Pregnant Women Should Avoid These During Their First Trimester

What can you expect when you're expecting?

A new article published in the journal European Journal of Neuroscience examines why expectant mothers--particularly those in their first trimester--should avoid certain medications, cosmetics and cleaning agents to protect the fetal brain from chemicals that could increase the risk risk of autism.

Researchers at York U Health found that aside from the type of chemical a pregnant woman might be exposed to during this time, the duration, frequency and concentration level can all impact a developing brain at the prenatal stage.

"We recommend that women learn about health effects from exposure to chemical substances in the environment," said PhD candidate Wong, adding that assessment information is found in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency, in the release.

Lists of the products include the following, courtesy of the release: cleaning solvents, pesticides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid; misoprostol (a drug used for inducing labor); polychlorinated bisphenyls used as industrial lubricants; polybrominated diphenyl ethers found in wood and textiles; phthalates in PVC flooring, children's toys, and cosmetics and lotions.

Researchers noted how the prenatal brain undergoes constant changes. Furthermore, normal functioning depends greatly on the presence of specific genes at any given time. As environmental factors influence the expression levels of these critical genes, it's important for expectant mothers to be cautious of exposure and associated risks. 

In the study, researchers summarized existing research on environmental agents that can affect the level of important lipid mediators including prostaglandin E2 or PGE2. This major lipid molecule naturally found in the brain is important in regulating the expression of essential genes required for early brain development and its proper function.

The findings can be seen via the article "Prenatal exposure to common environmental factors affects brain lipids and increases risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorders."

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