Teratogen Exposure

Aka: Teratogen Exposure, Teratogen, Occupational Exposures in Pregnancy, Herbal Teratogen

1. See Also
   1. Preconception Counseling
   2. Pregnancy Risk Assessment
   3. Embryo Organ Development
   4. Radiation Exposure in Pregnancy
   5. Medications in Pregnancy
   6. Nutrition in Pregnancy
   7. Substance Abuse in Pregnancy
   8. Intimate Partner Violence
   9. Genetic Syndrome
   10. Mercury Content in Fish
2. Pathophysiology
   1. Teratogens cause birth defects, Stillbirths, IUGR
3. Risk Factors: General Teratogen Susceptibility
   1. Week 0-2: Pre-organogenesis
      1. Not Sensitive to malformation
      2. Significant exposure is lethal
   2. Week 3-8: Embryonic Period
      1. Greatest sensitivity to environmental exposures
      2. Fetal mass increases 2.5 Million fold first trimester
      3. Major malformations occur
   3. Week 9-38: Fetal Period
      1. Decreasing sensitivity
      2. Functional defects and minor malformations occur
4. Causes: Occupational Exposures
   1. General
      1. Household products also present Teratogen Exposure risk (Heavy metals, solvents, Pesticides)
      2. High risk industries for Teratogen Exposure include laboratory work, dry cleaning, printing, manufacturing and agriculture
   2. Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury)
   3. Solvents (Trichloroethylene, Chloroform, Benzene)
   4. Plastics (Vinyl chloride)
   5. Pollutants (Polychlorinated or Polybrominated Biphenyl)
   6. Pesticides (Organophosphates)
   7. Gases (Carbon Monoxide, Inhalation Anesthetics)
   8. Radiation (e.g. XRay)
      1. See Radiation Exposure in Pregnancy
5. Causes: Home Exposures
   1. See Medications in Pregnancy
   2. See Substance Abuse in Pregnancy
   3. Foods
      1. See Nutrition in Pregnancy
      2. See Mercury Content in Fish
         1. Avoid excessive large fish intake (e.g. shark, swordfish, tilefish or king mackerel) due to mercurcy contamination
   4. Vitamins
      1. Avoid Vitamin A in excess of 3000 IU per day
      2. Avoid Vitamin D in excess of 400 IU per day
   5. Herbals associated with Miscarriage
      1. Devil's claw root
      2. Barberry
      3. Dong Quai
      4. High concentrations of Ruta, Hydrastis or Oregano
   6. Other Herbal Teratogens
      1. See Herbal Remedy
         1. Exercise caution regarding overall risks of herbal contamination and lack of standardization
      2. Ginkgo
      3. Ephedra
      4. Ginseng
   7. Other home exposures
      1. Avoid hot tubs and saunas in first trimester
         1. Associated with Neural Tube Defects and Miscarriages
      2. Avoid hair dyes and treatments in first trimester
         1. Unknown effects
6. Resources
   1. CDC Medications in Pregnancy
      1. http://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/meds/index.html
   2. Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS)
      1. http://www.aaaai.org/about-the-aaaai/strategic-relationships/vampss/vampss-consumer.aspx
   3. MotherToBaby Fact Sheets (from Organization of Teratology Information Specialists or OTIS)
      1. http://www.mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets-s13037