Paint and pregnancy risk

High levels of exposure to paints with the solvent toluene have been shown to cause growth restrictions and small head size in. For more information please see.

Theres something about having a baby that makes many expectant moms want to redecorate paint rooms knock down walls scrape old wallpaper and refinish floors.

Paint and pregnancy risk. Its possible that exposure to chemical solvents during pregnancy increases your risk of having a baby with birth defects. One study found that women who were regularly exposed to solvents through repairing cars painting and furniture stripping had a slightly higher risk of having a baby with gastroschisis. This is when the babys abdominal wall doesnt form properly causing the intestines to.

Its best to limit your exposure to paint and paint fumes while youre pregnant. Most paint contains solvents petroleum-based chemicals that can cause health problems if you inhale too much of them. Research that has looked at paint exposure during pregnancy has not shown consistent results.

Studies have not been able to measure the exact amount of paint to which each woman is exposed and researchers cant put pregnant women at risk. Its highly unlikely that painting or being around paint fumes while youre pregnant will harm your unborn baby as the risk from most modern household paints is very low. The risk of harm to your baby may be slightly greater from solvent-based paints and old paintwork which may contain traces of lead.

For this reason you should avoid using solvent-based paints and stripping old paintwork while youre pregnant. Some possible risks of painting during pregnancy are. Exposure to the chemical solvents in paints can increase the chances of congenital anomalies in the baby.

Some research found that those who were often exposed to industrial solvents gave birth to babies with gastroschisis which is a birth defect of the abdominal wall where the intestines extend outside 3. What are the risks of painting while pregnant. There isnt a lot of data on this matter since research would involve exposing pregnant women to different substances and assessing the outcome.

The question about paint being potentially unsafe has to do with the fumes that paint produces and the chemicals that are used to make it. Paint is full of chemicals and the effects they have on unborn. In fact Danish research in 2012 suggested an association between exposure to paint fumes containing organic solvents in the first trimester of pregnancy and a risk of birth defects in the nervous system the ear face and neck and the renal system although it does point out.

The second trimester ideally starting at 14 weeks is the recommended time for a pregnant woman to paint because the safety risks are lower. The organs of the fetus have mostly developed the chance of miscarriage is lessened and they are more stable in terms of mobility. However this does not mean they can ignore safety measures when doing so.

In every pregnancy a woman starts out with a 3-5 chance of having a baby with a birth defect. This is called her background risk. Studies looking at paint exposure during pregnancy have had mixed results and are hard to do because they are not able to measure the exact amount of paint exposure for each woman.

Household painting probably. Its probably best that you dont paint during pregnancy just in case. Painting can expose you to many chemicals.

But we dont know exactly how the chemicals and solvents used in paint will affect your unborn baby. Its difficult to measure how much of the various substances the body absorbs so we dont know the exact risks to pregnant women. The simplest and safest option is to let someone.

Oil-based paint isnt a good choice when painting while pregnant because it contains harsh solvents Valle says. This type of paint gives off vapors called volatile organic compounds VOCs that can cause headaches eye irritation nausea dizziness and fatigue. High levels of exposure to paints with the solvent toluene have been shown to cause growth restrictions and small head size in.

Occupational paint exposures have more fertility problems harder time getting partner pregnant or a small increased chance for cancer in their children. However there are also studies that have not shown a chance for these problems. In general exposures that fathers have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy.

For more information please see. The risk was greater for certain cytogenetic subtypes and if someone other than the parents did the painting. Home paint exposure shortly before conception during pregnancy andor after birth appeared to increase the risk of childhood ALL.

It may be prudent to limit exposure during these periods. Non-occupational exposure to paint fumes during pregnancy and risk of congenital anomalies. Hjortebjerg D1 Andersen AM Garne E Raaschou-Nielsen O Sørensen M.

1Danish Cancer Society Research Centre Copenhagen Denmark. Occupational exposure to organic solvents during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Theres something about having a baby that makes many expectant moms want to redecorate paint rooms knock down walls scrape old wallpaper and refinish floors.

Maybe it has something to do with the nesting instinct or maybe its the realization that after the baby arrives there will be no more time for this kind of activity. In any case if you get the urge to. Painting is generally considered to be safe during pregnancy.

I painted my firstborns nursery while I was pregnant with him and 15 years later I think its safe to say he turned out all right. Hes a teenager so its hard to know these days. All jokes aside lets look at some of the potential risks that could occur if youre painting during pregnancy and what you need to know in.

From the Resene paint and decorating problems solver. In general Resene recommends that you should not paint during pregnancy. Waterborne paints contain very low levels of solvents and some none at all such as the Resene Zylone Sheen Zero with no added VOCs.

Thus the risk from exposure is very small.