Home & Work Environment
Healthy Environment
(Toxin Avoidance)
Some chemicals or hazardous materials in your home or workplace can have harmful effects on your developing baby during pregnancy. Toxic products like pesticides may be found in food, bug sprays, weed killers and flea or tick shampoo.
Other potentially harmful substances like paint and cleaning supplies can be absorbed through the skin or breathed in. If you are pregnant, wash your hands often and stay away from dangerous chemicals.
Hazardous materials include:
- Lead
- Pesticides
- Synthetic chemicals
- Cleaning products
- Heavy metals
- Bug spray
- Fertilizer
- Cat/rodent feces
More Information
Check the warning labels if you have cleaning and home maintenance products where you live. Learn about any hazardous materials at your workplace by checking your employer’s Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
- Every Woman California – Hazardous Materials
- University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) – Protecting Our Families from Toxic Substances English | Spanish
- MotherToBaby.org – Parent Fact Sheets English | Spanish
- University of California San Francisco – Pesticide Information English | Spanish
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health English | Spanish
- Housing & Urban Development – Healthy Homes Program English | Spanish
- Keep Your Newborn Safe From Lead
