Why Pregnancy?
By Annabelle
EDCs can have various impacts during pregnancy, leading to potential negative health outcomes for babies. Here, understand how babies are exposed to EDCs pre conception as EDCs cross the placental barrier, and why EDC exposure during pregnancy can harm child development.
Mechanism for Placental Barrier Crossing
Evidence that shows that EDCs pass can pass the placental barrier in some way, but the mechanism of this transport is scarcely understood. The transport mechanism involved may depend on the type of EDC and the structure, with differences in specific parts of the chemical structure called polar groups and alkylated side chains, that might play a factor in EDC transport (1). EDCs can also affect different tissues once they pass through the placenta and reach the fetus (1). Some studies have also hypothesized various possible mechanisms for EDC transport to the placenta. One might involve thyroid hormones, which are regulators of placental development. Exposure to Pthalate, one common EDC, is associated with the down regulation of thyroid hormone receptor genes (1). This means the thyroid hormone response might reduce which could affect important biological pathways important to maintaining function of our hormones and endocrine system. Other research shows how environmental exposure influences process called DNA methylation, which can disrupt placental development and function (1).
Developmental Windows
EDCs have more pronounced effects on offspring during stages of development known as “critical windows.” Since EDCs are affecting hormone balance in the body, they have more significant effects when hormones are going through more pronounced development (2). One of these periods is during pregnancy when the baby is developing. Tissue maturation in multiple organ systems occurs during his window, so exposure to EDCs is more sensitive during this period (2).
