PERSPECTIVES ON THE CONCERN FOR AND MANAGEMENT OF PRENATAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND POSTNATAL EFFECTS

Abstract

This paper was presented as the introduction to a session on the history and epidemiology of prenatal chemical exposure. lthough teratology and developmental toxicology had its experimental beginnings in the early part of this century, the potential for human developmental toxicity due to chemical exposure was not generally recognized until the thalidomide tragedy of the early 1960s. urthermore, the fact that exposure to chemicals during development might have subtle and long-lasting postnatal consequences in humans was not generally recognized until the late l960s and early 1970s. he types of evidence required to indicate that an agent is a developmental toxicant are similar, whether the agent is a therapeutic agent, an abuse substance or a physical or environmental agent. he data available are usually most extensive for therapeutic agents or environmental chemicals for which standard testing is required prior to marketing or release into the environment. or substances of abuse, on the other hand, there is no standard testing (unless the drug is a therapeutic agent), and data may be sketchy or nonexistent until a problem is recognize in humans. ith the growing and changing drug abuse environment in which we live, it is important to educate the general public about the drastic consequences of drug abuse during pregnancy.

Citation

Kimmel, C. PERSPECTIVES ON THE CONCERN FOR AND MANAGEMENT OF PRENATAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND POSTNATAL EFFECTS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-89/272 (NTIS PB90159880), 1989.

• PERSPECTIVES ON THE CONCERN FOR AND MANAGEMENT OF PRENATAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND POSTNATAL EFFECTS