Evaluation of reports of periconceptual occupational exposure: maternal-assessed versus industrial hygienist-assessed exposure

Eric P Bauer; Paul A Romitti; Stephen J. Reynolds

doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199911)36:5<573::AID-AJIM9>3.0.CO;2-L

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Evaluation of reports of periconceptual occupational exposure: maternal-assessed versus industrial hygienist-assessed exposure

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Evaluation of reports of periconceptual occupational exposure: maternal-assessed versus industrial hygienist-assessed exposure

Eric P Bauer, Paul A Romitti and Stephen J. Reynolds

American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.36(5), pp.573-578

11/1999

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199911)36:5<573::AID-AJIM9>3.0.CO;2-L

PMID: 10506739

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Abstract

While the number of women entering the work force has grown, so has the importance of investigating occupational reproductive hazards. The objective of this study was to examine the concordance between maternal-assessed and industrial hygienist-assessed exposure to four classes of occupational agents - video display terminals, paints, solvents, and agricultural chemicals. Case (n=87) and control (n=102) mothers who participated in a population-based study of orofacial clefts provided occupational histories and exposure (yes/no) to selected classes of agents for the one-year period prior to their child's delivery. Two industrial hygienists reviewed the occupational histories and assigned mothers an exposure status for each class of agent. Using industrial hygienist-assessed exposure as the "gold standard", sensitivity and specificity of maternal reports were calculated for each class of agent. Kappa statistics were calculated for the study population to account for chance agreement between the two exposure assessment methods. Sensitivity estimates for cases were the highest for video display terminals (77%) and lowest for agricultural chemicals (14%). Respective estimates for controls were 74% and 14%. Specificity estimates tended to be high for both groups. Kappa values ranged from 0.16-0.45. With regard to the classes of agents examined, these data suggest screening questions alone may not be the preferred method of obtaining occupational exposure histories, even when the time period of interest is fairly short and recent.

Occupational Health

Single-Blind Method

Confidence Intervals

Agrochemicals - adverse effects

Computer Terminals

Humans

Occupational Exposure

Self-Assessment

Solvents - adverse effects

Mothers

Case-Control Studies

Time Factors

Cleft Palate - etiology

Sensitivity and Specificity

Paint - adverse effects

Adult

Female

Population Surveillance

Evaluation Studies as Topic

Cleft Lip - etiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Evaluation of reports of periconceptual occupational exposure: maternal-assessed versus industrial hygienist-assessed exposure
Creators: Eric P Bauer - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1000, USA
Paul A Romitti
Stephen J. Reynolds
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.36(5), pp.573-578
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199911)36:5<573::AID-AJIM9>3.0.CO;2-L
PMID: 10506739
ISSN: 0271-3586
eISSN: 1097-0274
Grant note: DE09170 / NIDCR NIH HHS DE05700 / NIDCR NIH HHS DE08554 / NIDCR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/1999
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Biostatistics
Record Identifier: 9983995118902771

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