Researchers, employees, and students may work with biological agents that are known or suspected of posing a hazard to human reproduction and its outcome in laboratories, healthcare, and animal care environments.
This table of common biological hazards also includes recommendations to reduce exposure. Additional methods to control exposures are discussed in Section 4.0 of the Reproductive and Developmental Health Program. Please note that this list is by no means non-exhaustive. If you have questions or concerns about a specific biological agent, please reach out to your healthcare provider, EHS department, or to the SU Occupational Health Center.
Please refer to Footnotes for control measures.
Looking for chemical reproductive hazards? Click here.
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Borrelia Burgdorferi Material Safety Data Sheets
Reproductive Hazards
Can lead to infection of the placenta and can cause stillbirth.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposable gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Campylobacter species
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Campylobacter species
Reproductive Hazards
If contacted during pregnancy, the exposure may lead to intrauterine infection of the fetus, abortion, stillbirth, or early neonatal death.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposable gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis)
Reproductive Hazards
May have adverse effects on the fetus such as spontaneous abortion or premature delivery if contracted during pregnancy.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biological safety cabinet (BSC), full coverage protective clothing, disposable gloves, safety glasses, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Chlamydia trachomatis
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Chlamydia trachomatis
Reproductive Hazards
Infection may result in pregnancy complications, such as abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, and intrauterine fetal infections.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposable gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Coxiella burnetti (Q fever)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Coxiella burnetti (Q fever)
Reproductive Hazards
Infection during pregnancy may result in abortion, stillbirth, low birthweight, and preterm labor.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biological safety cabinet (BSC), full coverage protective clothing with tight fitting wrists, disposable gloves, safety glasses,appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes . Certain activities may require respiratory protection or additional PPE–please consult EHS.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Reproductive Hazards
Teratogen, congenital infection, can cause birth defects, vision and hearing problems.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes .
COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2
Reproductive Hazards
May be associated with a high incidence of adverse maternal and neonatal complications, such as spontaneous miscarriage, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination7, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, closed toe shoes, may require respiratory protection6.
Hepatitis B virus
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Hepatitis B virus
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission, fetal infection, low birth weight
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination7, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Hepatitis E virus
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Hepatitis E virus
Reproductive Hazards
Pregnant women in the second or third trimester are at increased risk of acute liver failure, fetal loss, and mortality.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Reproductive Hazards
Affects fertility, can result in an increased risk of vertical transmission from mother to the unborn child or via breast feeding.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Availability of prophylaxis, biological safety cabinet (BSC), full coverage protective clothing with tight fitting wrists, disposable gloves, safety glasses, appropriate street attire,closed toe shoes, may require respiratory protection.6
Leishmania spp. Leishmaniasis (protozoa)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Leishmania spp. Leishmaniasis (protozoa)
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission, severe anemia, miscarriage, premature delivery with low birth weight, and postpartum hemorrhage
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Leptospira interrogans (Leptospirosis)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Leptospira interrogans (Leptospirosis)
Reproductive Hazards
Can cause fetal complications including fetal death or abortion.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Listeria monocytogenes (Listeriosis)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Listeria monocytogenes (Listeriosis)
Reproductive Hazards
Occurs mostly during the third trimester, may lead to intrauterine infection of the fetus, spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, low birth weight, fetal death.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy. May cause miscarriage or birth defects.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biological safety cabinet (BSC), full coverage protective clothing with tight fitting wrists, disposable gloves, closed toe shoes, safety glasses, appropriate street attire, may require respiratory protection. 5,6
Paramyxovirus (Mumps)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Paramyxovirus (Mumps)
Reproductive Hazards
May lead to abortion in early pregnancy.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination7, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Human parvovirus (Fifth disease)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Human parvovirus (Fifth disease)
Reproductive Hazards
Low risk may result in anemia leading to miscarriage.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria)
Reproductive Hazards
May cause anemia and maternal death, miscarriage, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low-birth-weight neonates, and neonatal death.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Prophylaxis treatment, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Rubella virus (German measles)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Rubella virus (German measles)
Reproductive Hazards
Teratogen, increased risk in first trimester (first 12 weeks) ocular, cardiovascular, central nervous system defects, deafness, and intrauterine growth retardation.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination7, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Rubeola virus (Measles)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Rubeola virus (Measles)
Reproductive Hazards
May cause spontaneous abortion, premature labor, low birth weight, and possibly maternal death.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination7, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis)
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission, preterm delivery, low birth weight, still birth.
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Treponema pallidum (Syphilis)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Treponema pallidum (Syphilis)
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Varicella zoster (Chickenpox)
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Varicella zoster (Chickenpox)
Reproductive Hazards
Preterm birth, fetus may develop congenital varicella syndrome
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Vaccination, biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Zika Virus
Pathogen Safety Data Sheet Link: Zika Virus
Reproductive Hazards
Vertical transmission, increased risk of preterm birth, fetal death, still birth, and congenital Zika syndrome
Control Measures1,2,3,4,5
Biosafety cabinets (BSC), lab coat, safety glasses, disposal gloves, appropriate street attire, closed toe shoes.
Footnote & Citations
Note:
1 Always wash hands after glove removal, as gloves are not a replacement for hand washing.
2 Safety glasses should be ANSI approved.
3 Good hygiene practices such as washing hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and running water.
4 The use of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects should be strictly limited. Do NOT Bend, Shear, Re-cap, or Remove needles from syringes. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals or large-scale activities.
5 Centrifugation of infected materials must be carried out in closed containers placed in sealed safety cups, or in rotors that are loaded or unloaded in a biological safety cabinet.
6 May need respiratory protection. Reach out to EHS for a PPE assessment.
7 Some vaccines may be contraindicated during pregnancy.
Complete the reproductive health hazard questionnaire below and email the completed questionnaire to EH&S Laboratory Safety Program via secure email (add “Secure:” to the subject line of the email) addressed to secure-repro-dev-health@lists.stanford.edu.
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk.
References
Antinori, S., Milazzo, L., Behring, A., Caloni, B., & Meroni, L. (2024). Visceral leishmaniasis during pregnancy: A case report. Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1380
Boston University. (2023). Laboratory Reproductive Health Hazards Guidance Document. https://www.bu.edu/research/ethics-compliance/safety/laboratory-safety/laboratory-reproductive-health-hazards-guidance-document/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2024). About Infectious Agents and Reproductive Health https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/reproductive-health/prevention/infectious.html
Lessenger E. J, Goldberg L. R and Janssen S (2006). Agriculture Medicine. A Practical Guide. Chapter 36 Reproductive Hazards. (pg., 507-519).
Mother to Baby. (2024). Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Exposures information. https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/
National Institute of Health (NIH). (2021). What infections can affect pregnancy? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/infections
NIOSH. (1999) The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-104/pdfs/99-104.pdf
Schantz-Dunn. J, and Nour M.N. (2009). Malaria and Pregnancy: A Global Health Perspective Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2(3): 186–192.
Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDS). (2024). https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment.html
University of Washington. (2022). Biological Reproductive Hazards https://www.ehs.washington.edu/system/files/resources/biological-reproductive-hazards.pdf
