TOXIC CHEMICALS AND BIRTH DEFECTS

Cleaning Agents - Cause of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Birth Defects

Guest Post By Judy Ford

A modern home is likely to retain a range of highly toxic chemicals for cleaning. They often come with tantalising labels that offer protection from infections and illness. In addition there are often toxic air fresheners, room deodorizers and toilet sanitizers, all of which claim to remove noxious smells and contaminants from the indoor environment. In reality these sophisticated cleaning agents are usually far more dangerous to health than the infectious agents they purport to remove. They frequently contain several toxic chemicals Many affect reproduction as well as seriously compromising general health.
I was alerted to the dangers of bathroom cleaners to reproduction after giving talks about my research results on lifestyle and reproduction. One woman told me that every time she cleaned her shower she would become dizzy and nauseous. Apparently her technique was to get into the shower, spray her cleaner on the tiles and then wash it off with very hot water. The heat plus the fumes were a dangerous combination. She was not alone. I soon discovered that many women regularly had reactions to their zealous cleaning. Many of these women had been told they had unexplained infertility. Others, who worked as cleaners, spoke about the disturbances in their menstrual cycles that occurred soon after taking up cleaning work.

SEE ALSO: DETOXIFICATION OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT FOR PREGNANCY (getpregnantover40.com) 

The medical literature has many studies on the health risks of working with cleaning agents. These risks commonly include high rates of asthma and general high disability rates. Studies from Mexican American and Dutch women show increased rates of neural tube defects (spina bifida and anencephaly) in the children of female cleaners. Even fathers who are exposed to moderate to high levels of cleaning agents have increased numbers of children with neural tube defects.
The chemical p-dichlorobenzene is an example of a chemical frequently found in sanitisers, especially toilet bowl deodorisers and mothballs. This is an extremely dangerous chemical. A group of animals repeatedly exposed to 798 ppm of p-dichlorobenzene developed eye irritation, marked tremors, weakness, and loss of weight. Some died. In five cases of human exposure to p-dichlorobenzene in mothballs, one person with only moderate exposure complained of severe headache, swelling of tissues around the eyes and profuse rhinitis. These symptoms subsided 24 hours after cessation of exposure. However, the other four persons who had more prolonged exposure developed anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and liver involvement with jaundice. Two of these people died. A third developed cirrhosis of the liver.
From a reproductive perspective, the most dangerous chemicals found in cleaning agents are formaldehyde, toluene and ethylene glycol butyl ether. Formaldehyde is commonly used to suppress the central nervous system smell receptors so that we cannot smell bad smells. It is used in most air fresheners. As well as causing cancer, it disrupts the menstrual cycle hence causing infertility, miscarriage and birth defects. Toluene is a solvent used in many different types of cleaning agents. It is also a reproductive toxin. Ethylene glycol butyl ether (2-butoxyethanol) is a solvent in carpet and specialist cleaners. It causes reproductive problems as well as blood disorders, liver and kidney problems. Ammonia may also cause problems. It is a natural fertility inhibitor and is also a respiratory irritant.
Books on safe cleaning methods advocate using bicarbonate of soda on a cloth for lightly soiled surfaces and bicarbonate and a brush for more difficult stains. Vinegar or lemon juice or vinegar with bicarbonate will remove most stains including baked on grease. In my experience you can really achieve a great deal with any one of these alone or with mixtures of them. Lemon juice is particularly good in shower recesses. Vinegar and bicarbonate will have your toilet shining. Eucalyptus Oil or Vanilla will give it a pleasant smell. These natural products are safe, effective and cheap and won't compromise fertility.
It amazes me that clever marketing convinces us to fill our homes with toxic chemicals when simple, old-fashioned techniques are as, if not more effective. Many women needlessly suffer reproductive problems all in the mistaken belief that they are improving their own and their family's health.
Dr Judy Ford is an internationally respected geneticist who has undertaken considerable research into the causes of miscarriage [http://www.itsnatural.com.au/miscarriage.shtml], causes of infertility and birth defects [http://www.itsnatural.com.au/infertility.shtml]. She believes that most problems are preventable through changes to healthy lifestyles and healthy habits. More information can be found on her website http://www.itsnatural.com.au.
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Hair Spray, Hair Salons and Birth Defects

Pregnancy and Birth Defects From Salon Chemicals

I've often thought about the toxic smell of beauty parlors. There's one in the local indoor mall which you can smell long before you even approach it.

See Also: Environmental Threats To Your Fertility (www.getpregnantover40.com) 

 I frequently worry about the people who work in salons because they must breathe in the fumes all day. Apparently there's good reason to worry.  I've also known a number of hairdressers who decided to quit their jobs when they started trying to conceive. This recent article in newscientist.com talks about a link between hairspray and birth defects:

 from the article:

Paul Elliott from Imperial College London, and colleagues, interviewed 471 mothers whose sons had been born with the defect and 490 mothers of children not born with the disorder, to try to find out which chemicals the mothers had been exposed to: including exhaust fumes, printing ink, hairspray, or glues.

While the other substances did not return statistically significant results, the use of hairspray appeared to have a big impact. Of the 74 women who reported regular exposure to hairspray at work during the first three months of pregnancy, 50 gave birth to sons with the genital defect.

In contrast, the proportion of children born with the defect was much lower in women who did not report being in regular contact with hairspray - just 294 out of 618. Overall, the study found that women exposed to hairspray were 2.3 times more likely to have children with the defects.

The team suggests a group of chemicals called phthalates that are found within hairspray may be to blame.

from: 
  (www.newscientist.com)