Source
Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. carine.sakr@yale.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Several adverse pregnancy outcomes were reported among female laboratory workers in a North American aluminum smelter. To determine whether these outcomes were associated with any occupational exposure at the plant, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken.
METHODS:
Rates of miscarriage, premature singleton birth, and major congenital anomaly occurring during employment were compared with a reference group comprised of all pregnancies that occurred before employment.
RESULTS:
Among female workers, the excess of congenital anomalies among female laboratory workers that defined the initial cluster was observed, but no specific pattern was found.
CONCLUSIONS:
On the basis of these analyses, the increase in congenital anomalies could not be attributed to occupational exposures at the smelter nor could potential exposure likely explain the diverse anomalies described.