Research Safety & Reproductive Health

Some hazardous materials used for research purposes have the potential to cause harm to the unborn child. Pregnant women should not be exposed to chemicals that can exert toxic developmental effects in concentrations that can harm the developing fetus. EH&S’ Occupational Safety Program can provide consultation with respect to the risks of working with, or in proximity to, such materials.  These materials might include chemical, biological, or radiological hazards, as well as physical stressors like heat and noise/vibration.

If you and/or your partner are pregnant or considering pregnancy, EH&S is committed to ensuring your health and safety in the laboratory.  In conjunction with seeking guidance from their health care providers, students, faculty, and staff can request a pregnancy consultation with Occupational Safety by completing a Risk Hazard Assessment survey and a member of the team will follow up directly. All reproductive health consultations are confidential.

If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].

Columbia University EH&S has developed these guidelines for individuals or couples who are currently or planning to become pregnant.  Please note, these guidelines do not serve as a replacement for a full consultation or discussions with your health care provider.

  • Safe laboratory procedures minimize exposure for all laboratory workers, and by extension, also serve to protect the developing fetus.
     
  • Confirm you are up to date with all required training for your research, including RASCAL TC4951 “Lab Safety, Chemical Hygiene, and Hazardous Waste Management Initial Training”, in addition to any courses related to laboratory-specific hazards.
     
  • Review Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for chemicals used in your laboratory.
     
  • Review lab-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. Follow the recommended control measures in SDSs and SOPs to minimize exposure.
     
  • Make sure to wear all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while in the laboratory and that you are using the recommended PPE correctly.
    • Check your PPE regularly to make sure it is functioning properly.
    • Remove gloves and PPE when leaving the laboratory.
    • If your work involves the use of and potential contact with hazardous materials, avoid skin contact and remember to wash your hands after removing your gloves, before eating, and before leaving work.
       
  • Talk to your doctor or health care professional if you or your partner are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.  Make sure to review the type of work you perform and the hazards present in your workplace (e.g., chemicals, biohazardous material, noise, heat, lifting heavy objects, etc.).
  • In situations involving a pregnant laboratorian, chemicals identified as teratogenic, carcinogenic, and fetotoxic are of most concern.  Pay attention to chemicals in your lab with known toxicity that may be harmful to a fetus. Check the Toxicological Information Section (Section 11) of the SDSs for chemicals used in your laboratory.
     
  • Heavy metals such as lead and mercury, alcohols and organic solvents that readily volatilize, and DNA-binding or crosslinking agents such as ethidium bromide and formaldehyde are a few examples of the numerous chemicals that can pose a health risk to those who work with them without the proper controls.
     
  • Make sure to practice proper laboratory hygiene and review your lab’s Laboratory Assessment Tool and Chemical Hygiene Plan (LATCH).
     
  • Limit exposure by following the hierarchy of controls.
Inverted triangle showing the hierarchy of controls exposure levels.
  • Unlike chemical exposures, there are no exposure limits for infectious agents.  One bacterium or virus can start an infection. Remember to always practice proper lab hygiene!
     
  • Some infectious agents represent a higher risk during pregnancy, including Listeria, Brucella, Toxoplasmosis, Cytomegalovirus, Rubella, and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Unless a laboratory is specifically performing research with these agents, these agents are unlikely to be encountered in the workplace.
     
  • Pregnancy can represent an immunocompromised state. Pregnant laboratorians should consult with their physician regarding further questions and consider other possible complicating factors (such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, asthma, autoimmune disorders, etc.) that could further compromise their immune system and make them vulnerable to infections.
     
  • Additional review of common biological agents and moderate to high-risk infectious organisms can be found here - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/infectious.html
  • Radiation hazards include ionizing radiation, for example X-rays and radiation from radioisotopes. Most radiation hazards are external and the female body provides significant shielding. For instance, the human body attenuates alpha and beta particles, giving zero fetal dose.
     
  • Gamma/x-ray particles can give a fetal dose and additional shielding may be recommended.
     
  • The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRC Regulatory Guide 8.13) has established an occupational radiation dose limit for the whole body of 5 rem per year (for adult workers). A lower limit exists for the embryo/fetus – 0.5 rem – during the entire gestation period.
     
  • A Declared Pregnant Worker is a woman who has voluntarily informed her employer, in writing, of her pregnancy and the estimated date of conception. It is entirely your choice whether or not to declare your pregnancy.
     
  • Once a Declaration of Pregnancy form has been submitted, EH&S will issue a fetal dosimeter to be worn in the laboratory to monitor the fetal radiation dose. The form is confidential, and you do not need to inform your supervisor of your pregnancy in order to complete the form and obtain the fetal dosimeter.