title: Exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies of birth defects by industrial hygiene review of maternal interviews.
abstract: In epidemiologic studies of birth defects, occupational titles have frequently been used as surrogates for exposure. To avoid the error associated with such proxy exposure measures, we have designed a process in which an industrial hygienist systematically imputes exposures derived from maternal interviews. In response to a structured questionnaire, mothers of cases and controls recalled occupational and nonoccupational tasks performed or products used around the time of conception. Maternal exposures were then assigned to several a priori defined categories by an industrial hygienist. The central exposure category consists of 74 chemical families, e.g., alcohols, lead compounds. Other exposure categories are individual chemical compounds; nonchemical agents, e.g., ionizing radiation, infectious diseases; and product end-use categories, e.g., insecticides, combustion products. A detailed description of this approach and its exposure assessment potential is presented using exposure data from 220 maternal interviews.
authors.affiliation: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, Emeryville 94608.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009035:Mothers; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000145:classification; D016272:Occupational Health; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D009790:Occupations; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D013723:Teratogens; D014116:Toxicology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010575:Pesticides; D010969:Plastics; D013723:Teratogens