trainees. Once PFAS are released into the environment, they persist, as they are known as "forever chemicals." Similarly, once they enter the human body, they remain there forever, being able to cause serious health problems to the unborn child in pregnant women. If you gave birth to a child with a neural tube defect and were stationed at Camp Lejeune while you were pregnant, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
According to a study from Occupational and Environmental Medicine, exposure to chlorinated solvents during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of neural tube defects, especially spina bifida. These solvents were present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, specifically trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and perchloroethylene. So, pregnant women who spent time at the military base between 1953 and 1987 are at high risk of giving birth to a child with a neural tube defect.
