Outcome of pregnancy in leatherworkers

A recent proposal that leatherworkers might face a reproductive hazard was tested using data from a large survey in Montreal of occupational factors in pregnancy. The outcome of pregnancy in almost 400 women employed in the manufacture of leather products, some 6000 employed in other types of manufacture, and nearly 50 000 employed but not in manufacture were compared. There was little difference between the groups in the rates of congenital malformation and spontaneous abortion, but the leatherworkers had a significant excess of stillbirths without defect (eight observed compared with fewer than three expected). The possibility of a fetotoxic agent--perhaps a constituent of glues or cements--should be investigated in the leather industry.