“Lead in Calabar Chalk Can Damage the Baby’s Brain”

What are some of the harmful effects of pregnant women consuming Calabar chalk? The dangers of consuming Calabar chalk du­ ring pregnancy are numerous. The clay contains toxic substances such as lead, arsenic and mercury, which can be harmful to both the mother and the unborn child. Lead, for instance, can cross the placenta, leading to developmental delays, low birth weight and brain damage in the baby. In addition, Calabar chalk interferes with the absorption of essential nutrients. It binds to important minerals in the digestive tract, preventing the body from absorbing iron, zinc and calcium, nutrients that are vital for a healthy pregnancy and which we routinely prescribe as supplements to pregnant wo­ men. What measures can women who are ad­ dicted to Calabar chalk adopt to gradually stop the habit? Our advice is for pregnant women to stop consum...