What are four environmental hazards that can affect a fetus?
These chemicals include commonly known hazards such as lead, mercury, and environmental tobacco smoke, as well as some pesticides, solvents, products containing chlorine, and other chemicals referred to as “persistent organic pollutants.” The fetus is particularly vulnerable to environmental chemicals that can disrupt …
What are some factors that can harm fetuses?
Factors like age and overall health status can increase your chances of experiencing complications during pregnancy.
- Reproductive abnormalities. …
- Women under age 20. …
- Women over age 35. …
- Weight. …
- Diabetes. …
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) …
- Preexisting medical conditions. …
- Multiple pregnancies.
How can the environment affect a fetus?
Environmental concerns when pregnant. Exposure to certain substances in the environment when you are pregnant may affect your pregnancy or the health of your baby. Toxic substances increase the risk for birth defects, low birth weight, prematurity and miscarriage.
What are environmental agents that can harm the embryo or fetus?
A teratogen is an environmental agent that can cause abnormalities in an exposed fetus. The effects depend on the nature of the teratogen, the timing at which the exposure occurs and, most likely, the genetic susceptibility of the mother and/or the fetus.
What are 3 environmental factors that affect prenatal development?
Other teratogens that affect prenatal development include radiation, pollution, and infectious disease. Radiation increases the risk of childhood cancer, as well as emotional and behavioral disorders; because of this, it is recommended that pregnant women avoid x-rays unless absolutely necessary.
What are environmental factors?
Environmental factors include temperature, food, pollutants, population density, sound, light, and parasites. The diversity of environmental stresses that have been shown to cause an increase in asymmetry is probably not exclusive; many other kinds of stress might provide similar effects.
What are the 4 main causes of birth defects?
What causes birth defects?
- Genetic problems. One or more genes might have a change or mutation that results in them not working properly, such as in Fragile X syndrome. …
- Chromosomal problems. …
- Infections. …
- Exposure to medications, chemicals, or other agents during pregnancy.
What are the risks of early pregnancy?
Risks for the baby include premature birth and low birth weight. Preeclampsia can also harm the kidneys or even be fatal for mother or baby. Pregnant teens also have a higher chance of becoming anemic. Anemia is a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs).
Can I squish my baby in the womb?
Can I squish my baby in the womb during sex? While you or your partner might feel nervous to have sex while you’re pregnant, there’s no chance of it harming your baby. Your baby is protected by thick walled muscular womb and a sac of fluid. The baby floats within this space well above the neck of the womb (cervix).
What are environmental causes of birth defects?
A Sampling of Environmental Agents Studied in Relation to Birth Defects
| Agent1,2 | Birth Defect(s) |
|---|---|
| Organic solvents | Neural tube, cardiac, limb defects; oral clefts; gastroschisis; developmental disorders |
| Organochlorine pesticides | Cryptorchidism, hypospadias |
| Ozone | Cardiac defects, cleft lip with or without cleft palate |
Which of the following is an example of an environmental toxin that can harm fetal development?
Studies have shown that virtually all pregnant women in the U.S. have measurable levels of several toxins in their bodies that pose real threats to the development of the fetus. These dangerous chemicals include phthalates, bisphenol-A (BPA) and flame retardants.
What are the 4 categories of teratogens?
Additionally, teratogens may also affect pregnancies and cause complications such as preterm labors, spontaneous abortions, or miscarriages. Teratogens are classified into four types: physical agents, metabolic conditions, infection, and finally, drugs and chemicals.
What toxic agent can cause birth defects?
Examples of toxic chemicals that could cause birth defects include:
- Lead.
- Mercury.
- Arsenic.
- PCBs.
- Chlorine.
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone.
- Cadmium.
- Pesticides.