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Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR)

The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), a division of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), was formed in 1998 to provide environmental reproductive health information. CERHR publishes monographs that evaluate the effects of various chemicals, substances and mixtures on human reproductive health.

  1. Bisphenol A

    • Bisphenol A is used to soften a number of plastic products. As a result of NTP research, bisphenol A, or BPA, was recently banned from many baby and children's products. The NTP found reasons for moderate concern over a number of risks, including risks to human reproduction. In addition to reproductive problems, there was concern over brain and behavioral changes due to exposure to BPA.

    Bromopropanes

    • There are two common types of bromopropanes. 2 bromopropane is a halogenated propane analoue used to replace banned chlorofluorocarbons. A South Korean group study of the effects of bromopropanes on fetuses found an increase in weight- and growth-related problems with newborns exposed to bromopropanes. Extreme exposure resulted in problems ranging from skeletal abnormalities to fetal death. In addition to this Korean study, CERHR offers monographs on the effects of bromopropanes on human reproduction.

    Methanol

    • Reproductive Toxicology published a report that varying amounts of methanol fed to pregnant rats resulted in varying birth abnormalities and defects up to and including death of the fetus. CERHR reports no effects in very low concentrations, but increasing potential effects as methanol exposure during pregnancy increases.

    Phthalates

    • Phthalates describes a range of compounds, including butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, di-n-hexyl phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate. Phthalates are usually used as plastic softeners and are ubiquitous in modern life. They have been linked to cancer, and exposure during certain critical times of gestation has been linked to fetal-development problems. CERHR offers a number of reports on many different types of phthalates.

    Fluoxetine

    • Fluoxetine, often sold as a prescription anti-depressant under the brand name Prozac, has been shown by NTP-CERHR studies to have negative side effects and be potentially toxic to fetuses when taken by pregnant women in therapeutic doses. Problems include shortened gestation times and poor adaptation of newborn babies.

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