Journal de la grossesse et de la santé infantile

Abstrait

Neurobehavioural Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol

Garcia-Algar O, Carballo L, Reguart N and Salat-Batlle J

Neurodevelopmental disabilities seem to be increasing in frequency and industrial chemicals (lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, toluene, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, polybrominateddiphenil ethers) that injure the developing brain are among the known causes for this rise in prevalence. (1) These substances have been identified as developmental neurotoxicants. Grandjean and Landrigan postulated that even more neurotoxicants remain undiscovered and proposed a global prevention strategy. (1) However, we must consider that the intimate prenatal environment is maternal uterus. So, not only maternal environmental chemicals but also maternal prenatal exposure or consumption of substances of abuse (nicotine, alcohol and drugs of abuse) that must be considered as developmental toxicants. Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the most prevalent and unrecognized cause of neurobehavioural deleterious effects around the world. (2) The proposed global prevention strategies must include to avoid the consumption of these substances of abuse during pregnancy.