title: Adverse pregnancy outcomes in offspring of fathers working in biomedical research laboratories.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laboratory work may constitute a possible health hazard for workers as well as for their offspring, and involves a wide range of exposures, such as organic solvents, carcinogenic agents, ionizing radiation, and/or microbiological agents. Adverse pregnancy outcomes in the offspring of male employees in biomedical research laboratories are examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Offspring to males employed 1970-1989 at four Swedish universities were identified via the Medical Birth Register (MBR), along with other pregnancy parameters. Offspring of fathers with laboratory work (n = 2,281) is considered exposed, and of non-laboratory employees unexposed (n = 1,909). Exposure data were obtained by questionnaires to research group leaders. Logistic regression analysis estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paternal laboratory work in general showed no statistically significant increased ORs concerning birth weight and/or gestational age, but work specifically with radioactive isotopes gave OR 1.8 (CI 1.0-3.2) for high birth weight and a relative risk of 1.2 (CI 1.0-1.4) for sex ratio (male/female).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no clear association between periconceptional paternal laboratory work and adverse reproductive outcomes, but use of radioactive isotopes showed increased OR for high birth weight in offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at Novum, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. linda.magnusson@biosciki.se
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodin
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wennborg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018812:Paternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D012042:Registries; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D012997:Solvents