Developmental toxicity is any structural or functional alteration, reversible or irreversible, which interferes with
homeostasis,
normal growth,
differentiation,
development or behavior, and which is caused by environmental insult (including
drugs,
lifestyle factors such as
alcohol, diet, and environmental
toxic chemicals or physical factors).
Pathogens are generally included as well, despite some definitions not regarding
biological organism as "toxic" by themselves. Developmental toxicology is a science studying adverse developmental outcomes. This term has widely replaced the early term for the study of primarily structural
congenital abnormalities,
teratology, to enable inclusion of a more diverse spectrum of
congenital disorders.