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Effects of Prenatal Irradiation on Postnatal Psychophysiological Development

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Handbook of Behavioral Teratology

Abstract

Ionizing radiation is a well-established teratogen. For almost 50 years, it has been known to cause congenital malformations (Job, Leibold, & Fitzmaurice, 1935). Only recently, nonionizing radiation has been observed to cause birth defects. The method of action of this form of radiation appears to be related to heat stress, which is itself a well-known teratogen. A discussion of this phenomenon has been presented in numerous papers (Edwards, 1968, 1969; Fernandez-Cano, 1958; Howarth, 1969; Hsu, 1948). This chapter describes the nature of ionizing and nonionizing radiation and presents a review of the literature concerning postnatal behavioral alterations induced by prenatal exposure to radiation.

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Jensh, R.P. (1986). Effects of Prenatal Irradiation on Postnatal Psychophysiological Development. In: Riley, E.P., Vorhees, C.V. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral Teratology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2189-7_19

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