Identify and Reduce your Toxic Load Before Pregnancy
As discussed in my previous article, What is your Toxic Load?, I spoke about the dangers of letting toxins accumulate in our bodies. Aside from detoxification methods, the best was to do that is by avoidance. Here,I will list for you common threats we are exposed to on a daily basis. Once they are identified, you can remove them and replace them with non-toxic items to ensure you maintain a low toxic load. This is extremely important when Preparing for Pregnancy. So let’s dive right into the top toxin exposures in our lives.
1. Beauty and Personal Care products
Your skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it is absorbed into your bloodstream. At this point in time in America, there are only forty or so banned chemicals found in beauty products, while the European Union has banned over 1,300. In essence, the U.S. has no regulation, so our beauty products are filled with harmful chemicals and metals. In fact, until recently our federal government hadn’t passed a law to regulate ingredients in beauty products since 1937!
Yes, you read that correctly. Formaldehyde is allowed to be used in your foundation, aluminum in your eye shadow, fiberglass in your anti-aging cream, and so on. In 2013, University of California, Berkeley researchers found chromium, cadmium, aluminum, manganese, and lead in the twenty-four lip gloss brands and eight lipsticks they tested.[1]
Fortunately, finding clean beauty products isn’t difficult like it used to be. There currently are multiple companies using non-toxic ingredients that also work. Use the EWG consumer Apps to scan in products for toxic scores. The brand I recommend the most is Beautycounter, as they are a major part in the movement for legislative change.
2. Plastics
Plastics can be viewed as soft or hard and subdivided into two broad chemical categories, Pthalates and Phenols. The softer the plastic is, the more toxic it is.
Pthalates are chemicals used in soft plastics, but can also be found in fragrances, cosmetics, and paint and flooring. Phenols, on the other hand, are chemicals found in bottles, food storage items, water coolers, contact lenses, as well as canned foods lining, dental sealants, antimicrobials, preservatives, and more. Phenols include bisphenal A, or BPA, triclosan, and parabens.[11,12] The two have been associated with impaired neurodevelopment, decreased IQ, endocrine hormone disruption, spontaneous abortion, childhood asthma, and cancer (2, 3, 4, 5)
It is important to note that many products were labeled BPA-free after research studies were published about its detrimental health effects such as cancer. But I want to make sure everyone is aware that this does not make them safe! Bisphenol exists as forms A through Z, and we do not have research on anything other than A at the moment.
Exposure to phenols in the womb and first few years of life has been associated with impaired neurodevelopment, low birth weight, endocrine and hormone disruption, and childhood asthma.[2,3] In one study, BPA was measured using the mother’s urine during pregnancy and BPA was found in 80-100% of samples.[4] Pthalates have been also associated with a 70% increased risk for asthma and a decreased IQ at seven years old. It also was determined to increase the risk of spontaneous abortion.[5]
Reducing exposure to plastics is an easy task. The first goal should be to remove any plastic from your life that is in contact with your food or drink items. My basic rule is avoid plastics labeled with three, six, or seven ALWAYS. Plastics labeled one, two, four, and five can be used SPARINGLY. But, never ever heat or freeze your food in any type of plastic container. You can replace plastic food containers with glass, stainless steel, or silicone, but do not heat in silicone. And do not use plastic labeled “BPA free”.
In addition, allowing things like shower curtains to air out a day or two before installing, avoiding plastic mattress covers and switching to wool, using glasses instead of contacts are additional things you can do to prevent overexposure.
3. Water
Tap water contains pharmaceuticals and hormones, bacteria, viruses, and mold. In order to make drinking water clean enough for people to drink, municipalities add chlorine. On top of that, many cities are fluoridating their water, too.
The government and your dentist may tell you fluoridated water is better for your dental health, but I beg to differ. More and more children are exhibiting the symptoms of fluoride poisoning due to the excess exposure from oral care products in addition to the water supply.
Unfortunately, well water (if not dug deep enough) isn’t any better and likely contaminated with the same chemicals city water has, minus the pharmaceuticals. In fact, heavy metals and bacteria have been found at higher levels in well water, especially if the water is not from a deep source. Well water should be regularly tested. and run through a filtration system.
City & well water should be run through a filtration system that has the ability to filter out viruses, bacteria, molds, pharmaceuticals, chlorine and fluoride. This is also the case for your bathing water. My filter of choice is the Berky filters: drinking and shower.
