Maternal Occupational Oil Mist Exposure and Birth Defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997⁻2011.

Miriam Siegel,Carissa M Rocheleau,Tiffany Riehle-Colarusso,Martha A Waters,Candice Y Johnson,Jennita Reefhuis,Christina C Lawson

doi:10.3390/ijerph16091560

Abstract

Workers in various industries can be exposed to oil mists when oil-based fluids are aerosolized during work processes. Oil mists can be inhaled or deposited on the skin. Little research exists on the reproductive effects of oil mist exposure in pregnant workers. We aimed to investigate associations between occupational oil mist exposure in early pregnancy and a spectrum of birth defects using data from 22,011 case mothers and 8140 control mothers in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. In total, 150 mothers were rated as exposed. Manufacturing jobs, particularly apparel manufacturing, comprised the largest groups of exposed mothers. Mothers of infants with septal heart defects (odds ratio (OR): 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–3.3), and especially perimembranous ventricular septal defects (OR: 2.5, CI: 1.2–5.2), were more likely to be occupationally exposed to oil mists in early pregnancy than control mothers; and their rater-estimated cumulative exposure was more likely to be higher. This was the first U.S. study evaluating associations between oil mist exposure and a broad spectrum of birth defects. Our results are consistent with previous European studies, supporting a potential association between oil-based exposures and congenital heart defects. Further research is needed to evaluate the reproductive effects of occupational oil mist exposure.

Highlights

In 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated a cluster of severe congenital heart defects (CHDs) among infants of three male employees at a steel strip manufacturing facility [1]
Information was reviewed by expert pediatric clinicians to classify CHD cases as simple, associated, or complex
No exposed workers fall into more than one industry or occupation category; 2 The percentage of workers in an industry or occupation group that were exposed to oil mists in early pregnancy; 3 Total birth defect cases exposed to oil mists in early pregnancy; NR: Not reportable (n < 3). This analysis found that mothers whose infants were born with septal heart defects, and especially perimembranous VSDs, were more likely to be exposed to oil mists during the period of one month before conception through the third month of pregnancy than control mothers; and there was some indication of a dose-response effect

Summary

Introduction

In 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated a cluster of severe congenital heart defects (CHDs) among infants of three male employees at a steel strip manufacturing facility [1]. Two of the employees cut and packaged steel; both of their infants had hypoplastic right hearts with interrupted aortic arches. The third employee worked as a janitor and spent time in different parts of the plant, but spent the most time in the department where metals were electroplated; his infant had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. All three infants were born in 1998 in. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1560; doi:10.3390/ijerph16091560 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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