how harmful are these odors?

[Odonata]

We've begun renovations on our house since we are planning to put it on the market.  I was in a rush to get it all done BEFORE I got pregnant, but, here we are (manly held up because MH is SO SLOW at doing anything.)

Everyone has been making a HUGE deal about me not painting (even with zero VOC paint) or being around after a room has been painted.  Obviously breathing in organics is not good.  But the contractor just finished installing the overlay of our tub/shower and I had not considered the adhesive he would be using.  It is very strong smelling - like rubber cement.  It's been almost a week and the smell is still here and fills the whole house.  It CAN'T be good for my baby to be breathing it in so much.  I've done the best I could at keeping the door closed and avoiding inhaling the fumes.  There is no window in there and the exhaust fan is shit but I don't want it to air out into the house.  But I'm just so concerned that I'm doing damage by being around it.  I'm home on spring break for the next two weeks and I have no where else to go and using the bathroom a ton is unavoidable.  I feel like I need to buy a mask with an organic filter on it just to pee.  Actually, I might go do that.

And the odor is not helping my nausea.  Am I being overly paranoid?  Is it just my over-sensitive sense of smell that is making me think it is stronger than it is?  At any rate, there isn't really a solution either.  I can't live somewhere else for the next few weeks.  I don't know what to do but worry.

 

[ringstrue]

Unless it's making you dizzy or its a true bio-hazard (he would tell you if it was), you are probably fine, though it really needs to be aired out! Can you open a window in the hall or nearby and create some sort of airflow? I'd also have the exhaust fan running all the time to help out.

[rbp]

I would call your doctor to ask, but I have a strong feeling that it's ok. People paint nurseries all the time while pregnant, right?

As an aside, I am teaching organic chemistry this semester. When I first found out I was pregnant, my H was hell-bent on me not teaching the lab. I guess it would be possible for me to trade teaching responsibilities for the semester, but I think that it would have serious implications on my career trajectory and on how my colleagues view me. I talked to my OB about it, because the lab doesn't have very good ventilation. It is very difficult to find safety data for inhalation of organic solvents by pregnant women! In the end, we decided we were comfortable with me teaching the lab with a few additional safety precautions like not physically handling certain chemicals, and stepping outside for fresh air every now and then.

I know that being exposed to unfamiliar things during pregnancy can be very unsettling, so I would definitely call your OB and determine if there are any additional precautions you should be taking. But I think you will be fine. Hugs!

[Odonata]

Thanks, rbp, for the reassurance. I use to work as a histologist and was in very close proximity to xylene all day in a tiny lab. I was pregnant then, too (miscarried but not b/c of the xylene, I don't think!!) and I remember everyone had me avoid direct contact with it. But there was still exposure to the fumes daily.

I don't know...the chemist/biologist in me has be both paranoid and feeling silly for being paranoid. On one hand I know these fumes are not dangerous in the amounts right now for a normal adult, but I have no clue what impact they have on an 8-week old fetus. I keep imagining molecules invading my bloodstream and attacking!! There are precious little neurons being developed right now. I think I'll keep the door closed when I'm home since my house is so small (little cape cod - we basically have a kitchen, living room, and bathroom downstairs all next to each other). When I'm out I'll open the door and then open every window when I come home. Thank god it's getting nicer outside but I'm still wondering around with two sweatshirts and a hat! But hey, dilution seems to be the solution at the moment.

[rbp]

Mar 10, 2014 10:34:03 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Thanks, rbp, for the reassurance. I use to work as a histologist and was in very close proximity to xylene all day in a tiny lab. I was pregnant then, too (miscarried but not b/c of the xylene, I don't think!!) and I remember everyone had me avoid direct contact with it. But there was still exposure to the fumes daily.

I don't know...the chemist/biologist in me has be both paranoid and feeling silly for being paranoid. On one hand I know these fumes are not dangerous in the amounts right now for a normal adult, but I have no clue what impact they have on an 8-week old fetus. I keep imagining molecules invading my bloodstream and attacking!! There are precious little neurons being developed right now. I think I'll keep the door closed when I'm home since my house is so small (little cape cod - we basically have a kitchen, living room, and bathroom downstairs all next to each other). When I'm out I'll open the door and then open every window when I come home. Thank god it's getting nicer outside but I'm still wondering around with two sweatshirts and a hat! But hey, dilution seems to be the solution at the moment.

I get you. Working in an organic chemistry lab full-time made me a little cavalier about chemicals. Sure, I had lots of respect for the stuff that combusts in air or produces toxic gases, but I never even thought about the fumes I was inhaling. Now I have to remind myself to be vigilant when I am around these compounds. 

I would think that most of the stuff is getting filtered out by your respiratory system before getting to the fetus, but again, I'm not a physician, so she would be the best one to give you an opinion. Unless she's brand new, she's had to have seen patients taking on home renos, right??

[pitterwoo]

I think generally with these types of things you'd have to really have workplace type levels of exposure like painting or gluing all day to really need to worry. That said, I like your plan of airing out the house. I would do the same.