4. Pesticides
We all already know that pesticides in our food supply have been highly scrutinized for killing bee colonies, ruining ecosystems, causing cancer, and disrupting our endocrine organs. But pesticides aren’t just found in our food supply; they are in green space, such as parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and neighborhood lawns. Pesticide exposure to a pregnant woman have been linked to a 60% increased chance in autism (ASD), gestational diabetes, and a decline in IQ and working memory at seven years old. In one meta-analysis, the correlation was recognized between childhood leukemia and prenatal maternal occupational pesticide exposure.[5] This is why when searching for a place to rent or own, it is important to find something away from those heavily sprayed areas.
5. Air pollution
The main chemical threats in outdoor air pollution are known as benzenes and volatile gases which come from car exhaust, oil refineries, and repair shops. More important than outdoor pollution is your indoor air quality. Most of the homes in the U.S. harbor a myriad of airborne chemicals. In fact, according to one recent study, indoor air levels of pesticide residues were actually ten to one hundred times higher than outdoor levels. [5, 6]
The high level of indoor air pollution comes from off-gassing (the chemicals used in manufacture are released) of furniture and building products, personal care products, cleaning products, candles, mold growth, outdoor air pollution being trapped indoors, and accumulation of dust. Here are a few of the most prevalent and dangerous chemicals to be aware of:
Flame retardants or Polyurethane foam is found in mattresses, couches, carpet, and car seats, to name a few. This chemical has been linked to impaired mental function for children ages one, three, and six years of age, as well as decreased IQ in children age five. Flame retardants are more harmful than other chemicals because they are fat soluble and harder for your body to get rid of them.
Household cleaners are another culprit of indoor air pollution. I subscribe to the belief that ‘being clean is actually the absence of smell’. If you can smell the chemicals in a cleaner, your exposure is already too high and likely over the recommended safety level. A general rule of thumb is, any product listing the word fragrance in its ingredients list is toxic and should be avoided. Many of the chemicals allowed in our cleaning products in the U.S. are banned in the European Union. Why is this? The European Union has stronger rules in place to protect consumers from chemicals that are linked to infertility, cancer, and birth defects.
In 2012, the Environmental Working Group released a document listing the most toxic household cleaners on the market. Toxicity was based on substantial research proving it to be carcinogenic (causing cancer), hormone disrupting, abrasive to the skin, or causing respiratory distress. They Called it the Hall of Shame and it has 28 well-known brands to avoid when cleaning. A few of the most popular are: 409 spray cleaner, Comet, Drano products, DampRid Mildew remover, Easy-Off oven cleaner, Febreze products, Glade air fresheners, Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles, and Simple Green All- purpose Cleaner.
In addition, Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, found in paint, wood glue, particle board, and flooring. Formaldehyde being one of the most common VOCs; Homes built before 1978 have the added possibility of containing lead-based paint. VOCs and lead based paint both are known for their neurotoxicity.Exposure to these airborne sources during pregnancy has been associated with many adverse outcomes, such as pediatric allergy, decreased IQ, infectious disease, respiratory illness, autism, childhood cancers, hyperactivity, and congenital birth defects. [5]
Studies have shown that women who have their home renovated three months preconception were at higher risk for birthing a child with difficulty breathing in the form of wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Two other studies suggest that buying new furniture three months preconception created a higher incidence of wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in subsequent offspring.[5]
The good news is that most cleaning and building supplies are easy to remove from your life and replace with non-toxic versions. Simple measures can be taken to purify the air we breathe to reduce exposure. First, start by avoiding any products labeled: “poison”, “danger”, or “fatal” if swallowed. Do not use any cleaning products on the Hall of Shame list and check every brand against EWG’s database. The brands I use for cleaning are Attitude and Biokleen. Next, ensure your building supplies are low VOC. I refer to Green building supply for helpful information and non-toxic products.
Next, ensure you have a good HEPA air filter in your home, including in the bedroom. The best air purifier removes more than just dust, it also filters out the majority of chemical pollutants, including mycotoxins. I use the Austin Air Purifier. If an air purifier is not in your budget, the next best thing is to buy several indoor plants. There are many plants that are known to cleanse the air of major toxicants, including Gerbera daisies, Chrysanthemums, English Ivy, Peace Lily, spider plants, snake plants, and bamboo palm.[7]
Aside from synthetic chemicals indoors, there is also the danger of toxic mold. When water damage occurs, mold growth begins at a rapid pace. With the mold spores are mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are neurotoxic chemicals that can attack your peripheral nerves and cranial nerves as well as brain tissue. They can also cause respiratory distress and skin irritation. Mycotoxins are so powerful, that it requires a very strong immune system, liver and detoxing system for your body to escape negative effects. If your detoxing systems are impaired, the effects of mold can be a long-term battle. Mold toxicity has been misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, mast cell activation, POTS, and more. It is often responsible for reactivated infectious disease such as Lyme or EBV.
