Exposure to organic solvents and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Background: Organic solvents are among the most common exposures in the workplace. Our objective was to elaborate the relationship between prenatal occupational solvent exposure and fetal growth as well as duration of pregnancy, and to quantify the impact of occupational organic solvent exposure.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study of 1670 singleton newborns of women who participated in The Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study after their delivery (response rate 94%) and who were working during pregnancy (65%). Exposure information was based on questions about exposure to solvents at work before and during pregnancy. The health outcomes, based on information from a questionnaire and the Finnish Medical Birth Registry, were low birth weight (<3000 g), small-for-gestational-age and preterm delivery (<37 weeks).

Results: In logistic regression analysis, the risk of the baby being small-for-gestational-age was related to any exposure to solvents 3 months before or during pregnancy with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-2.73]. Also the adjusted OR for low birth weight was elevated with exposure, although it did not reach statistical significance (1.17; 95% CI = 0.71-1.93). The population attributable fraction for small-for-gestational-age was 2.3% for all pregnant women.

Conclusions: Work exposure to organic solvents may reduce intrauterine growth by increasing the risk of the baby being small-for-gestational-age.