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Fetal death and work in pregnancy
A D McDonald1, J C McDonald, B Armstrong
1Institut de Recherche en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail du Québec, Montréal, Canada.
British Journal of Industrial Medicine
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Occupational exposures like physical stress and chemical solvents are linked to increased risks of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Women in sales, services, agriculture, and manufacturing face higher risks.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Reproductive Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Previous research indicates potential links between occupational exposures and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted workplace safety interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between specific working conditions and the risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.
- To identify occupational groups and exposures associated with increased fetal death ratios.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 22,613 previous pregnancies from 56,067 women, focusing on those employed >= 30 hours/week at conception.
- Logistic regression was used to calculate observed (O) to expected (E) fetal death ratios, controlling for seven non-occupational confounding variables.
- Data were analyzed across 60 occupational groups and six main sectors, considering physical demands, environmental conditions, and chemical exposures.
Main Results:
- Elevated O/E ratios for abortion were observed in the sales (1.13) and services (1.11) sectors. Stillbirth ratios were higher in the sales sector (1.50).
- Significantly increased late abortion ratios were found for operating room nurses (2.92), radiology technicians (3.82), and agriculture/horticulture employees (2.40). Stillbirth ratios were also raised in these groups, notably in agriculture/horticulture (5.55).
- Physical stress (weight lifting, effort, standing) was linked to increased abortion ratios. Increased stillbirth ratios were associated with physical effort and vibration. Exposure to solvents in manufacturing showed a nearly two-fold increase in stillbirth risk and a 20% increase in abortion risk.
Conclusions:
- Certain occupational exposures, including significant physical demands and chemical solvents, are associated with increased risks of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.
- Specific occupations such as sales, services, healthcare (nurses, technicians), agriculture, and manufacturing (solvent exposure) require further attention for reproductive health risks.
- The findings underscore the importance of evaluating and mitigating occupational hazards to protect pregnant workers' health.