A large-scale study has revealed that dozens of widely used chemicals can harm beneficial gut bacteria[1]. These substances are found in pesticides and everyday industrial products such as flame retardants and plasticizers[1]. Many of them were not previously thought to affect living organisms[1]. The research team led by Dr. Indry Roux analyzed over a thousand chemical contaminants, specifically 1076, and monitored their effect on 22 types of intestinal bacteria in a laboratory environment[1]. When gut bacteria are exposed to these chemicals, they become stressed and some can become resistant to antibiotics[1]. Standard safety tests of chemicals do not take into account their effect on the intestinal microbiome[1]. Research raises questions about the impact of chemical exposure on human health[1].