Environmental Health

Reducing exposure to toxic environmental agents is a critical area of intervention for ob-gyns.

Our Position

Exposure to environmental chemicals and metals in air, water, soil, food, and consumer products is ubiquitous. Pregnant women’s exposure to harmful chemicals can cross the placenta, and in some cases can accumulate in the fetus, resulting in higher fetal than maternal exposure.

Robust scientific evidence has emerged over the past several years demonstrating that pre-pregnancy and prenatal environmental exposures can have a profound and lasting impact on reproductive health across the life course.

Further, climate change has a disproportionate effect on global women’s health, and evidence suggests that climate change can exacerbate the already significant environmental toxin risks to fetal health and the health of future generations.

ACOG advocates for full implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended by the Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (TSCA), with a careful eye toward preserving the health of pregnant women, infants, and children.

In addition, ACOG supports federal efforts to address the health impacts of climate change and continued federal funding for the CDC National Center for Environmental Health.