Maternal Exposure to Trichloroethylene in Drinking Water and Birth-Weight Outcomes

Abstract

An ecological epidemiological study was conducted with data obtained from an environmental dose-reconstruction study and the Arizona Birth Information Tapes. Before 1981, a portion of the city of Tucson water-distribution system was contaminated with trichloroethylene (i.e., < 5 micrograms per liter of water to 107 micrograms per liter of water). Target and comparison populations were selected with a Geographic Information System. Logistical-regression analysis revealed an association between maternal exposure to trichloroethylene via drinking water and very-low-birth-weight babies (i.e., < 1,501 grams) (odds ratio = 3.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.5, 20.6; and Wald chi-square p value = 0.2). No association was found between maternal exposure to trichloroethylene via drinking water and low birth weight or full-term low-birth-weight infants (gestational period > 35 wk and < 46 wk).

Drinking water contaminants and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a review.

“…From information provided in the article, we calculated unadjusted odds ratios for very low birth weight during the exposure and postexposure periods. For the exposure period, an unadjusted odds ratio of 2.61 was obtained, somewhat lower than the adjusted Full-term LBW unexposed births GIS modeling of groundwater plume (post-exposure) (7) Results set in bold type indicate those that were calculated by the reviewing authors. Abbreviations: LBW, low birth weight; MBWD, mean birth weight difference; VLBW, very low birth weight.…”

“…The Massachusetts study (32) found an association between stillbirths and chlorinated surface water when compared with chloraminated surface water. Table 5 summarizes the characteristics and results of the five studies of chlorinated solvents and adverse birth outcomes (7,8,20,39,40). Three studies focused primarily on trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in drinking water.…”

“…A second study in Tucson evaluated the association between TCE and low birth weight, very low birth weight, and term low birth weight (7). The study used the state's birth certificate database, which unconventionally categorized "term" (>35 weeks gestation), "low birth weight" (<2,501 g), and "very low birth weight" (<1,501 g).…”

“…Three studies focused primarily on trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in drinking water. Two of these studies were conducted in Tucson, Arizona (7,39), and one study was conducted in Woburn, Massachusetts (8). Two studies evaluated other solvents in addition to TCE: a study at the U.S. Marine base Camp LeJeune in North Carolina (40) focused on tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and the previously mentioned northern New Jersey study (20) evaluated several solvents, including PCE, carbon tetrachloride, the dichloroethylenes, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and benzene.…”

“…Therefore, extrapolations over distance and time are necessary to link tap sample data to maternal residence during pregnancy and the time period of the pregnancy. Some investigators have conducted space-time extrapolations by modeling water system characteristics and tap sample data (6)(7)(8). At least one state has developed a water quality database that links data from tap water samples to maps of the public water distribution systems (9).…”