What are toxic household products?

We are surrounded by chemicals and toxins (poisons). They include:

• insect killers and weed killers in the garden
• chemicals on furniture, clothes and plastics
• heavy metals like lead and mercury
• some cleaning products

It's a good idea to avoid some products while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

You can also learn more about avoiding alcohol and smoking while you are pregnant.

How can household toxins affect my baby?

Most chemicals you come across in your daily life won't harm your baby. Usually, it's in such a small amount that you don't need to worry.

If you breathe or swallow chemicals while pregnant — they can enter your bloodstream and pass to your baby via the placenta.

Your baby can also be exposed to chemicals after they are born through your breastmilk. Or when they are a bit older and put objects in their mouth.

If you are exposed to large amounts of chemicals while pregnant, this can impact your baby and your pregnancy. These impacts can include:

• miscarriage and stillbirth
• premature labour
• low birth weight
• congenital disorders
• problems with your baby's development
• other health problems

What chemicals should I be aware of while pregnant or breastfeeding?

If you are unsure about if a chemical could harm your baby, it's best to avoid it.

Pesticides and herbicides

Some pesticides (insect killers) and herbicides (weed killers) are known to affect developing and newborn babies.

Usually, pesticides used in the home and for professional pest treatments are safe. If you need to manage a pest problem, ask a licensed pest control professional to do the treatment.

Personal pesticides, such as mosquito repellents are usually safe for use while pregnant. Mosquitos can carry diseases that can harm you or your baby. These include:

• Ross River virus
• Barmah Forest virus
• Murray Valley encephalitis
• Japanese encephalitis

The benefits of avoiding mosquito bites outweigh the risk of using personal repellents.

If you don't want to use personal pesticides, consider other ways to avoid mosquito bites. This might include using fly screens and wearing long pants and shirts.

During pregnancy, the best thing to do is to reduce your use of pesticides and herbicides as much as possible.

Cleaning products

While many cleaning products are safe for use during pregnancy, always check the label for safety warnings.

When using cleaning products while pregnant, be sure to wear protective equipment such as gloves and a face mask. Avoid breathing in fumes — make sure that you have plenty of fresh air.

Paint and other volatile solvents

Most paint fumes are safe while you're pregnant.

The risk of harm to your baby may be greater if you:

• use solvent-based paints
• strip old paintwork that may contain traces of lead

You can reduce your risk by:

• using water-based paints instead of solvent-based paints, if painting
• making sure the room you're working in is well ventilated — open all the windows and doors
• wearing protective clothing — face masks, gloves and goggles
• not eating or drinking in the room you're working in
• washing your hands when you've finished using the product

Lead

Lead can affect the health of unborn babies, children and adults. Children absorb more lead than adults do.

Lead may be found in many things, including the soil and air.

Paint containing lead was also used in many Australian houses before 1971.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it's important to keep your lead exposure as low as you can. You should avoid renovations that involve lead-based paint.

There is no safe level of lead exposure.

Household products and mercury

Mercury can be found in the air, water and soil. In the past, it was used in thermometers and fluorescent lights.

Mercury can affect your health, and the health of your baby.

If you are concerned about mercury contamination in your soil or house, you can reduce your mercury exposure by:

• carefully disposing of household items that contain mercury
• ensuring that you regularly wash your hands and your child's hands
• cleaning household floors and surfaces regularly to reduce dust

Mercury is also found in some fish. Learn which fish are safe to eat when pregnant.

Arsenic-treated timber

Arsenic can be used to preserve timber and protect wood from termites. Arsenic can impact your health and the health of your baby.

You can protect yourself and your baby by:

• washing your hands after touching treated wood
• not breathing in smoke or sawdust from arsenic-treated wood
• not burning treated wood

Beauty products

Some beauty products are safe to use during pregnancy, like:

• fake tan
• hair dye
• nail polish

The chemicals used in these beauty treatments are usually in low doses and are not easily absorbed by your skin. This means that they can't reach your baby or cause them harm.

If you're worried about any potential effects, you may consider waiting until 12 weeks to use these products.

It's best to avoid spray tans that may be inhaled.

You should avoid nail polishes that contain:

• dibutyl phthalate
• toluene
• formaldehyde

Flame retardants

Flame retardants are added to household products like furniture, carpet, clothes and electronics to decrease their flammability (how easily they burn). They can impact your baby's brain development.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Some plastics contain bisphenol A (BPA). These chemicals can be found in:

• water bottles
• toys
• the lining of some food and drink products

It has been suggested that exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy and infancy can:

• impact your baby's development
• impact your baby's organs and immune system
• increase the chance of childhood asthma

However, Food Standards Australia New Zealand says that BPA in food packaging is unlikely to be a health risk.

Naphthalene — moth balls and toilet cakes

Mothballs and toilet cakes contain a substance called naphthalene.

Exposure to lots of naphthalene can cause damage to your blood cells. This leads to a condition called haemolytic anaemia.

Young children may eat mothballs — don't use mothballs around children under 3 years. Make sure that you store moth balls and toilet cakes safely.

How can I avoid exposure to chemicals?

Take the following steps to reduce your exposure to chemicals and protect your baby.

• Store all chemicals safely — out of the reach of children and with their safety caps on.
• Always read and follow the instructions on the packet.
• Find alternatives — try products that contain low levels of chemicals that may be harmful during pregnancy.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Consider not renovating your home while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have a task that involves chemicals, ask someone else to do it.
• Keep your home well ventilated.

What if I am working with chemicals during pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and your work involves exposure to chemicals, you can talk to your:

• manager
• human resources department
• union representative

They must carry out a risk assessment that takes your pregnancy into account.

By law, your employer must make work safe for you and your baby when you are pregnant.

For more information, contact Safe Work Australia.

Resources and support

If you are exposed to a toxic product while you are pregnant, don't panic. Generally, it's only long-term exposure to large amounts of chemicals that are harmful during pregnancy. Being exposed once is very unlikely to cause any harm.

If you are worried, call the Poisons Information Hotline on 13 11 26.