worried sick......home renovation....

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone--I am 7 1/2 months pregnant (approx 30 weeks) and my husband and I are renovating our house. At 8pm last night my husband caulked the floor molding of our soon to be nursery (approx 150 sq. feet, I think). We left the door open for the caulk to dry. He finished approx at 9pm. We went to bed in that room at about 1pm (with the door shut and heater on) because there was nowhere else for us to sleep in the house. I thought at that time the caulk had dried and didn't smell anything to make me concerned. However, this morning I woke up with a slight headache (so did my husband)and read the tube of caulk and read the warning label, which said "May cause eye & respiratory irritation or allergic skin reaction...This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm". I went to the company's website today and it said that product is low VOC (volitle organic compound). I thought the product was water based and so didn't think anything of it since there wasn't a strong smell. Normally I'm more careful about this kind of stuff. I've been worried all day about the potential harm I may have caused. I'll call my doctor tomorrow and tell her my situation, but wanted to know if anyone has been in a similar home renovation situation. Would asking for an ultrasound help alleviate concerns? Appreciate hearing any of your stories/advice.

Sincerely,

Concerned mom-to-be

PS: The product contained the chemicles; PHTHALATE ESTERS, ETHYLENE GLYCOL, CRYSTALLINE, SILICA FORMALDEHYDE, ACRYLAMIDE & ACRYLONITRILE.

[Anonymous]

I can certainly understand your worry and I am sure your doctor can help alleviate your fears! You are really far along and, at this point, all of the major structures are formed, so I would think you are probably fine (just don't want to keep up the exposure). It is easy to get crazed and try to do everything before baby comes, but make sure you are resting enough! Baby will not care about crown molding or new bathrooms!

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and call your doctor to put your mind at ease, but I wouldn't worry about it. One night is unlikely to have given you much exposure-- especially if the level was low enough that you couldn't smell it when you went to sleep.

I think there may have been some studies linking VOCs and those health effects, but the link is still unclear for much greater exposures (the companies have to put that label on just about every product these days to satisfy California's Prop. 65). In general I'd agree that it's smart to limit your exposure to VOCs, but I'd try not to let it stress you out (people have been painting nurseries with VOC paint for a long time).

[Anonymous]

Hi Anonymous Post 2 and 3--thanks for your thoughtful advice. It was reassuring to hear. I sent an email last night to the company inquiring about this and someone from the product safety division actually called me right back and I spoke to him about the situation and my concerns. He said given what I had described, I should not be worried because it was such a small amount and by the time I slept in the room the chemicals had evaporated. It is a water based product and low VOCs. You were right about California's Prop 65, that it was created back in the day when hazardous chemicals were being dumped and got contaimined in the water system, so now they have to put that warning on almost everything (there's a long list of chemicals) mostly as a protective measure. I have a doctor's appt next week and will ask her for peace of mind, but feel pretty assured in talking to the product safety guy.

Thanks again!

PS: Anyone doing home renovating stick to water based products....