User:Pisawagner/Teratology

Mary Elisa's research (pisawagner):
Alcohol consumption by pregnant mothers, and typically an excessive pattern of drinking it, can lead to teratogenic effects for newborns that may affect them throughout their entire lives. Additionally, the pregnancies of women who smoked were shown to have a higher risk of teratogenic interference than those of women who did not smoke.

Potential exposure to chemical and environmental hazards can lead to an increase in the potential development of teratogenesis.

Long before modern science, it was understood that heavy metals could cause negative effects to those who were exposed. The Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides described the effects of lead exposure as something that "makes the mind give way." Lead exposure in adults can lead to cardiological, renal, reproductive, and cognitive issues that are often irreversible, however, lead exposure during pregnancy can be detrimental to the long-term health of the fetus.

Lead exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy leads to the greatest predictability of cognitive development issues after birth.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1665421/pdf/ehp0114-001730.pdf

Prevalence:

Low socioeconomic status correlates to a higher probability of lead exposure.

Abnormal intake of Vitamin A (retinoids) can lead to teratogenesis.

Elevated levels of aromatic hydrocarbon exposure during pregnancy can lead to abnormal metabolic and hormonal functioning of the placenta.

Emma's Research (Epitt11):
Alcohol:

Pre-existing information on alcohol and teratogenesis from main article: "Alcohol is known to act as a teratogen. Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains the leading cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the United States, affecting 9.1 to 50 per 1000 live births in the U.S. and 68.0 to 89.2 per 1000 in populations with high levels of alcohol use."

New Info: There is a wide range of affects that PAE can have on a developing fetus. Some of the most prominent possible outcomes include the development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (described in depth in the Wikipedia page linked above), a reduction in brain volume, still births, spontaneous abortions, impairments of the nervous system, and much more. To briefly describe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, as it is such a prominent outcome of PAE, this syndrome involves a diverse range of symptoms and severity. These symptoms may include cognitive impairments, impairment of the facial features,

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34684453/

Teratogenic effects of lead exposure during pregnancy:

Exposure to lead during pregnancy is well known to have teratogenic effects on the development of a fetus. Specifically, fetal exposure to lead can cause cognitive retardation, premature births, unplanned abortions, ADHD, and much more [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061448/#:~:text=Lead%20exposure%20negatively%20impacts%20the,the%20impairment%20of%20mental%20development. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061448/#:~:text=Lead%20exposure%20negatively%20impacts%20the,the%20impairment%20of%20mental%20development.]. Evidence of teratogenic effects from exposure to lead - An experiment was conducted where pregnant rats were given drinking water, before and during pregnancy, that contained lead. Many detrimental effects, and signs of teratogenesis were found, such as negative impacts on the formation of the cerebellum, fetal mortality, developmental issues for various parts of the body.

Context
There are a number of ways that a fetus can be affected in pregnancy, specifically due to exposure to various substances. There are a number of drugs that can do this, specifically drugs such as female sex hormones or hormone replacement drugs such as estrogen and progesterone that are not only essential for reproductive health, but also pose concerns when it comes to the synthetic alternatives to these. This can cause a multitude of congenital abnormalities and deformities, many of which can ultimately affect the fetus and even the mother's reproductive system in the long term. Another drug called quinine, which was used to treat malaria, was originally thought to be safe given its anti-malaria qualities. However, it was found to create issues such as cinchonism, as well as increase the likelihood of miscarriage and premature birth of the fetus. Lastly, antituberculous drugs, specifically those used developed in the early 1900s, present potential teratogenic effects, especially if the fetus is exposed in the first trimester.

Context
A well-known recent example of lead poisoning - and the impacts it can have on a community - was the 2014 water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Researchers have found that female fetuses developed at a higher rate than male fetuses in Flint when compared to surrounding areas. The higher rate of female births indicated a problem because male fetuses are more sensitive to pregnancy hazards than female fetuses.

Supporting Research
Update article by David C. Bellinger on the effects of lead on reproductive health.

Article about temperature as a teratogen

Article body
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/68/1/25/421227

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673672922702