It is important to note that if you have mold growth in your home, an air filter and/or plants will not be enough. Although HEPA and charcoal filters remove mycotoxins and mold spores, that is generally outdoor mold traveling into your home. The only way to avoid toxicity from indoor mold growth in a water damaged home is to leave the environment completely. If you currently own the infected home and there is no possibility of moving, the next best solution is to have it professionally renovated while you vacate the premises. I would recommend a company that seals off the toxic rooms, wipes down surfaces in the rest of the house, uses non-toxic chemicals for treating the area, and offers post-treatment testing.
Easy steps to prevent mold growth in your home are: keep the air dry using a dehumidifier; fix seals on windows and doors; frequently check places with higher condensation, such as high vaulted ceilings and air vents; and attend to water leaks promptly. You can also periodically check for leaks under sinks, behind your washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator.
6. Electromagnetic frequencies
Electromagnetic frequencies, or EMFs and EMRs, are just now becoming well-known among the general public. However, it has been a known threat for a long time in the field of environmental medicine. Radiation frequencies from house wireless systems, power lines, cell phones, microwaves, and other electronic devices are now being researched for their impact and exposure during pregnancy, and linked to low sperm count.[5]
Research from Yale University and University of California, Los Angeles revealed hyperactivity and poor memory in offspring born to mothers who were exposed to cell phone radiation during pregnancy.[8,9,10] EMFs/EMRs have also been linked to miscarriage, asthma in offspring, destroyed neurological cells in offspring, and low sperm count.
This type of toxin is of the worst kind for a few reasons. First, you can’t see it, hear it, taste it, or smell it. Second, it is all around you all the time and, in today’s world, there is almost no way to avoid it, especially if you live in any populated area. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from this invisible radiation. It is very important to avoid this toxin during your detox, and equally as important to use protective gear when pregnant.
The most important EMF avoidance techniques to use are to avoid cordless phones, disconnect WiFi when sleeping (purchase router timer), do not keep your phone in your pocket, turn cell phone on airplane mode or off when not in use, unplug everything in your room when sleeping, avoid microwaves, and when you cannot avoid all EMF consider wearing protective clothing, such as undershirts or boxers for men.
LEARN HOW TO PREPARE FOR PREGNANCY
This is just the tip of the iceburg. In addition to the above, things like heavy metals, organic solvents, stress, and more bombard your body. Learn more about this topic, more avoidance tips and also how to effectively and safely detox in my book, Preparing for Pregnancy.
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Resources:
Liu, S., S.K. Hammond, and A. Rojas-Cheatham, Concentrations and potential health risks of metals in lip products. Environ Health Perspect, 2013. 121(6): p. 705-10.
Rochester, J.R., Bisphenol A and human health: a review of the literature. Reprod Toxicol, 2013. 42: p. 132-55.
OEHHA, The Proposition 65 List. 2019.
Arbuckle, T.E., et al., Maternal and infant exposure to environmental phenols as measured in multiple biological matrices. Sci Total Environ, 2015. 508: p. 575-84.
Genuis SJ, G.R., Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2016.
Hibbs, J., NAEM bootcamp toxicant kinetics & clinical teoxicology. 2018.
McDonald, R.C., Foliage Plants for Removing Indoor Air Pollutants from Energy-Efficient Homes. Economic botany, 1984. 38(2): p. 224-228.
Divan, H.A., et al., Prenatal and postnatal exposure to cell phone use and behavioral problems in children. Epidemiology, 2008. 19(4): p. 523-9.
Divan, H.A., et al., Cell phone use and behavioural problems in young children. J Epidemiol Community Health, 2012. 66(6): p. 524-9.
Aldad, T.S., et al., Fetal radiofrequency radiation exposure from 800-1900 mhz-rated cellular telephones affects neurodevelopment and behavior in mice. Sci Rep, 2012. 2: p. 312.
Larsson, K., et al., Exposure determinants of phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A and triclosan in Swedish mothers and their children. Environ Int, 2014. 73: p. 323-33.
Meeker, J.D., S. Sathyanarayana, and S.H. Swan, Phthalates and other additives in plastics: human exposure and associated health outcomes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2009. 364(1526): p. 2097-113.
