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Occupational Exposure during Pregnancy and Effects on Newborns: A Nested Case-Control Study.
Gabriele Donzelli1,2, Beatriz Marcos-Puig3, Isabel Peraita-Costa4,5
1Institute of Clinical Physiology of the National Research Council (CNR-IFC), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Occupational risks during pregnancy, including physical and chemical exposures, can impact maternal and newborn health. Physical risks were associated with lower newborn arterial PO2 levels, highlighting the need for workplace safety measures.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Evidence-based protection for pregnant workers requires understanding reproductive health risks from occupational exposures.
- This study aimed to identify maternal and newborn health effects linked to various occupational risk exposures during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of occupational exposures on maternal and newborn health outcomes.
- To provide evidence for planning preventive actions for women's reproductive health in the workplace.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 399 women from Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain, was interviewed.
- Data collected included maternal and newborn health indicators, and umbilical cord blood gas analysis.
- Associations between workplace exposures (biological, chemical, physical) and health effects were examined.
Main Results:
- 138 women faced biological/chemical risks, 122 physical risks, and 139 no risks.
- Significantly fewer women exposed to biological/chemical risks used in vitro fertilization (p=0.047).
- Neonates of mothers exposed to physical risks had lower mean arterial PO2 (p=0.027) compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- Findings support targeted preventive strategies for occupational reproductive health.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and additional factors is recommended.
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