Last Updated on April 29, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
Maybe. The risk of an unborn baby being affected by paint fumes depends on the paint used. In general, breathing paint fumes is not good for anyone, and during pregnancy, the risk increases.
A study in Japan concluded that maternal exposure to house renovation was significantly associated with male genital abnormality. Another study indicated a positive correlation between exposure to paint fumes in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital anomalies in the nervous system, the ear, face and neck, and the renal system.
The NHS states that although the risk significantly reduces with modern paints, your baby can be at a slightly greater risk from solvent-based paints and old paintwork that contain traces of lead.
In conclusion, a pregnant woman must avoid being around paint fumes and in case she does, she must follow certain precautions such as being in a well-ventilated space, wearing masks and gloves, not eating and drinking in the room being painted in order to minimise the risk of fume inhalation.
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