title: Association between drinking water disinfection and somatic parameters at birth.
abstract: We conducted an epidemiological study in Liguria, Italy, on the association between somatic parameters at birth and drinking water disinfection with chlorine dioxide and/or sodium hypochlorite. Over 2 years (1988-1989), 676 births at two public hospitals, one in Genoa (548 cases) and another in Chiavari (128 cases) were examined and data regarding both mother and child were obtained from hospital records. Results indicate a higher frequency of small body length (< or = 49.5 cm) and small cranial circumference (< or = 35 cm) in infants born to mothers who drank water treated with chlorine compounds. In particular, the statistical analysis (by simultaneous variance analysis and Scheffé test) indicated that there may be an association between infants with smaller body length and mothers who drank water treated with chlorine dioxide [adjusted odds radio (OR) = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.3] or sodium hypoclorite (adjusted OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.3-4.2) and between infants with smaller cranial circumference and mothers who drank water treated with chlorine dioxide (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4-3.9) or sodium hypochlorite (adjusted OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.1-8.5). The presence of neonatal jaundice is almost twice as likely (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-3.1) in infants whose mothers drank water treated with chlorine dioxide.
authors: Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kanitz
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Franco
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Patrone
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Caltabellotta
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Raffo
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Riggi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Timitilli
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Ravera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001824:Body Constitution; D002713:Chlorine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010087:Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D002713:Chlorine; C025109:chlorine dioxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite