ABSTRACT
Drugs or chemicals that induce structural malformations, physical dysfunction, behavioral alterations, or genetic deficiencies in the fetus, or impair fertility, are referred to as teratogens. Fetal development involves the gradual establishment and modification of anatomical structures from its beginning at fertilization to maturity. Postnatal development begins at birth and progresses to maturity. The first trimester is the period corresponding to embryonic and early fetal development. The main events occurring during the first trimester include: cleavage, implantation, placentation, and embryogenesis. The second trimester corresponds to the third to the sixth month of gestation and is characterized by rapid fetal development of organs and systems. An Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) is “an exogenous chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that interferes with endogenous hormonal action". Naturally occurring EDCs, such as the phytoestrogens genistein and coumestrol, are occasionally found in human and animal foods. EDCs target and modulate the endocrine system, which comprises a series of secretory glands and their hormonal secretions.
