Maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents during early pregnancy and selected congenital anomalies

Background: As more women enter the labor force, there is increased epidemiologic interest in the possible effects of employment and occupational exposures on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, we examined the prevalence and patterns of maternal employment before and during pregnancy, and examined the relation between maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents during the periconceptional period (first trimester and month before conception) and neural tube defects (NTDs) and orofacial clefts (OFCs), which toxicological data suggest may be susceptible to oxidative stressors like solvents. Methods: Cases of NTDs (anencephaly; spina bifida; encephalocele) and OFCs (cleft lip [plus or minus] cleft palate; cleft palate) delivered between 1997 and 2002 were identified by birth defect surveillance registries in 8 states; non-malformed control infants were selected using birth certificates or hospital records. Exposure to aromatic, chlorinated and Stoddard solvents were estimated by industrial hygienist review of self-reported occupational histories in combination with a literature-derived exposure database. We used employment dates to examine variability in employment status and estimated exposure prevalence to any solvent across different time periods before and during pregnancy among controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between solvent class and each birth defect group and component phenotype were estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, pre-pregnancy body mass index, folic acid supplement use and smoking. Results: Over 70% of mothers worked at some point 3 months before and during pregnancy; employment status was not constant throughout pregnancy for 25% of these women. The prevalence of estimated exposure to any solvent during the periconceptional period among mothers of NTD cases (n=511), OFC cases (n=1163) and controls (n=2997) was 13.1%, 9.6% and 8.2%, respectively. No solvent class was associated with OFCs in these data. Exposure to chlorinated solvents was associated with increased odds of NTDs (OR=1.96; CI=1.34, 2.87), particularly spina bifida (OR=2.26; CI=1.44, 3.53). Conclusions: Future studies of maternal employment should focus on the biologically relevant critical exposure window to reduce misclassification. Maternal occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents during early pregnancy may be associated with NTDs and merits further research

Assessed occupational exposure to chlorinated, aromatic and Stoddard solvents during pregnancy and risk of fetal growth restriction

Previous experimental and epidemiological research suggests that maternal exposure to some organic solvents during pregnancy may increase the risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR). We evaluated the association between expert-assessed occupational solvent exposure and risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infants in a population-based sample of women in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Association between maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents and congenital heart defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2002

To examine the relation between congenital heart defects (CHDs) in offspring and estimated maternal occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents, aromatic solvents, and Stoddard solvent during the period from one month before conception through the first trimester

Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of neural tube defect-affected pregnancies

This study evaluated whether there is an association between maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring. This is the first such study of which the authors are aware

Maternal Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Risk of Oral Cleft-Affected Pregnancies

Evaluate whether there is an association between maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oral cleftsin offspring. This is the first human study of PAHs and clefts of which the authors are aware

Maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents during early pregnancy and risks of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts

Though toxicological experiments demonstrate the teratogenicity of organic solvents in animal models, epidemiologic studies have reported inconsistent results. Using data from the population-based National Birth Defects Prevention Study, we examined the relation between maternal occupational exposure to aromatic solvents, chlorinated solvents and Stoddard solvent during early pregnancy and neural tube defects (NTDs) and orofacial clefts (OFCs)

Maternal Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Effects on Gastroschisis among Offspring in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Background: 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

Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and small for gestational age offspring

While some of the highest maternal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occur in the workplace, there is only one previous study of occupational PAH exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to extend this literature using interview data combined with detailed exposure assessment

Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and congenital heart defects among offspring in the national birth defects prevention study

There is evidence in experimental model systems that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) results in congenital heart defects (CHDs); however, to our knowledge, this relationship has not been examined in humans. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study assessing the association between estimated maternal occupational exposure to PAHs and CHDs in offspring

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)