Final answer:
DES is a known teratogen partially linked to increased risks of cervical cancer and reproductive health issues. The onset of cancer as early as age 8 is less typical, with adverse effects generally manifesting later. DES may also affect brain development, though evidence is less clear.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about Diethylstilbestrol (DES) being a known teratogen is partially true. DES is indeed a synthetic form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 in pregnant women to prevent miscarriages and premature deliveries. However, it was later found to cause a rare form of cervical cancer and other significant adverse health effects in female offspring, including teratogenic impacts, such as vaginal and cervical structural changes and reproductive issues.
Regarding the part of the question that states DES increases the risk of cervical cancer as early as age 8, this claim is partially true. While the risk does increase, manifestations of cancer typically occur later in life rather than as early as age 8. However, exposure to DES during fetal development is associated with a higher lifetime risk of developing certain cancers.
About the effects on brain development, there is some evidence to suggest that prenatally DES-exposed female offspring may exhibit neurological changes, yet the research is less definitive on these claims compared to those regarding cancer and reproductive health.