Common teratogens

Teratogens

Any factor that can cause a birth defect.

Rubella

Blindness, deafness, heart defects, brain damage

Marijuana

Irritability, nervousness, tremors; infant is easily disturbed, startled

Cocaine

Decreased height, low birth weight, respiratory problems, seizures, learning difficulties; infant is difficult to soothe.

Alcohol

Fetal alcohol syndrome (mental retardation, delete growth, facial malformation), Learning difficulties, smaller than normal head size

Nicotine

Miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth, short stature, mental retardation, learning disabilities

Mercury

Mental retardation, blindness

Syphilis

Mental retardation, deafness, meningitis

Caffeine

Miscarriage, low birth weight

Radiation

Higher incidence of cancers, physical deformities

High water temperatures

Increased chance of Neural tube defects