Occupational exposure to organic particles and combustion products during pregnancy and birth outcome in a nationwide cohort study in Sweden

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study if children of women exposed to organic particles and combustion products at work during pregnancy, have an increased risk of low birth weight, preterm birth or small for gestational age.MethodsA nationwide cohort of all occupationally active mothers and their children from single births during 1994 to the end of 2012 (1 182 138 observations) was formed. Information on birth outcome was obtained from the medical birth register. Information on absence from work, education, occupation, age, nationality and smoking habits was obtained from national registers. A job exposure matrix (FINJEM) was used to assess the exposure.ResultsPregnant women with low absence from work and high (>50th percentile) exposure to organic particles had an increased risk of giving birth to children with low birth weight (OR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.32), small for gestational age (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.38) or preterm birth (OR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.27). Subgroup analyses showed an increased risk of small for gestational age in association with exposure to oil mist. Exposure to oil mist and cooking fumes was associated with low birth weight. Paper and other organic dust was associated with preterm birth. Exposure to combustion products showed an increased risk of small for gestational age (OR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.71).ConclusionsThe results indicate that occupational exposure to organic particles or combustion products during pregnancy is associated with restriction of fetal growth and preterm birth. More studies are needed to confirm a casual association.

Job-Exposure Matrix: A Useful Tool for Incorporating Workplace Exposure Data Into Population Health Research and Practice

“…Exposures are described by the prevalence of exposure and the level of exposure among the exposed, both estimated mainly on continuous scales. FINJEM has been used for assessing occupational risk factors in many studies ( 32 , 33 ) and there are several derivates from FINJEM ( 20 ).…”

The association between prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and birth weight: A meta-analysis

“…Although some studies suggested that maternal exposure to PAHs was not significantly associated with term low birth weight (LBW, birth weight less than 2500g), some studies have found negative impacts of maternal exposures to PAHs on birth weight [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. A nationwide cohort study in Sweden has suggested that maternal occupational exposure to PAHs significantly increased the risk of LBW (OR:1.49, 95%CI: 1.27, 1.75) [28]. Another study found similar results that placental PAHs levels were negatively associated with birth weight (r: -0.223, P = 0.037) [29].…”