Maternal periconceptional occupational exposure to pesticides and selected musculoskeletal birth defects

Abstract

This population-based U.S. study investigated the association between major musculoskeletal malformations and periconceptional maternal occupational pesticide exposure for a wide range of occupations. We conducted a multi-site case–control analysis using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study among employed women with due dates from October 1, 1997 through December 31, 2002. Cases included 871 live-born, stillborn, or electively terminated fetuses with isolated craniosynostosis, gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia, or transverse limb deficiencies. Controls included 2857 live-born infants without major malformations. Using self-reported maternal occupational information, an industrial hygienist used a job-exposure matrix and expert opinion to evaluate the potential for exposure to insecticides, herbicides or fungicides for each job held during one month pre-conception through three months post-conception. Exposures analyzed included any exposure (yes/no) to pesticides, to insecticides only, to both insecticides and herbicides (I + H) and to insecticides, herbicides and fungicides (I + H + F). We used logistic regression to evaluate the association between exposures and defects, controlling for infant and maternal risk factors. Occupational exposure to I + H + F was associated with gastroschisis among infants of women aged 20 years or older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.05), but not for women under age 20 (aOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.20–1.16). We found no significant associations for the other defects. Additional research is needed to validate these findings in a separate population.

Ergonomic and health assessment of farmers’ multi-pesticide exposure

“…Furthermore, ethnographic reports of children among farmworkers in California suggested a relationship between air quality and childhood asthma, and that pregnant women were also at risk of affecting their fetuses due to pesticide exposure (Schwartz et al, 2015). In another study, gastroschisis among infants of women aged 20 years and above was more likely to occur after exposure to multiple pesticides pre-and postconception, after controlling for maternal and infant risk factors (Kielb et al, 2014). Infertility has also been found among married male farm workers, and higher among farm workers' families (such as wives' experiencing stillbirths and abortions) than the normal population (Neghab et al, 2014).…”

Factores de riesgo prenatales y su asociación a malformaciones congénitas en un Hospital Universitario de Referencia

“…Wan B y col, en un estudio realizado en China refieren que el nivel de pesticidas organoclorados en sangre en las madres con hijos con defectos del tubo neural fue más alta que las madres de los controles, pero no (28) resultó estadísticamente significativo . Kieb y col, reportaron que la exposición periconcepcional se asoció a gastroquisis en madres mayores de 20 años, no así en otras malformaciones analizadas por lo que c o n c l u y e n q u e s e r e q u i e r e n m a y o r e s (29) investigaciones .…”

Use of job-exposure matrices to estimate occupational exposure to pesticides: A review

“…[111][112][113] In particular, the ad hoc JEMs created by P Stewart 15,16,[101][102][103][104][105] are a hybrid between a job-exposure matrix and expert raters' assessment. They were based both on the literature and industrial hygienists' experience.…”

“…[91][92][93][94][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][106][107][108][109][110] However, other outcomes were studied such as neurological diseases, 14,96,97,100,109,110 birth outcomes 95,104,105 and respiratory diseases. 112,113 Various pesticide definitions were used in these matrices.…”

“…112,113 Various pesticide definitions were used in these matrices. They were sometimes considered as a generic group, 91,94,99,100,[106][107][108][109][110]112 were classified in functional groups (H/F/I), [14][15][16]92,93,96,[101][102][103][104][105]111,113 or were identified at the active ingredient level. 95,98 The occupations concerned were detailed very precisely in some studies.…”