Eco Pregnancy and Baby

Does it matter which paint you use when you’re pregnant? The truth is you shouldn’t be painting at all. But even if you have someone else do the painting, the less toxic the product is, the better.

“Oil-based paints pose a theoretical risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while the paint is drying,” says Robert Geller, M.D., medical toxicologist and associate professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Latex paint has very low toxicity but poses a slight risk if used extensively in a poorly ventilated area. If you’re doing the painting, open the windows or run a fan and take frequent breaks; if you are using oil-based paint, wear a protective mask specifically recommended by the manufacturer to protect against paint fumes. If you’re doing extensive painting, use a nontoxic, non-VOC- or low-VOC-containing paint, or ask someone else to paint the nursery for you and stay out of the house while the paint dries and the fumes dissipate.

Most major paint manufacturers offer low- or non-VOC water-based paints. Some companies manufacture milk paints, made from the milk protein casein, lime and naturally occurring mineral pigments.

Two eco-friendly paints to try:

• The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co.
• The Real Milk Paint Co.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends artists choose water colors, acrylic and tempera paints over oil paints, and avoid latex paints that contain solvents such as ethylene glycol, ethers and biocides.

Was your house built before 1978?

If you live in a house that was built before 1978, the walls may still contain lead-based paint. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends contacting a certified lead abatement contractor before removing old paint, or someone in your household can test for lead dust using a test kit ($30, available from the National Safety Council. If you’re pregnant, leave the house while someone else does the peeling, stripping and painting, and don’t return until the room has been well ventilated.

Tags: eco-friendly paint, toxic chemicals

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