ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that relationship of environmental exposures and reproductive and developmental outcomes is complicated by the nature of these exposures and our limited ability to adequately measure them. The fields of developmental and reproductive toxicology have undergone great growth in the years since 1961 when thalidomide was first identified as a developmental toxicant. With increasing concern over environmental exposures and the growth in the number of sites of environmental concern, schemes to evaluate existing exposure data are being developed. The fields of developmental and reproductive toxicology have undergone great growth in the years since 1961 when thalidomide was first identified as a developmental toxicant. Reproductive effects of toxicants on women have been examined less frequently than have developmental effects on her offspring. Environmental and occupational toxicants of concern to humans are frequently examined in laboratory animals to determine their reproductive and developmental risk.
