Are maternal occupation and residential proximity to industrial sources of pollution related?
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relation between maternal occupation and residential proximity to industrial sources of pollution in two case-control study populations of birth defects.


METHODS
Occupational and residential information were obtained from Texas live birth records and maternal interviews of Texas participants in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Residential proximity to industrial sources of air pollution was determined through geographic information systems.


RESULTS
With adjustment for maternal race/ethnicity and education, women in production occupations were twice as likely (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.0) to reside near these facilities than women in management/professional occupations and more likely to reside near such facilities than other occupational groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupation and residence appear related; therefore, both sources of potential exposures may need to be considered to understand the relative contribution of either source to risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Brender
Jean D
JD
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, 201 SRPH Administration Building, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. jdbrender@srph.tamhsc.edu
Suarez
Lucina
L
Langlois
Peter H
PH
Steck
Michelle
M
Zhan
F Benjamin
FB
Moody
Karen
K
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009790:Occupations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
D000393:Air Pollutants