Toronto : Expectant mothers in their first trimester should avoid certain cosmetics, cleaning agents and medicines, to protect the developing foetal brain from chemicals that can trigger autism, researchers say, reports PTI.
“The products that we use on a daily basis, such as creams and cosmetics, contain chemicals that could potentially affect a developing baby during pregnancy,” said Professor Dorota Crawford in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health at York University.
These products include cleaning solvents, pesticides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid; misoprostol (a drug used for inducing labour); polychlorinated bisphenyls used as industrial lubricants; polybrominated diphenyl ethers found in wood and textiles; phthalates in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring, children’s toys, and cosmetics and lotions.
