Journal article
Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: effects on gastroschisis among offspring in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Environmental health perspectives, Vol.120(6), pp.910-915
06/2012
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104305
PMCID: PMC3385431
PMID: 22330681
Abstract
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurs in many occupational settings. There is evidence in animal models that maternal exposure to PAHs during pregnancy is associated with gastroschisis in offspring; however, to our knowledge, no human studies examining this association have been conducted.
Our goal was to conduct a case-control study assessing the association between estimated maternal occupational exposure to PAHs and gastroschisis in offspring.
Data from gastroschisis cases and control infants were obtained from the population-based National Birth Defects Prevention Study for the period 1997-2002. Exposure to PAHs was assigned by industrial hygienist consensus, based on self-reported maternal occupational histories from 1 month before conception through the third month of pregnancy. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between estimated occupational PAH exposure and gastroschisis among children whose mothers were employed for at least 1 month during the month before conception through the third month of pregnancy.
The prevalence of estimated occupational PAH exposure was 9.0% in case mothers (27 of 299) and 3.6% in control mothers (107 of 2,993). Logistic regression analyses indicated a significant association between occupational PAHs and gastroschisis among mothers ≥ 20 years of age [odds ratio (OR) = 2.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27, 5.04] after adjusting for maternal body mass index, education, gestational diabetes, and smoking. This association was not seen in mothers < 20 years (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.55, 2.33), which is notable because although young maternal age is the strongest known risk factor for gastroschisis, most cases are born to mothers ≥ 20 years.
Our findings indicate an association between occupational exposure to PAHs among mothers who are ≥ 20 years and gastroschisis. These results contribute to a body of evidence that PAHs may be teratogenic.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: effects on gastroschisis among offspring in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Creators
- Philip J Lupo - Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. Philip.J.Lupo@uth.tmc.eduPeter H LangloisJennita ReefhuisChristina C LawsonElaine SymanskiTania A DesrosiersZeina G KhodrA J AgopianMartha A WatersKara N DuweRichard H FinnellLaura E MitchellCynthia A MoorePaul A RomittiGary M ShawNational Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental health perspectives, Vol.120(6), pp.910-915
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1289/ehp.1104305
- PMID
- 22330681
- PMCID
- PMC3385431
- ISSN
- 0091-6765
- eISSN
- 1552-9924
- Grant note
- U01 DD000494 / NCBDD CDC HHS U01DD000494 / NCBDD CDC HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2012
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Biostatistics
- Record Identifier
- 9983995175402771
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