Pregnancy and Paint Exposure

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http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=1366

Pregnancy and Paint Exposure

Pregnancy

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Reprinted with permission from American Pregnancy Association

Pregnant women may be exposed to paint through different circumstances that

include household use, recreational use, or occupational use. There are

basically three categories of paint which you could be exposed to: latex, oil,

and enamel. The degree of toxicity during pregnancy is challenging to predict

because there are currently no methods of measuring actual exposure. The

likelihood of paint toxicity depends on the chemicals and solvents found in the

paint along with the amount of exposure.

What about pregnancy and household paint use?

The most common question related to pregnancy and paint exposure has to do with

moms who want to paint their new baby's nursery or finish decorating the house

before the baby arrives. Unfortunately, there are no studies that document the

effects of household painting on pregnancy and the developing baby.

Currently, the assumption is that household painting involves very low levels of

exposure. The recommendation is still to minimize or avoid painting altogether,

if possible. Ideally, you can get someone else to do the job for you.

Lead based paint was commonly used prior to the 1970s, so you should avoid

getting involved with removing old paint because of the risk of lead exposure.

According to the FDA, exposure to lead paint increases the likelihood of lead

poisoning and mental retardation. Scraping and sanding old paint should be

completely avoided. This puts higher concentrations of solvents and chemicals in

the air to be inhaled. The recommendation is to have someone else do this part

of the job and ideally remove yourself from the location until the project is

complete.

If you are just too excited and you must paint the nursery, make sure you follow

these guidelines to decrease the likelihood of paint exposure:

a.. Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing that includes long pants,

long-sleeved shirts and gloves.

b.. Be certain that the room and house are well ventilated; open the windows

and turn on fans.

c.. Limit the time you spend on the project; take breaks and move into the

fresh air frequently.

d.. Keep your food and drinks away from the area so that solvents and

chemicals will not accidentally be consumed.

What about pregnancy and occupational or industrial paint use?

Occupational and industrial paint circumstances (ie... painting cars,) warrant

concern because of the consistency and level of exposure to paints and solvents.

The largest concern involves situations that involve spray paints due to the

high quantity of mist created, which can potentially be inhaled.

It is recommended that precautions be taken to minimize exposure and reduce any

potential risks to the developing baby. Protective clothing and effective

ventilation can help reduce the level of exposure and potential risk to the

baby.

What about pregnancy and recreational use? Recreational use of paints involves

sniffing or inhaling paint solvents. Recreational use of paints is potentially

harmful to you whether you are pregnant or not. Sniffing and inhaling paints

provides direct and higher levels of exposure and increases the risk of harm to

the baby, whether it is a miscarriage or a birth defect.

What if I have been exposed to paint already?

Currently, there are no studies that document harm to the baby during normal and

incidental exposure to paint (i.e. painting a room). The only studies to date

that note a problem for miscarriage and malformations has to do with the higher

levels of exposure through recreational use (sniffing and inhaling regularly).

If you have been exposed to paint, rest assured that the likelihood of any

problems is low. According to the FDA, today's paints do not contain lead and

are probably not dangerous. Let your doctor know of any paint exposure and

together you can discuss the potential risk, if any.

What are the recommendations and precautions?

a.. Avoiding paints and solvents is the safest course of action.

b.. Talk to your physician before taking on painting projects.

c.. Paint exposures that involve household painting are likely to have less

exposure than occupational settings.

d.. Wear protective clothing, masks, and keep the area ventilated.

e.. Avoid latex paints that contain solvents such as ethylene glycol ethers

and biocides.

f.. In general, water colors, acrylic, and tempura paints are recommended over

oil paints.

g.. Limit duration, and frequency of your painting.