title: Occupational exposure in dentistry and miscarriage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information on the reproductive effects of chemical exposures in dental work is sparse or inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether dental workers exposed to acrylate compounds, mercury amalgam, solvents or disinfectants are at an increased risk of miscarriage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted among women dental workers and a comparison group of workers occupationally unexposed to dental restorative materials. Information on pregnancies was obtained from national registers and outpatient units of hospitals. Data on occupational exposure were obtained using postal questionnaires. The final study population included 222 cases of miscarriage and 498 controls (births). An occupational hygienist assessed exposure to acrylate compounds, disinfectants and solvents. Exposure to other agents was assessed on the basis of the questionnaire data. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ORs adjusted for confounding factors were increased for moderate-exposure and high-exposure categories of mercury amalgam (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.1 and OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.5, respectively). The risk was slightly increased for the highest-exposure category of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.7 to 2.6) and polymethylmethacrylate dust (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.4). A slightly increased risk was also detected for likely exposure to organic solvents (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.3) and disinfectants (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No strong association or consistent dose-response relationship was observed between exposure to chemical agents in dental work and the risk of miscarriage. A slightly increased risk was found for exposure to mercury amalgam, some acrylate compounds, solvents and disinfectants. These findings indicate that the possibility of a weak association between exposure to these agents and an increased risk of miscarriage cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. marja-liisa.lindbohm@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Marja-Liisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lindbohm
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ylöstalo
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sallmén
authors.forename: Maj-Len
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Henriks-Eckerman
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nurminen
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forss
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taskinen
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000179:Acrylates / Q000633:toxicity; D000328:Adult; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000633:toxicity; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003813:Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003816:Dentists, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D003764:Dental Materials; D004202:Disinfectants; D012997:Solvents; D003723:Dental Amalgam