Original article

Scand J Work Environ Health 2020;46(4):417-428    pdf

https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3878 | Published online: 23 Jan 2020, Issue date: 01 Jul 2020

Occupational chemical exposures in pregnancy and fetal growth: evidence from the Born in Bradford Study

by Shirangi A, Wright J, Blair EM, McEachan RRC, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ

Objectives This prospective birth cohort study evaluated the effect of occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) during pregnancy on inadequate fetal growth as measured by small-for-gestational age (SGA) and inadequate fetal growth measured by percentage of optimal birth weight (POBW). The study also identified the maternal characteristics associated with an increased risk of exposure to EDC.

Methods We studied 4142 pregnant women who were in paid employment during pregnancy and participated in a population-based, prospective 2007–2011 birth cohort study, the Born in Bradford Study, with an estimated participation of 80%. Job titles were coded at 26–28 weeks` gestation at a 4-digit level according to 353 unit groups in the 2000 UK Standard Occupational Classification. They were then linked to expert judgment on exposure to each of ten EDC groups as assessed through a job exposure matrix (JEM). We performed generalized estimation equation modelling by a modified Poisson regression to assess the risk of POBW and SGA associated with an increased risk of chemical exposures.

Results The frequency of POBW<85 significantly increased for mothers exposed to pesticides [adjusted risk ratio (RRadj) 3.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–9.91] and phthalates (RRadj 3.71, 95% CI 1.62–8.51). There was a 5-fold increase risk of SGA for mothers exposed to pesticides (RRadj 5.45, 95% CI 1.59–18.62). Veterinary nurses and horticultural trades were most frequently associated with exposure to pesticides while hairdressers, beauticians, and printing machine minders were associated with phthalates.

Conclusion Maternal occupational exposure to estimated concentrations of pesticides and phthalates is associated with impaired fetal growth.

This article refers to the following texts of the Journal: 2006;32(1):61-66  2005;31(3):212-217
The following article refers to this text: 2020;46(4):335-338

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are exogenous human-made substances that alter hormone regulation through interference with the endocrine system (1). They include many classes of chemicals such as pesticides, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), alkyl phenolic compounds (ALP), solvents, cytotoxic drugs, and anaesthetic gases. Global concerns have been raised in recent years over the potential adverse health effects of exposure to EDC (1–3). The endocrine system regulates many essential body functions such as growth, behavior, and reproduction through the controlled release of hormones (1, 4). The most sensitive windows of exposure to EDC are during fetal development and puberty (1). With an increasing number of women active in the labor force in both developed and developing countries, many will work during their reproductive years (5, 6) and likely be exposed to a variety of chemicals during pregnancy. Associations between prenatal exposure to EDC and a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported, including miscarriage (7), birth defects (8–12), stillbirth (13), small-for-gestational age (SGA) (14), impaired fetal growth (15, 16), low birthweight (LBW) (17), and preterm birth (PTB) (18). However, there are limited prospective birth cohort studies to evaluate this association and despite these investigations, evidence of such effects in humans is inconclusive, and many EDC have not yet been evaluated in epidemiological research (5).

Babies born with inadequate fetal growth are at increased risk of life-threatening health problems, as well as long-term complications and developmental delays (19–23). Inadequate fetal growth is an important predictor of perinatal morbidity and mortality, a potential risk factor for cognitive disability later in childhood and coronary heart disease and hypertension in adult life (17–21). Despite extensive research, the causes of these adverse birth outcomes are incompletely understood but factors such as sociodemographic and socioeconomic status; lifestyle; reproductive history; medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy; as well as occupational and environmental exposures may be relevant (24–27). Their association with several work-related risk factors is well established and has resulted in legislation, for example, considering exposure to specific chemicals, such as photoresistant solvents in the semiconductor industry or antineoplastic (cytotoxic) drugs in healthcare organizations, which have been declined over the past 20 years (11, 28). However, the scientific evidence is less consistent for many other EDC.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the effects of occupational exposures to estimated concentrations of EDC on the risk of SGA and inadequate fetal growth. The secondary objective was to identify the maternal characteristics associated with an increased risk of exposure to EDC.

Methods

The Born in Bradford Study is a population-based, prospective, longitudinal, and multi-ethnic birth cohort study that recruited 12 453 pregnant women with 13 959 pregnancies during 2007–2011. With an estimated participation rate of 80%, the study monitors participants, their partners and off-spring until adulthood. Full details of the study methodology have been previously reported elsewhere (29, 30).

