Teratogenic active avoidance

Caffeine, which is present in coffee, tea, cocoa and cola, but also in various over-the-counter medications, has been shown to be clearly teratogenic in rats in doses comparable to those ingested daily by many people (refs. 30, 47, 55). Vest et al. (ref. 47) found that a dose as small as 5 mg/kg caffeine (comparable to the content of 4 cups of coffee) administered on gestational days 3-19 in the rat, affected not only physical development (e.g. delayed incisor eruption in males and females, vaginal opening in females, slower growing body weight) but also development of the auditory startle reflex, food and water intake, passive and active avoidance at adult age. 

Methotrexate, an antimetabolite, is indicated for moderate to severe psoriasis. It is particularly beneficial for psoriatic arthritis. It is also indicated for patients refractory to topical or UV therapy. Methotrexate can be administered orally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly. The starting dose is 7.5 to 15 mg per week, increased incrementally by 2.5 mg every 2 to 4 weeks until response maximal doses are approximately 25 mg/wk. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, mucosal ulceration, stomatitis, malaise, headache, macrocytic anemia, and hepatic and pulmonary toxicity. Nausea and macrocytic anemia can be ameliorated by giving oral folic acid 1 to 5 mg/day. Methotrexate should be avoided in patients with active infections and in those with liver disease. It is contraindicated in pregnancy because it is teratogenic. 

AAF is classified as a cytotoxic teratogen. Because of demonstrated carcinogenicity in animals, contact by all routes should be avoided. In recent years this compound has been used only in laboratories as a model of tumorigenic activity in animals. It is of little occupational health importance. 

Most PAH probably do not present a threat to fish survival, except at high concentrations (Table 5.5). Exposure to chronic/sublethal levels of aromatics has been implicated in a reduction in growth and fecundity of several species (Moles etal., 1981). There may also be behavioral abnormalities such as loss of equilibrium, avoidance of mildly contaminated water, and increase in spontaneous activity. Since many aromatics are mutagens/ teratogens, developmental abnormalities are often reported for treated fish. 

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