| Lead poisoning is a major threat during a | | | | pregnant, so hand the soldering iron off to |
| woman's pregnancy, which is why it is | | | | another crafty woman during your pregnancy. |
| important for individuals to be aware of | | | | Change your clothing after working with |
| these harms and where they still exist in our | | | | lead-filled crafts materials and be sure to |
| society today. | | | | wash them away from other family members' |
| | | | garments. |
| Clean Up! | | | | |
| | | | Take Care At Work |
| Ensuring continual cleanliness is the best | | | | |
| way to protect and provent oneself from any | | | | Occupational exposure to lead is dangerous |
| harmful...and this will help protect a woman | | | | for men and women, but pregnant women run the |
| during pregnancy from lead exposure. Chipped | | | | additional risk of lead contamination to |
| pain and dust may contain lead and it is | | | | their unborn children. If you work with |
| important these surfaces are continually | | | | soldering irons, welding materials, |
| clean to avoid lead poisoning exposure. Cover | | | | lead-based paint, common construction site |
| chipping paint in your home with duct tape, | | | | chemicals and items, or work in a factory |
| plastic or contact paper, and vacuum dust | | | | setting, you may be putting your fetus at |
| whenever possible. To avoid breathing in lead | | | | risk. Ask your employer about a transfer to a |
| particles in dust or chipped paint, use a wet | | | | lower-risk area of the factory, and be sure |
| cloth to wash down surfaces that are dusty or | | | | to wash hands often. Put your work clothing |
| contain lead paint. Hand-washing, while | | | | in a separate hamper and wash it separately |
| common-sense, is not practiced enough, so be | | | | from other family's garments. Keep |
| sure to wash up after interacting with soil, | | | | lead-exposed shoes outside of the house and |
| which might contain lead toxins, and before | | | | be sure to vacuum well if they go into the |
| preparing food or eating. Lead toxins often | | | | house. Educate yourself about the hazards of |
| exist in soil, which is why it is important | | | | lead exposure and be certain to talk to your |
| to thoroughly wash hands after contact with | | | | doctor about how your prenatal care can |
| soil and to wear gloves during any gardening | | | | reflect your concern about lead poisoning and |
| activities. | | | | lead exposure. |
| | | | |
| Craft With Care | | | | Seek Legal Advice for Exposure |
| | | | |
| Ceramic and other pottery may have its | | | | If you have been exposed to lead paint or |
| appeal, but with lead paint posing a very | | | | other lead at work or at home, consult a |
| real threat to your fetus, it may be a good | | | | doctor and then a lawyer. An experienced lead |
| idea to avoid ceramic crafts until after your | | | | poisoning attorney can help you recover money |
| pregnancy. It is imperative to wash hands and | | | | for the injury, pain and suffering caused by |
| clothing if you cannot avoid dealing with | | | | toxic lead paint exposure that affects the |
| paint and pottery that have lead | | | | health of you and your baby. |
| contaminants. Solder is a bad idea while | | | | |