Study design

Figure 1 shows the selection of the study cohort. Information about job description and working conditions was collected primarily through a mid-pregnancy questionnaire at about 26–28 weeks’ gestation. The questionnaire data was linked to maternity data and employment status for 11 400 pregnancies. We selected women who gave birth to a live-born singleton, were in paid employment during pregnancy, and enrolled in the Born in Bradford Study prenatally. Of 11 400 pregnancies, we excluded those with twins (N=140), triplets (N=2), stillbirths (N=59), and missing information on pregnancy outcome (N=348). Of the 10 851 remaining, we excluded pregnancies where the mother was: not employed during pregnancy (N=2963), Of the 10 851 remaining, we excluded pregnancies where the mother was: not employed during pregnancy (N= 2963), never employed (N=2936), a student (N=348), on sick leave (N=445), and missing information on the working situation (N=17). Therefore, 4142 (38%) of mothers in paid employment during their pregnancies were eligible for analysis.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the steps in the selection of the study cohort.

SJWEH-46-417-g001.tif

The Bradford Research Ethics Committee provided ethics approval for the study (reference 06/Q1202/48).

Working condition and occupational coding

Information concerning job title, type of business, self-employment, and the four main tasks performed at work were used to classify the jobs according to the UK Classification of Occupations (31). We coded the job titles at a 4-digit level according to 353 unit groups in the 2000 UK Standard Occupational Classification (31). The job titles were coded and validated through the Computer-Assisted Structure Coding Tool (Cascot) (32). The coded job titles subsequently linked to an updated UK job exposure matrix (JEM) for chemical exposure developed over the same period as this cohort study (33, 34).

Exposure assessment

In 2009, Brouwers et al (34) developed this JEM, which considers the 353 job titles, adapted from the van Tongeren JEM of 2002 (33). Three occupational hygienists estimated the job-specific risk of exposure to each of ten chemicals groups: PAH, polychlorinated organic compounds, pesticides, phthalates, organic solvents, bisphenol A, ALP, brominated flame-retardants, metals, and a miscellaneous group: as unlikely (score=0), possible (score=1) or probable (score=2). In addition, broad and non-specific job titles were considered ’unclassifiable’. For this study, we collated the last two categories (possible and probable) into one indicating the occurrence of exposure to EDC was more likely than unlikely. No distinction was made between the various routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or dermal). For many chemicals, most of the population experiences some level of exposure through diet or widely used consumer products. The JEM exposure score refers to the probability that the occupational exposure exceeds this background level.

Measures of birth outcomes

Information about gestational age, gender, weight, length and head circumference at birth was obtained from medical records and hospital registries to allow the following variables to be created.

Gestational age was based on the actual and estimated date of delivery calculated by the physician or midwife from the dating scan (if available) or last menstrual period.

SGA was defined as a birth weight less than the 10th customized centile, using GROW software from 2013 (35, 36), www.gestation.net/cc/about.htm (37). The calculation of SGA was derived from maternal characteristics, birth weight and gestational age data recorded in the electronic maternity system at the Bradford Research Institute.

Optimal birthweight was estimated for each birth using a model derived from a population of singletons not exposed to any of the common risk factors for growth anomaly, with terms for infant gender, gestational duration, and maternal height and parity by a method validated and corrected for births before 30 weeks’ gestation (38, 39). Appropriateness of intrauterine growth is inferred from the ratio of the observed-to-optimal birth weight expressed as a percentage, percentage of optimal birth weight (POBW). The 10th percentile of weight in the original population was a POBW of 87% (38), therefore our criterion for inadequate fetal growth of POBW of <85 represents a slightly more stringent criterion than the 10th percentile, the criterion used for SGA. The method has been used in previously published studies (23, 40, 41).

Maternal characteristics / confounder assessment

The following potentially confounding factors were also solicited with the mid-term questionnaire: mother’s sociodemographic, lifestyle, ethnicity, medical, and socioeconomic status [index of multiple deprivation 2010 (IMD)] as described in table 1. These characteristics are considered potential confounders for both aims of study investigation. We also considered each group of EDC as independent variables in the analysis to address the first aim of this study. Chemical exposures with numbers fewer than five records, which include polychlorinated organic compounds, bisphenol A, and flame-retardants, were not included in the analysis. As such, seven groups of chemicals were included in the analysis.

