Birth defects monitoring
Population monitoring of birth defects provides a means for detecting relative changes in their frequency. Many varied systems have been developed throughout the world since the thalidomide tragedy of the early 1960s. Although it is difficult to pinpoint specific teratogenic agents based on rises in rates of a particular defect or a constellation of defects, monitoring systems can provide clues for hypothesis testing in epidemiological investigations. International coordination of efforts in this area resulted in the founding of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS) in 1974. In this paper we will describe the functions and basic requirements of monitoring systems in general, and look at the development and activities of the ICBDMS. A review of known and suspected environmental teratogenic agents (eg, chemical, habitual, biological, physical, and nutritional) is also presented.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Israel
- OSTI ID:
- 5852491
- Journal Information:
- Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Vol. 4:1-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Epidemiologic study of neural tube defects in Los Angeles County. II. Etiologic factors in an area with low prevalence at birth
Interaction between epidemiology and laboratory sciences in the study of birth defects: Design of birth defects risk factor surveillance in metropolitan Atlanta
Related Subjects
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DATA ACQUISITION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
TERATOGENS
MALFORMATIONS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POPULATIONS
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550600 - Medicine