Environmental Toxins Harm Reproductive Health: A Report

Toxins in the environment negatively impact pregnancies and the ability to reproduce, two leading medical groups warned in a joint statement.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) are urging ob-gyns to advocate for government policy changes aimed at identifying and reducing exposure to a wide range of toxins.

"Lawmakers should require the US Environmental Protection Agency and industry to define and estimate the dangers that aggregate exposure to harmful chemicals pose to pregnant women, infants, and children and act to protect these vulnerable populations," said Dr. Jeanne A. Conry, president of The College.

Over the last 15 years, evidence has negatively impacted everything from semen quality and sterility in men, to puberty, menstruation, ovulation and fertility in women.

According to the statement, other reproductive and health problems affected by exposure to toxic environmental agents include:

• Miscarriage and stillbirth

• Impaired fetal growth and low birth weight

• Preterm birth

• Childhood cancers

• Birth defects

• Cognitive/intellectual impairment

• Thyroid problems

Roughly 700 new chemicals are introduced into the US market every year, the report states, the health effects of many are not clear.

"The scary fact is that we don't have safety data on most of these chemicals even though they are everywhere -- in the air, water, soil, our food supply, and everyday products," Conry said. "To successfully study the impact of these chemical exposures, we must shift the burden of proof from the individual health care provider and the consumer to the manufacturers before any chemicals are even released into the environment."

In the meantime, Conry and her colleagues compiled a list of actions physicians can pursue to help reduce prenatal exposure to environmental agents among patients. These include:

• Learn about toxic environmental agents common in their community

• Educate patients on how to avoid toxic environmental agents

• Take environmental exposure histories during preconception and first prenatal visits

• Report identified environmental hazards to appropriate agencies

• Encourage pregnant and breastfeeding women and women in the preconception period to eat carefully washed fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid fish containing high levels of methyl-mercury (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish)

• Advance policies and practices that support a healthy food system

• Advocate for government policy changes to identify and reduce exposure to toxic environmental agents

According to ASRM President Dr. Linda C. Giudice: "As reproductive health care physicians, we are in a unique position to help prevent prenatal exposure to toxic environmental agents by educating our patients about how to avoid them at home, in their community, and at work."