How does nature protect an embryo?
Conception and embryo development is a complex event where the genes of the fertilized egg are activated and cell growth begins. This highly complex process is secured by the mother’s internal systems. The mother’s lungs provide air and remove wastes, her liver can detoxify toxic environmental contaminants. Her kidneys continually filter the blood surrounding the embryo removing wastes and poisons. The sum of these systems protects the embryo for environmental insults. The typical ART laboratory where in vitro fertilization is done lacks these wondrous facilities. Most laboratories have only a simple high efficiency particle elimination filter or HEPE to eliminate small particles that could be bacteria or mold. These HEPE membranes cannot stop the very much smaller molecules of environmental pollutants.