Open windows and allow the house to ventilate after applying a chemical pesticide.Wash the area where food is prepared following any application of pesticides.Remove food, dishes, and utensils from the area before using a pesticide.Vacate the area as directed on the pesticide package.
Assign someone else to spray or apply the pesticides to minimize inhalation or contact with the skin.If chemical pesticides must be used, the following guidelines can help reduce pregnant women’s exposure: Opt for natural or organic pesticide products if possible.Use borax and sugar or Epsom salts to combat a roach problem.Instead, try lower-toxicity pest controls such as bait or sticky traps. If, despite these efforts, pest problems arise, consider these tips for more natural pest control from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, which received the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2005 Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award: Store food properly to minimize the attraction of bugs.Use trashcans that have lids and liners to help contain food particles and crumbs.Seal cracks and crevices around the home to keep bugs and other pests out.Eat only in designated areas, such as kitchens or dining rooms, to keep crumbs and spills from attracting pests.The APA recommends that pregnant women avoid using pesticides in or around their homes. The following steps can help prevent pest problems from developing: What can pregnant women do to prevent or eliminate pests in the home? See this list of “ dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, and check out the “ clean 15,” produce considered safe to consume in nonorganic form. Since organic foods can be more costly, pregnant women can make the most of their food dollars by buying organic versions of only the produce most likely to contain significant amounts of pesticides. One significant way to reduce exposure to chemical pesticides is to choose organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
How can pregnant women minimize their exposure to pesticides? In fact, researchers argue that the effects of these chemicals on a child’s IQ are similar to those of lead exposure. For example, a University of California, Berkeley, study found that exposure to one type of pesticide (organophosphates) during pregnancy was linked to earlier delivery, an increase in abnormal reflexes in the infants, poorer mental development at 24 months of age, and increased risk of developmental disorder.Īnother study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that children born to mothers who were exposed to different a group of pesticides, organochlorines, during pregnancy had an increased level of behaviors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Ī third study published in 2011 in Pediatrics revealed that pyrethroids, another type of insecticide, also pose significant risks to developing fetuses. Mounting evidence supports the link between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and adverse neurologic and cognitive outcomes in children. What are the effects of pesticide exposure during pregnancy? People are exposed to chemical pesticides in three main ways: inhaling them, absorbing them through the skin, or ingesting them by mouth. Typical sources include food grown with the use of pesticides, tap water containing trace amounts of pesticides used in agriculture, and use of pesticides in the home (e.g., bug sprays, insect repellents, and other pest control products).
More than 1 billion tons of pesticide products are used each year in the United States alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Pesticides are chemical products used to control or destroy harmful or annoying pests. Bug sprays, insect repellents, and other chemicals may rid your home or yard of bothersome insects, but at what cost? New research from the American Pregnancy Association (APA) finds unborn babies to be among the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides, especially when exposure takes place during the first trimester when the neural tube and nervous system are forming.
0 kommentar(er)
