title: Congenital anomalies in the offspring of nurses: association with area of employment during pregnancy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether registered nurses in specific areas of employment during pregnancy had a higher risk for congenital anomalies in their offspring. An offspring cohort (n = 22,611) was created through linkage of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency live and stillbirth records from 1986 to 2000, to a female cohort database of registered nurses. Of these, 16,005 (70.8%) were registered in a specific area of employment when pregnant. Odds ratios were calculated using generalized estimating equations (GEE), binary logistic regression with adjustment for sex, mother's age, and year of birth. Elevated risks of congenital anomalies were found for the singleton offspring of nurses employed in the following areas: operating rooms and pediatric nursing units (heart anomalies); maternal newborn units (integument); emergency room (respiratory system); and psychiatry (upper alimentary tract). Further research is needed to determine whether these are chance or consistent findings and whether exposure patterns might provide biological plausibility.
authors: UBC Department of Medicine, Vancouver, Canada. Helen.Ward@vch.ca
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Dimich-Ward
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Le Nhu
authors: Kris
authors: K
authors: Beking
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Dybuncio
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Spinelli
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Gallagher
authors: Pamela A
authors: PA
authors: Ratner
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Arbour
authors: Kay
authors: K
authors: Teschke
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors