In the first national survey by the US obstetricians' attitudes towards counselling expectant mothers about environmental health hazards, nearly 80% agreed they should play more of a role in educating and raising awareness about toxic exposure in everyday life.
Virtually all pregnant women in the US had at least 43 different environmental chemicals in their bodies. Indeed alot of these are unavoidable but certain steps can be taken to reduce this toxic load.
The UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concluded in a report(free online) the following steps should help reduce the burden by:
- Use fresh food rather than processed where possible
- Reduce use of foods/beverages in cans/plastic containers, including storage
- Minimise the use of personal care products such as moisturisers, cosmetics, shower gels and fragrances
- Minimise the purchase of newly-produced household furniture, fabrics, non-stick frying pans and cars while pregnant/nursing
- Avoid the use of parder/household/pet pesticides or fungicides(such as fly sprays or strips, rose sprays, flea powders)
- Avoid paint fumes
- Only take over the counter analgesics or painkillers when necessary
- Do not assume safety of products based on the absence of 'harmful' chemicals in their ingredients list, or the tag 'natural'
Useful websites;
www.safecosmetics.org
www.organic-trust.org
www.naturalproductsassoc.org
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