A query from my inbox last week: Are there any safety resources for women scientists who are pregnant, other
than MSDSs?
The short answer to this question is that your best resources is likely to be the safety office at your school
or workplace.
Otherwise, the
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health has a page with information on reproductive health and the workplace, as does the
University of California, Davis.
Yale
University says in its Chemical Hygiene Plan:
Exposure to certain chemicals may adversely affect the fertility of the parents and may affect the developing
fetus during pregnancy. Therefore, anyone working with reproductive toxins or teratogenic agents and planning to conceive a child or are pregnant should consult their Principal Investigator, the Chemical Hygiene Officer, and/or the Department of Employee Health
or Student Health as appropriate for opinions regarding risks of exposure and potential exposure control options. The Chemical Hygiene Officer can assess potential exposures and work with the individual and with the Principal Investigator or laboratory supervisor
as appropriate, to adjust work practices to minimize any potential risk. The Employee Health or Student Health Physician can discuss the potential risks of exposure as they apply to each particular situation. A list of suspected reproductive toxins and teratogenic
agents can be obtained from Yale Environmental Health and Safety.
I checked for information at a few additional schools and didn't find much else. If anyone knows of additional
resources, please feel free to post them in the comments or email them to me.
