Q&A: I was exposed to asbestos during pregnancy. Will this harm my baby?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am going on 19 weeks, and just found out that I've been exposed to asbestos on a regular basis at work. Will this harm my unborn baby?

I think the biggest risk is to you, namely lung complications later on. Only the inhaled fibers that can lodge in your lungs are the problem, increasing the chances of lung cancer, especially if you smoke. I don't know of any studies involving asbestos and fetal development, but I would doubt that the fibers cross the placenta into the baby. Therefore, I don't think there's any risk to your unborn baby. I would seek an opinion from an Occupational Medicine specialist for your own risks, however.

The EPA has a good resource found at www.epa.gov

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