Public drinking water contamination and birth outcomes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Reproductive Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Public drinking water quality is crucial for maternal and infant health.
• Previous studies have suggested potential links between water contaminants and adverse birth outcomes.
• Northern New Jersey experienced specific water contamination events during the study period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between public drinking water contamination and birth outcomes in northern New Jersey.
• To identify specific contaminants and their potential impact on fetal development.
• To provide data for further investigation into waterborne teratogens.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study of 80,938 live births and 594 fetal deaths from 1985-1988.
• Utilized vital records and the New Jersey Birth Defects Registry for birth outcome and maternal risk factor data.
• Estimated monthly exposure to contaminants like trihalomethanes, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethylene during pregnancy using tap water data.

Main Results:

• Elevated odds ratios (≥1.50) for adverse birth outcomes were associated with several contaminants, including total trihalomethanes, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, and benzene.
• Specific associations included small for gestational age, central nervous system defects, oral cleft defects, neural tube defects, and major cardiac defects.
• Total trihalomethane levels exceeding 100 ppb were linked to a 70.4 g reduction in birth weight among term births.

Conclusions:

• The study identified potential associations between specific drinking water contaminants and adverse birth outcomes in northern New Jersey.
• While associations were observed, this study alone cannot establish a causal relationship.
• Further research using comprehensive drinking water contamination databases is recommended to confirm these findings and explore causality.