Congenital malformations and other reproductive hazards from environmental chemicals.

From a number of disasters which have already occurred throughout the world, it is known that the reproductive process in both animals and man may be severely affected by chemicals. The range of effects that might occur include not only foetal death or malformation, but also effects on the subsequent development, behaviour, intelligence and reproductive capacity of offspring which appear otherwise normal at birth. The special sensitivity of the foetus to some environmental carcinogens is also discussed. Some of the problems in screening for such effects in animals are mentioned along with the need for adequate monitoring programmes to detect reproductive toxicity both from industrial exposure to chemicals and from more general environmental exposure.