title: Environmental hazards education for childbirth educators.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to educate childbirth educators about environmental hazards and provide resources. Hazardous chemicals have been found in cord blood, placenta, meconium, and breastmilk samples. These chemicals include commonly known hazards such as lead, mercury, and environmental tobacco smoke, as well as some pesticides, solvents, products containing chlorine, and other chemicals referred to as "persistent organic pollutants." The fetus is particularly vulnerable to environmental chemicals that can disrupt the developmental process at critical times during gestation. Childbirth educators are encouraged to inform themselves in order to inform childbearing families to take preventive action and explore alternative behaviors to reduce exposure to environmental hazards.
authors.affiliation: MICHELE ONDECK is a clinical education specialist at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and a member of its environmental initiatives team. She is also the director of the University of Pittsburgh Childbirth Educator Program . JUDITH FOCARETA is the coordinator of environmental initiatives at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ondeck
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Focareta
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