7 Most Common Toxins During Pregnancy that Affect your Childs Health and How To Avoid Them

In short: Seven common toxins can harm a pregnant woman and her baby: tobacco smoke, mercury in large fish, arsenic, pesticides, lead, too much fluoride, and BPA in plastics. To protect yourself: stop smoking, choose small fish and salmon, wash fruit and vegetables well, and do not heat food in plastic containers.

Constant exposure to the polluted environment puts our health at risk as it increases instances of asthma, different kinds of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, birth defects and many more. The risks increase when you are pregnant since your unborn child is more vulnerable. The effects of toxins feel compelling since they can not only be lasting but also adverse. Some brain and nerve defects in children have been linked to a mother’s exposure to certain toxins during pregnancy, although many have other causes such as genetics or low folic acid, which is why folic acid is recommended before and during early pregnancy.

Here are some toxins you should be wary of and avoid:

• Tobacco Smoke: Cigarette smoking is not only injurious to your health, it also has a lasting effect on your unborn child. Usually, a smoker’s body is tuned to the cigarette that may act as a trigger to some bodily functions. However, lead, cyanide, nicotine and carbon monoxide among a plethora of other harmful chemicals that are present in tobacco clog your blood vessels. It also affects the umbilical cord that is your baby’s only source of oxygen. Nicotine deposits reduce the circumference of your blood vessels that implies reduced oxygen transport. Also, carbon monoxide attaches to your red blood cells in place of oxygen, so less oxygen reaches your baby. Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, poor growth of the baby, premature birth, some birth defects such as cleft lip, and sudden infant death after birth.

How To Avoid: You might be a light smoker and assume that a few cigarettes a day as opposed to a whole pack are a healthier choice. You are wrong. You should not smoke while trying to conceive or even during your pregnancy. If you have been smoking for a long time, it is going to be a difficult habit to give up, but you have to find a way to quit.

Ask your doctor for help: stop-smoking support and, if needed, nicotine patches or gum are much safer than continuing to smoke. Shisha (argileh) is not a safe alternative, and you should also avoid other people’s smoke at home and in the car.

• Mercury: Some large predatory fish contain high concentrations of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, marlin, king mackerel, tilefish and bigeye tuna; other tuna contains moderate amounts and should be limited. It enters our food chain from contaminated water. Fishes in mercurycontaminated water absorb the mercury through their gills. Bigger predatory fish contain more mercury concentration as can be understood from their place in the food chain. The mercury passes on into the human body when these predatory fishes are consumed. Doctors ask women to avoid mercurycontaining fish during pregnancy since it can cause neurological damage to the growing baby. Recent research has also linked increased concentration of mercury to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids.

How To Avoid: Avoid shark, swordfish, marlin and king mackerel, and limit tuna (no more than 4 medium cans or 2 steaks a week). Do keep eating 2–3 portions a week of low-mercury fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, ordinary mackerel or shrimp — fish is good for your baby’s brain development. Also, you can have small fish that have reduced concentrations of mercury, if at all.

• Arsenic: Arsenic is a carcinogen that can be detrimental for your pregnancy. Arsenic is found in the environment in its organic as well as inorganic forms and predominantly affects skin, liver, kidney and lungs. Apple and grape juices, as well as rice and rice products, can contain organic and inorganic arsenic. More often than not arsenic contamination results from naturally occurring arsenic that gets diluted in the water that is used for irrigation. It can also be caused by arsenic contained in pesticides that seeps into the soil and is absorbed by the plants. Arsenic poisoning can lead to neural tube defects as well as death in acute cases.

How to Avoid: East fresh fruits and avoid packaged fruit juices. Also, wash fruit well under clean running water before eating it; there is no need for chemical soaks. For rice, rinse it and then cook it in plenty of water (about 6 cups of water to 1 cup of rice) and drain off the extra water, which removes much of the arsenic; also vary your grains (wheat, bulgur, oats, barley) rather than eating rice at every meal. If you want to exclude rice from your daily diet, doctors advise mothers to include a diet of whole grains as the replacement.

• Pesticides: To control pests and infections, most farmers resort to using pesticides. It is easier on their pockets, and is effective. However, it is harmful to us. Pesticides contain chemicals that are carcinogenic, and also adversely affect your pregnancy. You baby might be born prematurely, with stunted growth and reduced weight because of pesticide poisoning. The concentration of pesticides continues to increase as we move up the food chain. It implies that human beings incur maximum concentration of pesticides. Now you know why you must be careful of the food you eat!

How To Avoid: Ideally, you can have organically grown food that uses manure and compost as fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. Also, organic crops avoid the use of any pesticide. Organic fruits like mangoes, pomegranates, apples and pineapples are also a healthy choice of preservative induced fruit juices. Don’t’ forget to rinse fruits and vegetables properly before consuming. Rubbing them under clean running water is enough; chemical soaks are not recommended.

• Lead: Lead has been used in paint and toys for a long time until it was banned. The presence of lead in your body can cause neurological damage in the fetus, stunted growth, reduced or delayed development as well as kidney damage. Lead is a heavy metal that does not disintegrate or is flushed from your body which is cause for concern.

How To Avoid: Avoid traditional kohl (kajal, surma) eye make-up, unlabelled herbal or traditional remedies and lead-glazed clay pots, and if your home has old pipes, let the tap run for a minute before using the water for drinking or cooking.

Getting enough calcium in your diet (for example from milk, yoghurt and cheese) also helps, because it reduces the release of lead stored in your bones into your blood during pregnancy.

• Fluoride: Fluoride is beneficial since it prevents cavities, but its increased concentration is responsible for some health problems. It can lead your teeth enamel to corrode, pits in your teeth enamel, teeth discoloration as well as neurotoxicity. Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical that is required by our bodies in moderation. Increased concentration of fluoride during your pregnancy can affect your baby’s brain development. Research linking fluoride to lower IQ in children has involved water with high fluoride levels (above 1.5 mg/L, about twice the level recommended for public water); normal levels in drinking water and toothpaste are considered safe.

How To Avoid: Keep brushing twice a day with a normal fluoride toothpaste — it protects your teeth and gums, which are more sensitive in pregnancy, and you spit it out rather than swallow it. For wider lifestyle guidance, see what to avoid during pregnancy.

• Bisphenol A And Phthalates: Both bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are found in canned food, bottled formula, and plastic containers. They are endocrine disrupters that mimic natural hormones and vary their secretion. BPA can act like the hormone estrogen, and some studies have suggested possible effects on pregnancy and on the baby’s development, although the evidence is not yet conclusive, so it is sensible to reduce exposure where you can. It can also lower the secretion of testosterone in men and affect sperm motility and fertility.

How To Avoid: Do not microwave your food in plastic containers since they release BPA into your food. Also, avoid buying canned food or check if they are BPAfree. Avoid using personal care products that have ‘fragrance’ listed in the ingredients since more often than not, they contain phthalates. When you are more cautious, you can avoid exposure to some of the common toxins present in the environment. Reduced exposure to toxins is going to ensure you baby’s health as well as yours. So, increase your awareness of toxins to guarantee a healthy pregnancy.

Written by: Aradhana Pandey

Author Bio

Aradhana is from India. She is a veteran writer on topics concerning parenting, child nutrition, wellness, health and lifestyle. As a regular contributor to popular sites like Huffington Post, Natural news, Elephant journal, Thehealthsite, Naturally Savvy, Curejoy and MomJunction.com, Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.

Dr Najeeb Layyous F.R.C.O.G

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist