Chemicals and Pregnancy
When you discovered you were pregnant, one of your first thoughts was probably to do with lifestyle changes. After all, your body would be nurturing and protecting this tiny life for the next nine months. To do so effectively, you have to look after yourself.
There are, of course, the obvious changes. Stop smoking, or at least cut down, go easy on the alcohol and take more rest.
And then there are the things you are told by the medical staff. For example, you know to avoid vitamin A, found in foods such as paté and liver, as it can cause birth defects. Folic acid, on the other hand, is encouraged as it has been shown to prevent serious neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
You do everything you can to ensure that your baby gets the best start in life. But some scientists believe that hidden chemicals in everyday products are serious cause for concern.
Charlotte Vohtz set up Green People, a company specialising in chemical-free toiletries, in 1997. She says, "60 per cent of everything we put on our skin is absorbed. When pregnant, all the toxins we come into contact with are passed to the baby. Even before they are born babies are being bombarded, and then they are born into a chemical world. It's no wonder so many babies have allergies and eczema. It is horrifying."
According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 300 man-made chemicals have been found in human bodies. So what chemicals are we absorbing into our bodies and passing onto our unborn children? Where are they coming from and, more importantly, how can we avoid them?
Chemicals of concern
Teratogens are environmental agents that can cause birth defects. How poisonous or harmful a substance is depends on many different factors, including the amount you're exposed to, when in the pregnancy you are exposed, how you are exposed, your genetic makeup, and the degree of risk associated with a particular substance.
There are three types of chemicals which are of particular concern;
Hormone disrupting or endocrine disrupting - these can hijack normal biological processes and may cause neurological, behavioural, developmental or reproductive defects
Persistent - these linger in the environment for long periods because they do not break down
Bioaccumulative - these build up in our bodies and can be passed on from generation to generation.
There are several ways in every day life that you can be unknowingly in contact with potentially dangerous chemicals.
Cosmetics and toiletries
Soaps, shampoos, deodorants, make-up and perfumes are little luxuries that you use on a daily basis. But the majority of them contain preservatives and other additives that are known to cause allergies such as eczema and asthma. Some of the ones that are causing the most alarm are:
Parabens According to the Women's Environmental Network (WEN), research indicates that some Parabens are oestrogen mimics which readily penetrate the skin.
Phthalates Research suggests these can cause premature birth and sperm damage.
Parfum identities of up to 100 potentially persistent or allergenic chemicals are hidden by the use of the word parfum on cosmetics or toiletries.
Ultrafine Particles (UFPs) A number of sunscreen preparations now available have incorporated nanoparticle titanium dioxide. These UFPs are toxic and, according to Dr Vyvyan Howard, a toxicologist at
Cleaning Products
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent which is increasingly found in household cleaning products but is a known contaminant to the environment and has been found in breastmilk.
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates are found in some laundry detergents, disinfecting cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, spot removers, hair colours and other hair-care products, and spermicides. They are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with, mimic or block human hormones.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are chemicals which are widely used as ingredients in household products. All of these products can release pollutants while you are using them and, to some degree, when they are stored. Studies have found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside. Tuolene is a VOC which can put pregnant woman at risk of having babies with neurological problems, retarded growth, and developmental problems. Xylenes, another group of VOC, may also cause birth defects. These VOCs are found in most aerosol products and air fresheners.
According to the Washington Toxics Coalition pregnant women frequently exposed to these products had 25 percent more headaches and a 19 percent increase in postnatal depression compared to those less frequently exposed.
DIY and Gardening
Creosote products have been banned for domestic use because of the danger associated with them. Any unused creosote you may have must be disposed of by 30 June 2004.
Paints, solvents, varnishes, preservatives, pesticides, oils and sealants, all contain toxic chemicals, especially volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).
Alkylphenols are used in paint and are known hormone disruptors.
Obviously you cannot spend nine months in a sterile bubble and you probably wouldn't want to anyway but that doesn't mean you can't take measures to protect yourself.
The WWF recommend following a simple A-B-C plan Avoid-Buy-Change.
Avoid:
soft furnishings with chemical finishes such as stain repellents and flame retardants
dry-cleaning clothes wherever possible
painting, stripping old paint or usingDIY products which emit fumes
cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes with synthetic fragrances
toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwashes containing triclosan;
long-term use of permanent hair dyes, especially those carrying a warning that they "can cause an allergic reaction"
chemical air fresheners or heavily scented cleaning products such as dishwashing liquids, floor cleaners and washing powders
using pesticides indoors or in the garden
- curtains, carpets or upholstery containing little or no brominated flame retardants or stain repellents
- machine washable clothes
- beauty products such as soaps, shampoos, conditioners and hair care products made from natural ingredients
- fragrance-free products
- beauty products from companies that state they do not use phthalates
- fragrance-free "green cleaners" or ones with a natural fragrance
- products that don't contain triclosan
- water-based cleaning products, paints, stain removers, sealants and adhesives, or ones with low levels of VOCs
- organic or natural paints made from plants oils
Change:
- air fresheners for fresh air - open your windows! If you can't do that, use natural odour eaters such as a bowl of baking soda, or natural fragrances such as pot pourri.
- fragranced products such as deodorants and hairsprays for unfragranced or naturally fragranced products.
- chemical insect repellents for those using natural products, such as citronella.
- from using anti-bacterial cleaners containing triclosan to products which don't contain antibacterials - they give perfectly adequate protection against potentially harmful bacteria.
- your gardening habits - go organic to minimise the use of pesticides
Some other things to remember:
1. Your partner can do the redecorating (and would probably enjoy it)
2. Contact with household cleaners can be minimised by the use of
gloves/masks.
3. Keep windows open when cleaning, especially when using producst that smell
strongly or give off fumes.
4. Many alternatives can be used instead of cleaning materials and often with
better results! White distilled vinegar has a million uses including disinfecting,
cleaning and deodorising.
The Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) state "All ingredients used in our products have to meet stringent European regulation guaranteeing consumer protection and the well-being of industry employees. In addition our members carry out rigorous assessement and evaluation programmes to ensure products are safe. Only products that meet this safety standard are placed on the shelves."
