Protecting pregnancy, protecting future generations

Exposure to toxic substances in food, water, air, soil and consumer products is pervasive in modern life. Evidence of negative health effects from environmental exposures continues to build. For example, babies exposed to toxic chemicals in the womb can experience altered neurodevelopment, exhibited later as autism, ADHD and learning disabilities. Prenatal exposures predispose an individual to adult diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and diabetes. New research is illuminating the role of epigenetics in programming fetal development, making an individual more susceptible to acute and chronic disease.  Most intriguing, epidemiological studies and research in animal models are demonstrating transgenerational effects in the second and third generations after an exposure to a toxic agent.

Recognizing early life as the most sensitive period of development for toxic exposures, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) issued a statement in 2012 entitled Toxic Environmental Agents (http://www.acog.org/ToxicChemicals). The committee opinion states:

"The scientific evidence over the last 15 years shows that exposure to toxic environmental agents before conception and during pregnancy can have significant and long-lasting effects on reproductive health..." and "Reducing exposure to toxic environmental agents is a critical area of intervention for … health care professionals."

This session will review the literature on transgenerational effects of environmental exposures and fetal programming in utero.  An interactive period will evaluate the components of the ACOG/ASRM statement, and discuss interventions in the prenatal period that may reduce risk to current and future generations.