Table 1

Characteristics of 4142 pregnant women enrolled in Born in Bradford Study and their associations with crude risk of impaired fetal growth- [BMI=body mass index; EDC=endrocrine disrupting chemical; GCSE=general certificate of secondary education; IMD=index of multiple deprivation for Bradford; PAH= polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; POBW=percentage of optimal birth weight; SGA= small-for-gestational age.]

Characteristics Number a % SGA Crude SGA risk POBW<85 Crude POBW <85 risk
Total 4142 100 451 0.109 740 0.179
Ethnic origin
 British white 2482 59.92 188 0.076 323 0.135
 South Asian 1188 28.68 228 0.191 352 0.307
 Other 472 11.4 35 0.074 65 0.145
Age (years)
 ≤35 3683 88.92 482 0.109 659 0.185
 >35 459 11.88 49 0.107 81 0.183
Education (mother)
 <5 GCSE equivalents 315 7.62 29 0.092 70 0.235
 5 GCSE equivalents 1120 27.11 142 0.126 210 0.195
 A-level equivalent b 819 19.82 86 0.105 148 0.184
 >A level 1470 35.58 155 0.105 253 0.179
 Other degrees 333 8.06 31 0.093 44 0.137
 Unknown 75 1.82 8 0.107 14 0.192
Smoking (cigarettes)
 0 3492 84.37 354 0.101 575 0.171
 1–5 per day 286 6.91 38 0.133 68 0.245
 >5 per day 361 8.72 59 0.164 97 0.275
Other tobacco products
 No 4105 99.32 445 0.108 730 0.184
 Yes 28 0.68 5 0.178 8 0.296
Drugs during pregnancy
 No 3528 99.07 379 0.107 633 0.183
 Yes 33 0.93 7 0.212 11 0.354
Alcohol
 No /occasionally 2981 72.09 352 0.118 581 0.202
 Yes 1154 27.91 98 0.085 158 0.142
Vitamin/iron
 No 2465 59.58 284 0.115 457 0.193
 Yes 1672 40.42 166 0.099 282 0.173
Body mass index
 Normal 1087 29.99 165 0.152 263 0.249
 Overweight 1606 39.88 166 0.103 268 0.174
 Obese 1328 32.98 100 0.075 171 0.134
 Underweight 6 0.15 3 0.5 4 0.666
Parity
 First child 2146 53.7 279 0.13 392 0.182
 Second child & higher 1850 46.3 159 0.086 348 0.188
Baby sex
 Female 1973 47.63 231 0.117 377 0.197
 Male 2169 52.37 220 0.101 363 0.175
Age at first period (years)
 12–13 1795 45.4 182 0.101 293 0.169
 <12 598 15.12 73 0.122 116 0.201
 >13 1561 39.48 176 0.113 294 0.195
Marital status
 Married/re-married 2489 60.15 319 0.128 504 0.209
 Single 1537 37.14 128 0.0.83 219 0.147
 Separated/divorced/widowed 112 2.71 4 0.036 17 0.165
IMD 2010 score
 1 (most deprived) 936 23.12 140 0.149 225 0.248
 2 946 23.37 118 0.125 190 0.207
 3 1010 24.95 92 0.091 164 0.17
 4 875 21.62 70 0.08 115 0.136
 5 (least deprived) 281 6.94 19 0.067 32 0.118
Finance
 Better off 1260 30.59 132 0.105 221 0.181
 About the same 2027 49.21 225 0.111 368 0.189
 Worse off 832 20.2 90 0.108 146 0.182
Job hours/week
 ≤35 2204 53.37 257 0.116 428 0.202
 >35 1926 46.63 193 0.1 310 0.166
Work type
 Most time/sitting 1678 47.86 172 0.102 276 0.168
 Most time/standing 1387 39.56 172 0.124 280 0.205
 Physical effort 441 12.58 38 0.086 81 0.187
Occupational group (Mother)
 Managers/seniors 320 7.74 29 0.09 45 0.146
 Professionals 439 10.62 43 0.098 73 0.173
 Associated professionals 676 16.35 63 0.093 100 0.153
 Administration/secretarial 717 17.34 89 0.124 139 0.2
 Skilled trades 45 10.09 4 0.089 8 0.182
 Personal service 815 19.71 83 0.101 140 0.178
 Customer service 500 12.72 66 0.123 97 0.186
 Machine operatives 53 1.35 7 0.127 14 0.269
 Elementary occupation 510 12.98 67 0.125 123 0.24
Gestational diabetes
 No 3878 93.78 434 0.112 782 0.188
 Yes 257 6.22 17 0.066 38 0.152
Preclampsia
 No 3844 97 407 0.106 675 0.181
 Yes 119 3 27 0.227 37 0.322
Pre-existing hypertension
 No 3926 98.82 427 0.108 702 0.185
 Yes 47 1.18 8 0.17 13 0.289
Any EDC exposure
 No 3777 92.66 417 0.11 673 0.184
 Yes 299 7.34 27 0.09 54 0.186
Exposure to PAH
 No 4012 98.43 438 0.109 716 0.185
 Yes 64 1.57 6 0.094 11 0.18
Exposure to pesticides
 No 4069 99.83 442 0.108 724 0.185
 Yes 7 0.17 2 0.285 3 0.429
Exposure to phthalates
 No 4000 98.14 440 0.11 717 0.185
 Yes 76 1.86 4 0.053 10 0.135
Exposure to organic solvents
 No 3895 95.56 425 0.109 690 0.184
 Yes 181 4.44 19 0.105 37 0.209
Exposure to akylphenolics
 No 3917 96.1 428 0.109 693 0.184
 Yes 159 3.9 16 0.101 34 0.219
Exposure to metals
 No 4028 98.82 441 0.109 722 0.186
 Yes 48 1.18 3 0.062 5 0.109
Exposure to miscellaneous
 No 4006 98.34 441 0.11 720 0.186
 Yes 70 1.72 3 0.043 7 0.103

