Certain substances which are found in your home and your workplace can be the deterrents of you getting pregnant. These substances can also prove to be harmful to the baby developing in your womb. If you are planning to get pregnant, you should look carefully at the substances used in your homes, gardens and offices. You need to also check if you are exposed to toxic substances like lead, mercury, or harmful chemicals in pesticides, solvents or radiation.

Ionising radiations can lead to fetal growth restriction, impaired brain function, microcephaly, childhood cancers and even miscarriage in the first trimester. If you are exposed to harmful pesticides, you face the risk of early spontaneous abortion and childhood cancers for the infant. Lead or mercury pollution can also cause miscarriages, stillbirth, early spontaneous abortion and anaemia in the mother and central nervous system damage, fetal growth restriction and preterm birth for the baby. Indoor air pollution is also dangerous for both the mom and the baby in the womb. It can lead to stillbirth, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer (from coal use), pneumonia and growth restriction for the developing baby.

The consequences of exposure to ionising radiation, lead, mercury and pesticides can be controlled with anticipatory guidance and protection from unnecessary radiation exposure in occupational, environmental and medical settings. Pregnant and women of childbearing age should be checking the levels of methyl mercury in locally procured fish before eating it. Indoor air pollution can be eliminated with improved stoves and by using cleaner fuels.

Health problems	Issues to maternal health	Issues to infant health
Ionising radiation	First-trimester miscarriage.	Fetal growth restriction, impaired brain function, microcephaly, childhood cancers.
Pesticides	Early spontaneous abortion.	Childhood cancer.
Lead or mercury pollution	Miscarriage, early spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, anaemia.	Central nervous system damage, fetal growth restriction, preterm births.
Indoor air pollution	Stillbirth, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer (from coal use).	Pneumonia, fetal growth restriction.

Health problems	Preventive interventions
Consequences of exposure to ionising radiation	Anticipatory guidance and protection from unnecessary radiation exposure in occupational, environmental and medical settings.
Consequences of exposure to pesticides	Anticipatory guidance and avoidance of unnecessary pesticide use; alternatives to pesticides.
Consequences of exposure to lead and mercury pollution	Anticipatory guidance and protection from lead exposure (including workplaces); local fish advisories to alert pregnant women and women of childbearing age about the levels of methyl mercury in fish.
Consequences of exposure to indoor air pollution	Anticipatory guidance and use of improved stoves; use of cleaner liquid/gaseous fuels.