Chemicals warning for mothers-to-be

Pregnant women are being advised to avoid chemicals in household products such as food packaging, cosmetics and family medicines that could cause harm to their unborn babies.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jun 2013, 01:01 BST
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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says women should be made aware of the sources of chemicals to minimise the possibility of harm during pregnancy, and urges them to “play it safe”, despite uncertainty about chemicals’ effects and the surrounding risks.

But the advice has provoked concern, with critics saying the report is alarmist and can add to a mother’s stress.

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In its Scientific Impact Paper, the RCOG says there is no official antenatal advice for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding about the potential risks exposure to some chemicals could pose to their babies.

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The report’s authors acknowledge that while there is little evidence to suggest whether such chemicals do affect a baby’s
development, or even if there
is a risk to health, they advise women to assume that a risk is present.

Women can be exposed to hundreds of chemicals at low levels, through food packaging, household products, over-the-counter medicines and cosmetics, the report says.