Reproductive outcomes in an area adjacent to a petrochemical plant in southern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible adverse reproductive outcomes in an area adjacent to a petrochemical plant in southern Brazil.


METHODS
A review of 17,113 birth records of the main hospital of the municipality of Montenegro, southern Brazil, from 1983 to 1998 was carried out. Three groups of cases were selected: (1) newborns with major congenital malformations; (2) newborns with low birth weight (<2,500 g); and (3) stillborns (>500 g). A control was assigned to each case. Controls were the first newborns weighing </= 12,500 g without malformations and of case-matching sex. Mother's residence during pregnancy was used as an exposure parameter. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test or Fisher test, odds ratio, 0.05 significance level, and 95% confidence interval.


RESULTS
For unadjusted analysis, it was found a correlation between low birth weight and geographical proximity of mother's residence to the petrochemical plant (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.01 - 2.72) or residence on the way of preferential wind direction (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.03 - 2.56). When other covariates were added in the conditional logistic regression (maternal smoking habits, chronic disease and age), there was no association.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite final results were negative, low birth weight could be a good parameter of environmental contamination and should be closely monitored in the studied area.
Oliveira
Lenice Minussi
LM
Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Stein
Nina
N
Sanseverino
Maria Teresa Vieira
MT
Vargas
Vera Maria Ferrão
VM
Fachel
Jandyra Maria Guimarães
JM
Schuler
Lavínia
L
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010578:Petroleum; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010578:Petroleum