what term refers to substances in the environment that can cause abnormal fetal development?

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What Is a Teratogen?

A teratogen is whatever amanuensis that disrupts a baby'south development when a person is exposed to it during pregnancy. Known teratogens include alcohol, smoking, toxic chemicals, radiation, viruses, some maternal health atmospheric condition, and sure prescription drugs.

Some teratogens are more concerning than others. How harmful a teratogen is depends on several factors, including:

• Type: Some teratogens, including alcohol and smoking, accept a more than harmful impact on a developing fetus than others.
• Amount: The amount of harm to a fetus increases the more the pregnant person consumes or is exposed to a teratogen.
• Elapsing of exposure: The longer a fetus is exposed to a teratogen, the more dangerous the furnishings.
• Time of exposure: Teratogens are most harmful early in pregnancy, starting about 10 to xiv days after formulation to about viii weeks into pregnancy.
• Genetics: Sometimes, the pregnant person's or the baby's unique genetics protect them or make them more vulnerable to certain teratogens.

Why They Are Important

All parents should know what teratogens are and how to avoid them since they can cause harm throughout pregnancy, starting around the time of conception. For example, the risk of miscarriage is higher when y'all smoke or drink alcohol or are exposed to radiation and sure toxic chemicals. These and other teratogens are also linked to premature birth.

Additionally, four% to 5% of birth defects are acquired by teratogens. These include concrete malformations, like spina bifida, cleft palate, or microcephaly (when the brain and skull are underdeveloped), too as vision and hearing problems. Teratogens can also affect cognitive development. Babies born to a parent who drinks alcohol or has certain health conditions, like thyroid disorders, have been shown to have lower IQ scores.

Teratogens can cause impairment from formulation to delivery merely ofttimes cause the well-nigh damage in the first viii weeks of pregnancy.

Types of Teratogens

Teratogens can lurk in your house, garden, medicine cabinet, and even within your body. Knowing what these dangerous agents are is the first stride to protecting yourself and your baby.

Alcohol

Wine, beer, and all other types of alcohol can harm a baby during pregnancy. Booze passes through the umbilical cord to a developing baby and can crusade stillbirth and miscarriage. Alcohol tin can also create a lifelong spectrum of physical, behavioral, and intellectual disorders known as fetal booze syndrome.

Smoking Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes negatively impacts fertility, increases the adventure for pregnancy complications like stillbirth and miscarriage, and is linked to several birth defects. Specifically, smoking can damage delicate, growing tissue in a developing babe'southward lungs and encephalon.

The risks of using nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and vaping devices during pregnancy aren't fully known. Withal, early enquiry suggests that exposure to nicotine in the womb can crusade harm to babies' developing cardiovascular, immune, nervous, and respiratory systems, even in the absence of tobacco smoke.

Recreational Drugs

Almost 1 in twenty pregnant people takes street drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin during pregnancy, which is very harmful to fetal development. These drugs are linked to infertility, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, and nativity defects.

Certain Medications

Even some doctor-approved medications tin be harmful equally soon as you conceive. Neurological drugs, like antiepileptic medications, tin can crusade cognitive defects in babies, and blood thinners are linked to certain congenital malformations. Accutane, retinoids, and other skincare medications containing vitamin A tin can cause serious abnormalities, including crevice palates and intellectual disabilities.

Some Infections

A pregnant person's exposure to some viruses, leaner, and parasites tin pose harm to the baby. Some of the more than unsafe infections are grouped nether the acronym TORCH:

• Toxoplasma (ofttimes passed through true cat feces)
• Rubella (German measles)
• Cytomegalovirus
• Herpes simplex virus

The risk of some infections is higher in certain geographic regions. Since 2015, when there was an outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus throughout Key and Due south America and parts of the southern United states, ten% of babies born in the U.S. to mothers with an active Zika infection during pregnancy had birth defects.

