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Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion.

Lawson CC; Rocheleau CM; Whelan EA; Lividoti Hibert EN; Grajewski B; Spiegelman D; Rich-Edwards JW

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 206(4):327.e1-327.e8

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2011.12.030

20040297

OBJECTIVE: We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in US nurses. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8461 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II. Of these, 7482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. RESULTS: Participants reported 6707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (less than 20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12-20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion.

Biohazards; Drugs; Health-care-personnel; Mathematical-models; Pregnancy; Reproductive-effects; Reproductive-hazards; Reproductive-system; Reproductive-system-disorders; Risk-analysis; Work-areas; Worker-health; Work-operations; Antineoplastic-agents; Anesthetics; Gases; Exposure-assessment; Disinfectants; Women; Nurses; Author Keywords: antineoplastic agents; health personnel; occupational exposure; pregnancy

Christina C. Lawson, PhD, CDC/NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-15, Cincinnati, OH 45226

AJOGAH

20120401

Journal Article

clawson@cdc.gov

2012

4

0002-9378

DSHEFS

Healthcare and Social Assistance

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

OH; MA