A chemical's level of danger depends on the type of chemical, duration and frequency of exposure. Keep in mind that harmful chemicals must get into the body and reach the fetus to create harm. The mere presence of them in a workplace is not necessarily a concern.
Some chemicals that may be particularly problematic for a mother’s health are ammonia potassium hydroxide, chlorine sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid asbestos, hydrochloric acid (bleach), sodium hydroxide silica, nitric acid asbestos and sulfuric acid fiberglass. This is by no means an extensive list, and other chemicals may pose problems.
Chemicals enter the body through breathing, contact with skin and through the digestive system if swallowed. Chemicals that irritate the eyes, throat, skin or nose may not necessarily be harmful.
Some Questions to Ponder
You will need to ask the following questions to get a clearer picture of the situation:
- The type of chemicals - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are required to be available in your workplace. These will tell you what products are present in the workplace and the potential hazards they pose. The law mandates that employers provide copies of these sheets if asked for it, and they are required to provide it to doctors if requested. Employers are also obligated to train you in the safe use and handling of any chemicals.
- Duration, quantity and frequency of exposure -- This will require a series of questions, including the levels of chemicals in a work area, whether they have been measured and whether monitoring takes place to determine levels. Employees have a legal right to see results of these tests in many states and to have that information shared with health care professionals.