Teratogens are easily classified in three different groups, these being drugs, disease and environmental. These three classifications are very broad. To be slightly more specific some commonly heard of agents classified as teratogens are given as examples. Agents classified as drugs, include prescription, non-prescription and illegal. Some frequently heard of conditions requiring prescription drugs that are known teratogens are diabetes, hypertension, and Anxiety. Other commonly heard of non-prescription and illegal teratogens are cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, and marijuana. Environmental teratogens are agents that are man made or a product of industry. Some well-known teratogens are Lead, mercury, PCB's, radiation and arsenic. Lastly, we have teratogens due to disease. Some diseases known to cause prenatal complications are HIV, herpes, Rubella, and

Syphilis. This information is very common and is all provided within the college text book and from research found by the University Hospital School of Iowa.

Exposure to medications or drugs during pregnancy can result in abnormalities such as withdrawal symptom, respiratory problems, growth retardation, developmental retardation, congenital heart defects, caudal deficiency and CNS defects. Known prenatal birth defects resulting from environmental toxins such as Lead, mercury or PCB's are miscarriage, CNS damage, spasticity, mental retardation, skin discoloration and low birth weight. Only some defects resulting from diseases are listed, these are CNS disease, neonatal death, failure to thrive, infection, miscarriage, abnormal teeth, limb reduction, hearing impairment and mental deficiency. Research provided from the University of Dakota support these results to teratogens. The University of Dakota and The University of Michigan suggest that conditions resulting from exposure to teratogens can vary in severity depending on factors such as age and prolonged exposure.

important for the budding psychologist or student in order understand why some children are born with birth defects and learning disabilities. I have to place a great deal of caution about relaying on information provided from unaccredited sources. Trusting information gathered from random studies can cause unnecessary concern or ignorance

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