Influenza is non linked to birth defects, just the high fevers it tin bring on are. Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at college risk for wellness problems similar preeclampsia and infections, and their babies are more than likely to be born prematurely.

Harmful Physical Agents

Even in the womb, babies are sensitive to some invisible ecology forces. These include radiation, similar from 10-rays, or estrus sources that cause your temperature to exceed 102 degrees Fahrenheit for a prolonged period, such as excessive hot tub use or a high fever.

Toxic Chemicals and Substances

Pregnant people are frequently inadvertently exposed to toxic chemicals in sure workplaces like industrial factories, dry-cleaning facilities, and medical offices. Some dangerous substances that are used in these workplaces include heavy metals, organic solvents, and petrochemicals.

Excessive exposure to household pb (like in old paint and structure) and dietary mercury (found in tuna and other big fish) are also known to cause neurological issues and cognitive delays.

Maternal Wellness Problems

Yous tin accept a concrete condition yourself that can hamper fetal development, which is one reason your health should be closely monitored before and during pregnancy. For case, untreated diabetes can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal abnormalities. Babies born to parents with unchecked thyroid issues can have lower IQs and motor skill problems.

How to Avoid Teratogens

Some teratogens, similar certain genetic conditions, are tough to avert. But there are many things yous tin do to steer clear of some of the nigh dangerous teratogens. Considering teratogens cause impairment starting around conception, it'southward a good idea to take these steps while trying to get significant or starting time learning you lot are pregnant:

• Avert alcohol. At that place is no known safe corporeality of booze during pregnancy.
• Avoid or quit cigarettes. Since quitting smoking tin can take some time and support, dropping the addiction before condign pregnant is best.
• Develop scrupulous handwashing habits. Keeping your hands clean helps you avoid infections and potentially dangerous chemical residues.
• Don't clean cat litter during pregnancy. This will reduce your chance of toxoplasmosis.
• Rid your diet of unpasteurized dairy products and cafeteria meats. They can harbor harmful bacteria.
• Cut back on tuna and swordfish during pregnancy. Experts recommend eating no more than than 6 ounces per calendar week.
• Utilize organic household cleaners and lawn care products. These reduce your hazard of chemical exposures.
• Don't accept any medications without consulting with your doctor first. That includes acne treatments and over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Inquire with your workplace'south man resources section nearly any toxic chemicals you may exist exposed to at piece of work. A leave of absenteeism to protect yourself may be warranted.
• Seek out or maintain treatment for chronic health conditions. Information technology's important to manage your own wellness and ensure that chronic conditions like diabetes or thyroid disorders are well managed before, during, and afterward pregnancy.

Regulation of Teratogens

The government has enacted legislation to heighten awareness of and reduce the risks of certain teratogens. For example, thalidomide was a medication commonly given to significant people in the 1950s to treat morning sickness. It was afterward establish to crusade malformations in babies' limbs, organs, and other body parts. Banned in 1961, thalidomide was i of the first teratogens to be discovered and regulated to protect significant people and babies.

Since then, tobacco companies accept been ordered to include a Surgeon General's alarm almost the dangers of smoking during pregnancy on each cigarette parcel. Standards for the use of certain toxic chemicals that harm reproductive wellness, like lead, have been set up past the Occupational Rubber and Wellness Assistants (OSHA).

A Word From Verywell

There is no way to shield your unborn child from every potential developmental concern. But knowing about and doing your best to avoid the most unsafe teratogens, like booze and smoking, is an important step to give your baby the best possible chance of growing healthy and strong.

Scientists are difficult at work to identify new causes of pregnancy complications, birth defects, and developmental delays every solar day. So be sure to proceed in close touch with a physician virtually what yous are consuming, where you are living and working, and where you might be traveling, from the moment yous find out you're pregnant (if not before). You and your baby will benefit from your efforts to exercise all you can to support a good for you, happy pregnancy.

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Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/that-are-teratogens-2371658