New research has shown that even low-level consumption of alcohol by pregnant women may be harmful to unborn babies. Researchers found that youngsters exposed to low to moderate levels of alcohol while still in the womb had slower thought processes and intellectual function. Julie Croxford of Wayne State University said, "In the past much focus was placed on studying the full-blown FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome). More recent research has considered those individuals damaged by lower levels of exposure. This is an important focus." The news item ran in various health publications and in newspapers in England , Scotland and Ireland .