4. How do chemicals affect the foetus?
The placental barrier in women consists of a triple layer of cells through which substances present in the mother's blood must pass to reach the fetus. It is relatively impermeable to high-molecular-weight chemicals (< 1,000 daltons). It does, however, allow small substances (nanomaterials) with low molecular weight (MW) to pass through. Most drugs have a PM of less than 500 daltons.
The most rapid transplacental passage occurs for lipophilic, non-ionized substances at physiological pH (pH 7). Water-soluble substances pass through hydrophilic capillaries (aquaporins). Their passage depends on molecule size (PM less than 800 daltons).
The human placenta appears to contain an enzymatic system that biotransforms xenobiotics.
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How do chemicals affect the foetus?
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