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Definition

A fetotoxin is a substance or agent that can poison or cause degenerative effects in a developing fetus or embryo. The effects are generally similar to those an adult would suffer from exposure.

This is closely related to a teratogen, which causes malformations of an embryo or fetus.

Both fetotoxins and teratogens are reproductive toxins, substances which cause damage to one's reproductive and/or endocrine system and/or a developing fetus.

Additional Info

A fetotoxin can cause developmental toxicity. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine defines developmental toxicity as:

The occurrence of adverse effects on the developing organism that may result from exposure before conception [pregnancy] (either parent), during prenatal [before birth] development, or postnatally [after birth] to the time of sexual maturation [puberty] . Adverse developmental effects may be detected at any point in the life span of the organism."

Examples of developmental toxicity include fetal death, structural abnormalities or birth defects, and functional deficiencies or altered growth.

In response to potential reproductive hazards and fetotoxins, the state of California (USA) passed a measure called the The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, which is better known by its ballot name, Proposition 65. This act attempts to regulate the use of carcinogens as well as fetotoxins and reproductive hazards. Products containing any of the 800 listed chemicals must carry a warning unless the exposure is low enough to pose no significant risk of cancer or is significantly below levels observed to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Further information can be found under Further Reading below.

The landmark 1991 Supreme Court case, United Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls, Inc involved an employer who barred women from knowingly working with fetotoxic lead metal. The court ruled this policy, despite its good intention of preventing fetal harm, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. The obvious implication is that employers should improve the safety of their workplaces instead.

SDS Relevance

Always minimize the use and release of fetotoxins (or believed fetotoxins) in the workplace. If you are of child-bearing age, and must work with such materials, make sure that your employer implements workplace controls that minimize or eliminate your exposure. Better yet, see if you can avoid working with such materials. You will find some very useful links about reproductive health issues in the workplace in Further Reading (below).

Safety Data Sheets are not required to carry Proposition 65 warnings. However, the products on that list must carry a warning statement that they contain substance(s) "known to the state of California to cause cancer" or"cause birth defects or other reproductive harm". For specific warnings see https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/sample-warnings-and-translations-businesses.

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Further Reading

• NIOSH has a great site on Reproductive Health And The Workplace.
• Workplace Chemical Hazards to Reproductive Health by the California Dept of Health Services Dept of Industrial Relations.
• The University of California at Davis has a page on Pregnancy and Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace: Physical and Biological Hazards (click on the download from Box link). Be sure to try the SafetyNets link as well.
• The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Prop 65 page explained.
• The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) maintains the Current Proposition 65 List.
• Proposition 65 FAQ at the State of California Department of Justice.
• Preconception Brief: Occupational/Environmental Exposures from Matern Child Health J. 2006 September; 10(Suppl 1): 123-128.
• Reproductive/Developmental toxicity, a PowerPoint presentation with some case studies and some technical aspects.
• The American Chemical Society's Committee on Chemical Safety has a short guidance document titled Developing Reproductive Protection Programs in Industrial and Academic Setting.
• Keeping safe during pregnancy, a background article on the following link:
• What to Expect When Expecting in Lab: A Review of Unique Risks and Resources for Pregnant Researchers in the Chemical Laboratory from Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2022, 35(2), pp 163-198 ().
• Summary of United Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls, 499 U.S. 187 (1991) at Justia.com

See also: mutagen, carcinogen, reproductive toxin.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

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