INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS OF DRINKING WATER: IMPACT ON PREGNANCY OUTCOME AND RELATED CONGENITAL DEFECTS

Birth defects are characterized by structural and functional anomalies causing physical / physiological or mental disability at birth and some of which can be fatal also. It has been estimated that every year, approximately 7.9 million of infants are born with serious birth abnormalities and 3.2 million children are disabled for life. Birth defects are generally caused by several interrelated factors including physiologically produced endogenous and exogenous environmental toxins. Adverse pregnancy outcome due to environmental exposure to toxic chemicals may include congenital anomalies, increased risk for miscarriage, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and stillbirth. Environmental factors associated with birth defects include, in-utero exposure to toxic chemicals like, Arsenic, Cadmium, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury and Uranium ingested through contaminated drinking water. The exact mechanism by which these chemicals act is not fully understood. Although recent research reports suggesting that, induction of oxidative stress, macromolecular (DNA, RNA, Protein & Lipids) damage and disruption of the various vital endocrine & other signaling pathways are the major cause of pathogenesis. Drinking water gets contaminated with various non-essential inorganic toxic elements by natural and/or anthropogenic activities. Various non-essential elements, like arsenic, cadmium, fluoride, lead, mercury & uranium contaminate ground water and when consumed by the people unknowingly, put their adverse effects on maternal and child health. The present review summarizes epidemiological and experimental studies, which are related to environmental exposures with inorganic chemicals and its harmful effects on reproductive outcomes