Download HERE - Wisconsin Environmental Health Network

PRENATALENVIRONMENTALHEALTHASSESSMENT-WISCONSINENVIRONMENTALHEALTHNETWORK
Before,during,andafterpregnancy,womenareexposedtomanychemicalsthatmayaffectthegrowingfetus.
FOODandWATER
INFORMATION&ADVICE
Freshfruitsandvegetablesareimportantforahealthydiet.When
possible,buyorganicandantibiotic-freefruits,veggies,dairyandmeat.
Pesticidescancauseproblemswithyourabilitytohaveababy,
Fruitsandvegetables
specificallymiscarriage&somebirthdefects.
Fishishealthyforyou;trytoeatupto2mealsperweekthatarelowin
mercury,suchasPollock,tilapia,andsalmon.Buylighttuna,not
albacore.Somefish(shark,swordfish,kingmackerelortilefish)arevery
highinmercury,whichcancauseproblemswithyourbaby’sbrain
Fish
development.
Useglassforstorageandmicrowavingwhenpossible.Trytobuy
fresh/frozenfoodsinsteadofcanned.Breastfeedbabieswhenpossible.
CannedfoodlinersandsomeplasticscontainBPA.BPAisachemical
Cookingandstoringinplastic
thatinterfereswithhormonesinthebody.Donotmicrowaveinplastic,
Cannedfood orwashindishwasher.Don’treusedisposableplastic.
Importedpotteryorceramics–alsoclay,dirt,andpaintchips–may
containlead.Leadcandamagethebrainandnerves,andincreasethe
riskofmiscarriage,stillbirthandlowbirthweight.Eatfoodsrichiniron
(leanredmeats,chicken),calcium(dairyandleafygreenveggies),and
vitaminC(oranges,grapefruits,tomatoes,andgreenpeppers).
UsecastironcookwareinsteadofTeflon.Teflonismadefroma
chemical(PFOA)thathasbeenlinkedtoinabilitytohaveababy.
Wellwatershouldbetestedfornitratesandbacteria,whichcanmake
pregnantwomenandbabiessick.
Cookwareanddishes
Wellwater
PERSONAL
Smokingandvaping
INFORMATION&ADVICE
Talktoyourdoctoraboutquittingsmoking.Smokechemicalscanharm
thegrowingbaby:lowbirthweight,asthma,and/orlearningproblems.
Useregularsoaporhandgels.Avoidantibacterialproductsthatcontain
triclosan,whichpromotes"superbacteria"andhashormonaleffects.
Antibacterial
Personalhygiene
Clothingandlinens
Toxichomeremedies
Artificialfragrancesandotherchemicalsinsoaps,lotions,shampoosand
otherpersonalproductsarelinkedtoreproductiveproblems,asthma,
skinirritation,andcancer.Buynaturalorchemical-freewhenyoucan.
Washnewclothing,towelsandsheetsbeforeusingthem.Usegreendry
cleanerswhenpossible,oravoiddrycleaningclothes.Chemicalson
theseitemsmayreduceyourabilitytohaveababy,causeearlydelivery
orstillbirth,affectyournerves,andincreaseyourriskforcancer.
Donotusetheseremedies.Askyourdoctoraboutalternativesto
azarcon,gretaorpay-loo-ah,andremediesthatcontainmercuryor
mercurio.Theseitemsmaycontainheavymetalssuchasleador
mercury.Leadcancausedamagetothebrainandnerves,italso
increasestheriskofmiscarriage,stillbirthandlowbirthweight.
HOMEandWORK
Smokesafety
Pesticidesinsideandout
Olderhomesand
homeimprovements
Cleaningsupplies
Airfresheners
Plastic
Mercury
INFORMATION&ADVICE
Getadetectorforbothsmokeandcarbonmonoxide,oraskyourlandlord.
Makesuregasstovesandfireplacesareworkingproperlyandarewell
ventilated.Smokedetectorsareveryimportantforpreventingsmoke
inhalationandburns.Carbonmonoxideisaninvisiblegasthatisvery
harmful.
Pesticidesaredangerousforwomen,babies,andchildren.Theycanmake
ithardtohaveababy;causemiscarriage,birthdefects,learning
disabilities,andevencancers.
Pipesandpaintinsomeolderhomesmaincontainlead,leadcancause
damagetothebrainandnerves.Italsoincreasestheriskofmiscarriage,
stillbirthandlowbirthweight.
Dustfrompaintandbuildingmaterialscancontainleadandothertoxins
thatcancausebreathingproblems.Chooselow-VOCpaints.
Radonisacancer-causinggasthatcanbefoundinbasements.Youcan
purchaseatestkitatahardwarestore.
Strongcleaningchemicals,andotherproductswithstrongscentslikeair
fresheners,oftencontainphthalatesthatcancausehealthproblems,such
asthyroidproblems,cancer,lowbirthweightandinfertility.Avoidstrong
smellingchemicalsandusealternativestoairfresheners.
ChoosePVC-freeplasticmaterialswhenyoucan,orusealternativessuch
ascloth.PVCplastic(showercurtains,windowclings,sometoysand
teethingrings)mightcontaincertainchemicalsthatcancausecancerand
birthdefects.
UseLEDlightswhenpossible.Takecautionwhencleaningupabroken
mercurylightbulboraskyourlandlordtodoit.Useelectronic
thermometerswhenpossible.Mercuryexposurecancauseproblemswith
howthebaby’sbrainandnervesdevelop.Compactfluorescentlightbulbs
containmercury.
Formoreinformationandresources,gotoWEHNonline.org/prenatal
andtalktoyourhealthcareprofessional