title: Adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population exposed to the emissions of a municipal waste incinerator.
abstract: Some contaminants emitted by municipal waste incinerators are believed to adversely affect reproductive health in the exposed populations; yet only limited and conflicting epidemiologic evidence on this issue has been provided so far. In this study we analyzed rates of spontaneous abortion and prevalence at birth of congenital anomalies in women residing or working near the municipal solid waste incinerator of Modena, northern Italy, during the 2003--2006 period and who experienced higher levels of exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, compared to the remaining municipal population. In women residing in two areas close to the incinerator plant with increasing exposure to dioxins, we did not detect an excess risk of miscarriage (relative risk [RR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-1.48) and of birth defects (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.20-1.55), nor did any indication of dose-response relation emerge. Among female workers employed in the factories located in the exposed areas, we did not observe a higher risk of spontaneous abortion (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.38-2.30); however, an increase in prevalence of birth defects was noted (RR 2.26), although this risk estimate was statistically very unstable (95% CI 0.57-6.14). Overall, the study results provide little evidence of an excess risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to emissions from a modern municipal solid waste incinerator.
authors.affiliation: CREAGEN-Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. marco.vinceti@unimore.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinceti
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malagoli
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teggi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabbi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Astolfi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivieri
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergomi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration / Q000592:standards; D007558:Italy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants