title: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics opinion on reproductive health impacts of exposure to toxic environmental chemicals.
abstract: Exposure to toxic environmental chemicals during pregnancy and breastfeeding is ubiquitous and is a threat to healthy human reproduction. There are tens of thousands of chemicals in global commerce, and even small exposures to toxic chemicals during pregnancy can trigger adverse health consequences. Exposure to toxic environmental chemicals and related health outcomes are inequitably distributed within and between countries; universally, the consequences of exposure are disproportionately borne by people with low incomes. Discrimination, other social factors, economic factors, and occupation impact risk of exposure and harm. Documented links between prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals and adverse health outcomes span the life course and include impacts on fertility and pregnancy, neurodevelopment, and cancer. The global health and economic burden related to toxic environmental chemicals is in excess of millions of deaths and billions of dollars every year. On the basis of accumulating robust evidence of exposures and adverse health impacts related to toxic environmental chemicals, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) joins other leading reproductive health professional societies in calling for timely action to prevent harm. FIGO recommends that reproductive and other health professionals advocate for policies to prevent exposure to toxic environmental chemicals, work to ensure a healthy food system for all, make environmental health part of health care, and champion environmental justice.
authors.affiliation: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.affiliation: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Conry
authors.affiliation: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: DeFrancesco
authors.affiliation: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DeNicola
authors.affiliation: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McCue
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK.
authors.forename: Abid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: tracey.woodruff@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sheryl Ziemin
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: van der Poel
authors.affiliation: American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Giudice
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Developmental health; Environmental chemicals; Reproductive environmental health; Toxic chemicals; Women's health