Maternal occupational exposure and congenital malformations

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Reproductive Toxicology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Occupational exposures are potential risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Congenital malformations represent a significant public health concern.
• Understanding the link between maternal occupation and birth defects is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal occupational exposure before and during pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations.
• To identify specific occupational exposures that may increase the risk of birth defects.

Main Methods:

• A case-referent study design was employed.
• 325 infants with major malformations (cases) and 325 normal infants (referents) were recruited from 15 maternity hospitals.
• Mothers were interviewed for occupational history, which was blindly reviewed by an industrial hygienist to assess chemical exposure probability.

Main Results:

• Mothers of infants with oral clefts showed a significantly higher exposure to solvents during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] 7.9, 90% confidence interval [90% CI] 1.8-44.9).
• Occupational exposure to solvents was also associated with digestive anomalies (OR 11.9, 90% CI 2.0-149) and multiple anomalies (OR 4.5, 90% CI 1.4-16.9).
• Working as a cleaner was more frequent among mothers of infants with oral clefts (four cases, no referents).

Conclusions:

• Occupational exposure to solvents during pregnancy may increase the risk of specific congenital malformations, including oral clefts, digestive anomalies, and multiple anomalies.
• The findings remained significant after adjusting for maternal age, area of residence, and socioeconomic status.
• This study underscores the importance of evaluating and mitigating occupational hazards for pregnant workers.