Introduction
Historically, it was recognized that certain substances that were harmful to the pregnant woman were often as harmful,if not more harmful, to the fetus as well. In the last century evidence has emerged that even environmental exposures that are not overtly harmful to the mother herself could cause serious harm to the developing fetus. Substances that caused birth defects and other adverse effects to the fetus, in the absence of recognized toxicity to mothers, were: the estrogenic hormone diethylstilbestrol (often taken by mothers during pregnancy and found to cause genital abnormalities); thalidomide (taken to control nausea during pregnancy and found to cause limb abnormalities); and methylmercury (a neurotoxin found in contaminated fish. In addition, more recent research has shown evidence of the adverse effects associated with the consumption of ethanol during pregnancyMore recently, maternal tobacco smoking and even environmental tobacco smoke, modest consumption of ethanol during pregnancy, and low levels of exposure to lead and mercury have been found to be have adverse impacts on fetal growth and development.
Read more about this topic: Environmental Toxins And Fetal Development
Famous quotes containing the word introduction:
“Such is oftenest the young man’s introduction to the forest, and the most original part of himself. He goes thither at first as a hunter and fisher, until at last, if he has the seeds of a better life in him, he distinguishes his proper objects, as a poet or naturalist it may be, and leaves the gun and fish-pole behind. The mass of men are still and always young in this respect.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state; since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)
“The role of the stepmother is the most difficult of all, because you can’t ever just be. You’re constantly being tested—by the children, the neighbors, your husband, the relatives, old friends who knew the children’s parents in their first marriage, and by yourself.”
—Anonymous Stepparent. Making It as a Stepparent, by Claire Berman, introduction (1980, repr. 1986)