Congenital malformations related to maternal exposure to specific agents in biomedical research laboratories.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate major congenital and neural crest malformations (NCM; craniofacial and conotruncal defects) in the offspring of laboratory employees.


METHODS
Data for 1951 females was linked to the Medical Birth Register (3003 pregnancies). Exposure information was based on questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.


RESULTS
The prevalence of "major malformations" were 2.3% (n = 41; exposed) and 1.9% (n = 23; unexposed). For the major malformations, solvent exposure before the third trimester gave an OR of 1.8 (CI = 1.0-2.9); "laboratory work in general," of 1.2 (CI = 0.7-2.0) unadjusted. OR for benzene use around conception/organogenesis was 5.3 (CI = 1.4-21.1) for NCM.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant risk for laboratory work in general was seen, but there was an increased ratio for NCM relative to solvents, especially benzene. These results are based on small numbers and should be interpreted cautiously.
Wennborg
Helena
H
Department of Biosciences, Novum Research Park, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. helena.wennborg@biosci.ki.se
Magnusson
Linda L
LL
Bonde
Jens Peter
JP
Olsen
Jørn
J
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012306:Risk; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D013548:Sweden
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012997:Solvents; D001554:Benzene