Pregnancy and its association with toxic substances and the environment

Abstract

A variety of data from modern research are constantly coming to the surface, linking exposure to toxic environmental factors and toxic substances with negative effects on reproductive and developmental health. The main harmful factors are drugs, narcotics, smoking, malnutrition, alcohol and various environmental factors, such as radiation and infections. Toxic exposure related to reproductive and developmental health have been associated mainly with infertility and miscarriage, obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight, neurodevelopmental delays such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and hyperactivity and cancer.Pregnancy is a sensitive and high-risk period, where various harmful factors have a detrimental effect on both the impaired health of the pregnant woman and the underdeveloped immune system of the fetus. This is due both to the basic anatomical and functional changes that take place during pregnancy in support of the fetus, and to the change in the eating and daily habits of the pregnant woman. In addition, the potential risks vary depending on the trimester of pregnancy, making the risk of miscarriage higher during the first trimester. Modern medicine provides the ability to monitor and advise patients during the prenatal and perinatal period on reducing the effects of toxic substances and toxic environmental exposures on health.