No Excess Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes in Populations Living near Special Waste Landfill Sites in Scotland

Morris, Sara; Thomson, Anne; Järup, Lars; Hoogh, Cornelis de; Briggs, David; Elliott, Paul

doi:10.1177/003693300304800403

Cited by 24 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…In a study of air and soil pollution levels in 19 Swedish municipalities, Landgren (1996) found no increase in low birth weight or preterm deliveries in the municipalities with the highest concentrations of pollutants compared with all others. Morris et al (2003) found no statistically significant excess risk of low birth weight in populations living near special waste landfill sites in Scotland. In contrast, after controlling for potential confounders, Sram et al (1996) report an increased frequency of low birth weight deliveries in a heavily industrial region of the Czech Republic compared with the control region.…”

Section: Residential Exposure To Industrial Waste and Reproductive Hementioning

confidence: 71%

Effects of residential exposure to steel mills and coking works on birth weight and preterm births among residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia

Burra¹,

Elliott²,

Eyles³

et al. 2006

Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes

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The Sydney Tar Ponds in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, have been referred to as the most contaminated industrial site in the country. Area residents, aware of the contamination for close to 25 years, are very concerned about their health: past, present and future. In particular, they are concerned about cancer; this is followed closely by reproductive health concerns. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of birth weight and preterm birth among residents living in proximity to an industrial site contaminated with a mix of industrial wastes arising from a former steel mill and coking works (the Tar Ponds) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. A telephone survey was administered to 500 randomly selected women living in proximity to the site to document reproductive histories. The respondents reported 904 live birth pregnancies occurring in Sydney. The mean birth weight reported for live birth pregnancies was 3,391 g (standard deviation: 570). The reported prevalence of preterm births was 7 percent. Linear regression analyses showed a reduction in birth weight of approximately 85 g among residents in a zone estimated to have higher levels of deposition of airborne effluent from the site. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed a decrease in the risk of preterm birth as residential distance from the site increased (odds ratio 0.65, 95 percent confidence interval 0.42, 0.98). These data suggest that community exposure to industrial contaminants had some, but little, impact on reported birth weights in this sample of respondents. The apparent increase in risk for preterm births suggests further investigation may be warranted, particularly in light of community concerns. Follow‐up investigations using validated birth records and more sensitive measures of environmental exposure could be used to confirm the findings and further explore the intra‐urban variation in health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing clean‐up efforts in Sydney.

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Section: Residential Exposure To Industrial Waste and Reproductive Hementioning

confidence: 71%

Effects of residential exposure to steel mills and coking works on birth weight and preterm births among residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia

Burra¹,

Elliott²,

Eyles³

et al. 2006

Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes

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“…As for the paternal side, some jobs carry increased risks such as vehicle operators, police officers or fire fighters [Schnitzer et al, 1995] and men exposed to dust from grinding metals [Brouwers et al, 2010]. For people living close to hazardous waste-disposal sites, the risk was first described as minor [Elliott et al, 2001], but this has also been refuted [Morris et al, 2003]. …”

Section: Environmental Factors and Hypospadiasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Genetic and Environmental Factors Underlying Hypospadias

Bouty

Ayers

Pask

et al. 2015

Sex Dev

168

137

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Hypospadias results from a failure of urethral closure in the male phallus and affects 1 in 200-300 boys. It is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The development of the penis progresses in 2 stages: an initial hormone-independent phase and a secondary hormone-dependent phase. Here, we review the molecular pathways that contribute to each of these stages, drawing on studies from both human and mouse models. Hypospadias can occur when normal development of the phallus is disrupted, and we provide evidence that mutations in genes underlying this developmental process are causative. Finally, we discuss the environmental factors that may contribute to hypospadias and their potential immediate and transgenerational epigenetic impacts.

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“…However, no significant positive association was observe for stillbirthBaibergenova et al 2003 [28]Ecologic study of New York (excluding New York City)(1994–2000) USVLBW, LBW PCB-contaminated site Exposure defined as maternal residence at birth in a zip code that contained or was adjacent to a PCB-contaminated siteSex of the baby, race of the mother, mother’s age, father’s age, mother’s educational level, parents annual per capita income, Medicaid/self-paid births, Maternal weightSingle motherhoodMaternal smokingMultiplelogistic modelsStratification by sex of the babySlight association noted for risk of low birth weight in male births and maternal residence in zip code with one or more waste sites contaminated with PCBs. But, no relation between PCB zip codes and very low-birth-weight infants for either sexMorris et al 2003 [47]Ecologic study in Scotland (1982–1997)Great BritainAll congenital anomalies Specific defect. NTD, cardiovascular, and abdominal wall defects; hypospadias and epispadias; surgical correction of hypospadias and epispadias; surgical correction of gastroschisis and exomphalos; Birth outcome.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic literature review of reproductive outcome associated with residential proximity to polluted sites

et al. 2017

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This study aims to assess the evidence on adverse pregnancy outcome associated with living close to polluted industrial sites, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of published epidemiological studies. A systematic literature search has been performed on all epidemiological studies published in developed countries since 1990, on the association between residential proximity to industrial sites (hazardous waste sites, industrial facilities and landfill sites) and adverse pregnancy outcome (low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, intrauterine growth retardation, infant mortality, congenital malformation). Based on 41 papers, our review reveals an excess risk of reproductive morbidity. However, no studies show significant excess risk of mortality including fetal death, neonatal or infant mortality and stillbirth. All published studies tend to show an increased risk of congenital abnormalities, yet not all are statistically significant. All but two of these studies revealed an excess risk of low birth weight. Results for preterm birth, small for gestational age and intrauterine growth retardation show the same pattern. There is suggestive evidence from the post-1990 literature that residential proximity to polluted sites (including landfills, hazardous waste sites and industrial facilities) might contribute to adverse reproductive outcomes, especially congenital malformations and low birth weight—though not mortality. This body of evidence has limitations that impede the formulation of firm conclusions, and new, well-focused studies are called for. The review findings suggest that continued strengthening of rules governing industrial emissions as well as industrial waste management and improved land use planning are needed.

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No Excess Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes in Populations Living near Special Waste Landfill Sites in Scotland

Cited by 24 publications

References 15 publications

Effects of residential exposure to steel mills and coking works on birth weight and preterm births among residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia

Effects of residential exposure to steel mills and coking works on birth weight and preterm births among residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia

The Genetic and Environmental Factors Underlying Hypospadias

Systematic literature review of reproductive outcome associated with residential proximity to polluted sites

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