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Pregnant or planning
a pregnancy?
Are you at risk from lead?
When
you are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant or breastfeeding, your
health and that of your baby will be very much on your mind. To
minimise the risk to you and your unborn child from lead, take a
moment to educate yourself about making your environment more
“lead safe.”
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Why is lead a concern?
Lead is poisonous. During pregnancy, lead in the mother’s blood
can pass freely to her unborn child. High blood lead levels can
affect the unborn child’s developing brain and cause developmental
problems. If a mother has been exposed to lead in the past it may
have been stored in her bones and can be released, along with
calcium, during pregnancy. In men, even low blood lead levels can
affect libido and fertility. Keep your lead levels low to give
your unborn child the opportunity to reach his or her full
potential.
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Where is the lead?
Large amounts of lead can be found around the home in paint,
dust, soil, building products, wall and ceiling cavities and
carpets.
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You are most likely to be exposed to lead
by:
- Unsafe home renovations such as sanding or burning pre 1970
paint; demolishing ceilings or wall cavities which release lead
dust into the environment
- hobbies which use lead (leadlighting, restoring old furniture,
indoor shooting)
- cleaning or entering areas containing lead dust (sheds,
ceiling voids, verandahs, garages)
- work clothes and shoes covered in lead dust
- dry sweeping and dusting which disturbs lead laden dust
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Who should have a blood lead test?
The blood lead level of an unborn child will be similar to the
mother’s. To ensure your unborn child’s blood lead level is low,
it is important to keep your blood lead level as low as possible.
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Undertaking
a home renovation is a major cause of lead poisoning.
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One
of Australia's leading lead researchers, Dr Peter Baghurst, believes
that the new acceptable level should be 2 micrograms per decilitre
(2 µg/dL),
equivalent to 0.1 micromoles per litre (0.1 µmol/L).
[Ref: "Water cost link to high level in kids" 15th
March 2007, online at www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21384704-23289,00.html]
A simple blood test is the best way of finding out the level of
lead present in your blood.
Testing for lead can be done as part of standard ante-natal blood
tests. If you are having a blood test anyway, ask your doctor or
obstetrician about lead and blood tests. Umbilical cord blood can be
painlessly tested for lead at birth – ask your physician to
arrange it.
Pre-pregnancy blood lead tests will help identify any
lead-related fertility problems a couple may be experiencing. Blood
lead levels below the US guideline [Ref: "Medical Management
Guidelines for Lead-Exposed Adults" at www.aoec.org/documents/positions/MMG_FINAL.pdf
] of 5 µg/dL,
equivalent to 0.24 µmol/L,
are recommended for healthy eggs and sperm. Male partners should be
below this level for at least three months before conception as
sperm take this long to develop.
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What is home assessment?
Environmental home assessments identify how much lead is in your
home. Soil, paint, ceiling dust, vacuum cleaner dust and water can
be tested. See Do-It-Yourself-Lead-Safe-Test-Kits available for purchase from The LEAD Group.
Problem areas can be identified around your home. The Global Lead
Advice & Support Service (GLASS) can provide details of
reputable firms to carry out professional home lead assessments. If
a renovation has been undertaken unsafely a baby could be brought
home to a contaminated environment. We give free advice on how to
undertake a safe renovation, what to require of tradespeople and how
to protect yourself.
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How to protect your unborn child…...
Move out during renovations until clean up is finished. Avoid
exposure to:
- dirt and dust from home renovations
- dust or fumes from paint removal
- house, ceiling and vacuum cleaner dust
- dust from work clothes
- dirt and dust from landscaping or bare garden soil
How to minimise your lead risk......
Maintain good personal hygiene.
- wash hands after playing outside and touching pets (pet hair
can hold lead dust) and keep pets out of the house
- wash toys, dummies and bottles frequently
- People who smoke often have higher blood lead levels than non
smokers. Cigarettes contain small amounts of lead and smoking in
contaminated environments can be hazardous. Talk to your doctor
about quitting.
Wet wipe
- surfaces before preparing food or drinks
- furniture and fittings after vacuuming
- wet mop rather than sweep floors (so dust is not just stirred
up and allowed to resettle)
- windowsills, ledges and flat surfaces at least weekly and
after vacuuming
(liquid sugar soap in the water is effective in picking up lead
particles)
Child care
- keep fingernails short & use a nail brush
- discourage sucking fingers or toys
- build a sand pit and cover when not in use
Nutrition and Food Preparation
Our bodies substitute lead for calcium and we store that lead in
our bones for our lifetime and beyond. Iron is also vitally
important to minimise damage from lead. So you should:
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wash fruit and vegetables before eating
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wash hands before preparing or eating food and after being in
contact with dust or dirt
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eat fruit, vegetables, dairy products and some red meat avoid
high fat foods and use minimal fat when cooking
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Empty stomachs absorb more lead – feed children regular
healthy meals and snacks – up to six per day.
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A diet high in iron, calcium and zinc will help
protect you and your baby from lead
Home Care
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Take
particular care when renovating a pre 1970 home
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seal cracks in walls and ceilings
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repair peeling or chalking paint
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check toys, cots and chewable surfaces for lead based
paint
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vacuum once a week and then wet wipe - avoid having
children present
Garden
and Yard care
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use a door mat to trap lead laden dust
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leave dusty shoes outside
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plant trees and tall shrubs
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add “clean” soil to to vegetable patches
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cover bare soil areas with plants , mulch, compost or ground
cover
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hose flyscreens, window sills, paths and paved areas regularly
For a PDF version of this fact sheet
Pregnant or planning
a pregnancy?
This project was assisted by the NSW Govt
as part of the
Lead Education Program in 1998.
This fact sheet was updated
26th Feb 2008
under a DEWHA Federal Govt grant to GLASS. |
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For further
free information contact: Global Lead Advice & Support
Service, see www.lead.org.au or phone (02) 9716 0132 or 1800
626 086.
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