Surveillance of pregnancies as a means of detecting environmental and occupational hazards. II. Growth criteria including birth weight, length, and head circumference in a newborn population.

Abstract

Hansteen, I.-L. Christophersen, N. and Langård, S. 1987. Surveillance of pregnancies as a means of detecting environmental and occupational hazards. II. Growth criteria including birth weight, length, and head circumference in a newborn population. —Hereditas 107 205–211. Lund, Sweden. ISSN 0018–0661. Received February 4, 1987 Birth weight, length and head circumference were recorded for liveborn children during a one year period in Telemark county, Norway, The county comprises both rural, urban and industrial areas. The purpose of the study was to see if there is an association between environmental and occupational exposure and the growth parameters affecting foetal development. Only single births of gestational age 37 weeks and more were compared. The present newborn population as a whole did not differ in mean weight, length and head circumference from the Norwegian newborn population at large. No effect of parental occupational exposure could be demonstrated. However, the power of detection was low. The area of residence seemed to affect the growth parameters even after correcting for gestational age, sex, birth order, mother's age, health and smoking habits, genetic factors, and to some extent for social class. The effects were most pronounced for later born children in the families. There was no increase in the three growth parameters from first to subsequently born children in the families living in the industrially exposed areas of residence, while the expected increase with parity was found in the two other areas of residence.