Prenatal Origins of Endocrine Disruption

Critical Windows of Development

for the beginner

The Critical Windows of Development timeline shows us that scientists have developed a large body of research on the outcomes of low dose exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

First we show you a picture of what normal development from fertilization to birth looks like.  Then you can move the cursor into the upper right hand corner of the picture and simply put a check in a box next to the chemical you're interested in. You'll immediately see red lines appear in all the body's systems where effects have been found in laboratory animals.

If you choose to click a triangle and read more about the studies, you'll probably be surprised at how detailed the findings are. Once scientists find out that a chemical makes a lab animal fat, or to have tumors, or unable to reproduce, they immediately want to know why. They begin studying things like whether certain cells developed abnormally or whether they develop at all. This quickly becomes 'too much information' for the average person.  

Rest assured you do not have to spend much time reading what is in the pop-ups, neither do you have to understand all the science to get the message behind the timeline. The point is that we know enough about these chemicals to know that we should avoid them. Although they are impossible to avoid completely, there are many things you can do to prevent the worst exposures and start reducing your use of them in your homes, offices, schools, yards, malls or wherever you might be.

Unfortunately, these chemicals do cross the placental barrier, which is why prevention must begin in the womb. Know, however, that there is also a large body of research on adult exposures, and some of these chemicals persist in our bodies for years or even decades. Therefore it is just as important for children and adults to protect themselves.  And it is most important for women to be able to reduce their exposure prior to and during pregnancy and lactation, in order to reduce the contamination of the womb and breast milk.

Click here to View the Timeline (The timeline opens in a separate window and may take a minute to load).

Click here for more information on how you can protect yourself and those you love.