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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Maternal periconceptional occupational exposure to pesticides and selected musculoskeletal birth defects.

Authors: Kielb, Christine; Lin, Shao; Herdt-Losavio, Michele; Bell, Erin; Chapman, Bonnie; Rocheleau, Carissa M; Lawson, Christina; Waters, Martha; Stewart, Patricia; Olney, Richard S; Romitti, Paul A; Cao, Yanyan; Druschel, Charlotte; National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Published In Int J Hyg Environ Health, (2014 Mar)

Abstract: This population-based U.S. study investigated the association between major musculoskeletal malformations and periconceptional maternal occupational pesticide exposure for a wide range of occupations. We conducted a multi-site case-control analysis using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study among employed women with due dates from October 1, 1997 through December 31, 2002. Cases included 871 live-born, stillborn, or electively terminated fetuses with isolated craniosynostosis, gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia, or transverse limb deficiencies. Controls included 2857 live-born infants without major malformations. Using self-reported maternal occupational information, an industrial hygienist used a job-exposure matrix and expert opinion to evaluate the potential for exposure to insecticides, herbicides or fungicides for each job held during one month pre-conception through three months post-conception. Exposures analyzed included any exposure (yes/no) to pesticides, to insecticides only, to both insecticides and herbicides (I+H) and to insecticides, herbicides and fungicides (I+H+F). We used logistic regression to evaluate the association between exposures and defects, controlling for infant and maternal risk factors. Occupational exposure to I+H+F was associated with gastroschisis among infants of women aged 20 years or older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-3.05), but not for women under age 20 (aOR=0.48; 95% CI: 0.20-1.16). We found no significant associations for the other defects. Additional research is needed to validate these findings in a separate population.

PubMed ID: 23871272 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: No MeSH terms associated with this publication

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