Environmental Risks For Pregnant Women

Lead Exposure

Around 1978, governments became aware of the health consequences lead exposure produced and passed laws to prevent exposure from posing health problems to citizens. Lead can either be airborne or solid and is found in many areas within our house and environment. Lead exposure has serious consequences for adults, children and especially a pregnant woman and her baby.

Health Consequences for a Pregnant Woman

Lead is stored in bones, where it can build up. During pregnancy, a woman's bones experience demineralization, which often releases the lead. If the lead reaches a fetus through the placenta, it could result in congenital malformations and neurological impairments. The best thing to do is to identify possible sources of lead in order to avoid them, treat the lead contamination sources and test yourself for lead exposure.

Where Can You Find Lead?

Around major highways and old homes, soil is often contaminated. This is because gasoline used to contain higher levels of lead. Soil contamination will last for years, as lead does not disintegrate. Until the late 1970s, lead was used in the solder and pipes of the public water system. If you live in an older home, run the cold water tap for 30-60 seconds to lessen the lead level before drinking the water or using it for cooking. Do not use hot water for either your own beverages or your baby's formula. It absorbs more lead than cold water does. Also, if you live in an older home or apartment, your walls may be covered in lead-based paint. Since household dust may be made up of paint chips or soil from outside, it may also contain lead.

Getting Tested and Treated for Lead Exposure

Doctors will test an individual for lead exposure with a simple blood test. If the levels of lead are alarming, speak to your physician about chelation therapy. However, if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, it is important that you do not seek this therapy. Therefore for a pregnant woman, it is best to avoid lead at all costs. Lead is just one of the many proven and suspected teratogens. A teratogen is an agent (such as virus, drugs and radiation) that is known to cause malformation in an embryo or fetus.

Toxoplasmosis

A pregnant woman will acquire toxoplasmosis if she ingests parasites found in raw or uncured meats or contaminated vegetables, milk or water. It is also found in the feces of infected cats.

Serious Consequences

There is a 1-2% chance that an infected fetus will die from toxoplasmosis. Eye problems are developed by 5-30% of cases. The disease can also result in a child who will face mental challenges.