A Green Guide to Pregnancy

Avoid Toxic Household Cleaners

This is important to avoid volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which include some carcinogens and nervous-system toxins. Conventional cleaning products, loaded with fragrances and VOCs, are a major source of indoor air pollution. VOCs vaporize into the air you breathe and can evaporate or "offgas" from cleaning products, paints and finishes long after they have dried. The combined emissions from all these offgassing products in households produce a potent indoor smog! Use least-toxic household cleaners and home reno/deco products such as paints, pressed woods, upholstered furniture.

Use Caution with Plastics

Use plastic wraps made of polyethylene, not PVC, which contains phthalates (see above). Don't microwave in plastic or put hot food in plastic containers. Store food in glass or lead-free ceramic containers. Avoid food cans with white linings, which contain bisphenol-A.

Don't Change the Kitty Litter!

Cat feces can carry toxoplasmosis, which causes brain damage in infants. Have your mate change the litter instead and enjoy a nine-month break from the job!

This is a story was originally published in The Green Guide and was reproduced with permission.