Laboratory work and pregnancy outcome

• Published in: Journal of occupational medicine Vol. 36; no. 3; p. 311
• Main Authors: Taskinen, H, Kyyrönen, P, Hemminki, K, Hoikkala, M, Lajunen, K, Lindbohm, M L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1994
• Subjects: Abortion, Spontaneous - chemically induced; Abortion, Spontaneous - epidemiology; Adult; Birth Weight; Case-Control Studies; Congenital Abnormalities - epidemiology; Female; Finland; Formaldehyde - adverse effects; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Medical Laboratory Personnel; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Odds Ratio; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Toluene - adverse effects; Xylenes - adverse effects; Finland
• ISSN: 0096-1736
• DOI: 10.1097/00043764-199403000-00008

Spontaneous abortions among women working in laboratories, and congenital malformations and birth weights of the children were examined in a retrospective case-referent study. In the spontaneous abortion study there were 535 women (206 cases and 329 referents), and in the malformation study 141 women (36 cases and 105 referents). The analysis of the birth weights concerned 500 women (referents). Significant associations with spontaneous abortion were found for exposure to toluene (odds ratio [OR], 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 15.9), xylene (OR 3.1, CI 1.3 to 7.5) and formalin (OR 3.5, CI 1.1 to 11.2) > or = 3 days a week, adjusted for the covariates. Most of the women exposed to formalin and xylene were working in pathology or histology laboratories. No association with congenital malformation was found.