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Congenital malformations, mortality and styrene exposure
Insights
This study found no increased risk of congenital malformations in children born to styrene-exposed workers. Worker mortality and cancer rates were also lower than expected, despite some cancers appearing early in exposure.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Styrene exposure is common in reinforced plastic manufacturing.
- Concerns exist regarding potential reproductive and long-term health effects of styrene exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring of styrene-exposed workers.
- To assess the mortality rates, including cancer incidence, among styrene-exposed workers.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2,209 workers (1,698 men, 511 women) from 160 workplaces manufacturing reinforced plastic products was studied.
- Worker exposure histories dated back to 1960, with most exposure after 1967.
- Data on children's congenital malformations were linked with a national register; worker mortality was tracked.
Main Results:
- The incidence of congenital malformations in children born to exposed workers was below expected values, both before and during parental styrene exposure.
- The cohort experienced 37 observed deaths, significantly lower than the expected 74.0.
- Six cancer deaths were observed (expected 13.0), with specific sites including stomach, bronchus, breast, ovary, and kidney. No lymphatic or hematopoietic cancers were found.
- Most observed cancers occurred after short exposure durations and relatively soon after exposure began.
Conclusions:
- Styrene exposure in this cohort did not appear to increase the risk of congenital malformations in offspring.
- Overall worker mortality and cancer incidence were lower than expected, suggesting a potential healthy worker effect or other confounding factors.
- The observed cancer patterns warrant further investigation, particularly the timing relative to exposure onset.
Abstract:
The prevalence of congenital malformations among children born to styrene-exposed male and female workers, as well as the mortality of the exposed workers, was studied. A cohort of 2,209 workers (1,698 men, 511 women) was selected from the personnel files of 160 workplaces using styrene in the manufacture of reinforced plastic products. The earliest exposure histories began in 1960, but the majority of workers had been exposed after 1967. The data on children born to the exposed workers were linked with those of the Register of Congenital Malformations. The number of malformations of children born to the workers was, both before and during the styrene exposure, below the expected values. In the cohort there were 37 observed deaths (expected 74.0), six of which were due to cancer (expected 13.0). The cancer sites were the stomach (2 cases), bronchus (1), breast (1), ovary (1), and kidney (1 case). There were no cases of lymphatic or haematopoietic cancer. Most of the cancers appeared after short exposure times and soon after the commencement of exposure.