a Missing not included in the analysis.

b A-Levels, A–C equates to Level 2 attainment defined by the 2011 revision of the International Standard Classification of Education; ≥2 advanced levels or equivalent qualifications equate to Level 3 educational attainment.

Strategy of statistical analysis

We used univariate and multivariate analyses with risk ratios (RR) and 95% CI (CI) generated using generalized estimation equation (GEE) modelling by a modified Poisson regression, with robust error variance (42, 43). Findings at P<0.05 were considered significant. The two crude and adjusted models estimated the risk of dependent variables with independent variables as shown in tables 2 and 3. All independent variables were categorical. For example, in table 2, all co-variables were screened by cross-tabulations, Chi2 test and also the Mantel-Haenzel adjusted odds ratio (OR) with separate SGA and POBW variables. If significant at P<0.2, the co-variables were entered into fully adjusted multivariate models for both SGA and POBW. Backwards-stepwise regression was used to simplify the models by sequentially removing non-significant variables that did not reduce how well the data fitted the models. Covariates were included in the multivariate model if the difference between the crude and adjusted RR was >10% for either outcome measure. For reasons of comparison and based on evidence from previous literature, maternal age, education, alcohol consumption, and job hours were included by default, independent of statistical significance. Interaction effects were examined for statistical significance. The analysis of POBW<85 was also stratified by ethnicity. All preceding calculations were made using the statistical program STATA (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA).

Table 2

Univariate and multivariate relative risk (RR) estimation using generalized estimation model by a modified Poisson regression of the effects of maternal occupational exposures to endocrine disrupter chemicals (EDC) on risk of inadequate fetal growth in infants born in Bradford. Bold denotes significance (P<0.05). [CI=confidence interval; BMI=body mass index; GCSE=general certificate of secondary education; IMD=index of multiple deprivation for Bradford; PAH= polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; POBW=percentage of optimal birth weight; SGA= small-for-gestational age.]

Characteristics SGA P-value SGA P-value POBW<85 P-value POBW<85 P-value
Crude RR (95% CI) RRadj a (95% CI) Crude RR (95% CI) RRadj a (95% CI)
Exposed to PAH b 0.86 (0.40–1.84) 0.69 1.25 (0.53–2.94) 0.60 0.97 (0.57–1.67) 0.92 0.91 (0.46–1.80) 0.79
Exposed to pesticides b 2.63 (0.81–8.51) 0.10 5.45 (1.59–18.62) 0.00 2.32 (0.99–5.48) 0.05 3.72 (1.40–9.91) 0.00
Exposed to phthalates b 0.48 (0.18–1.24) 0.13 1.69 (0.34–8.41) 0.52 0.73 (0.41–1.29) 0.28 3.71 (1.62–8.51) 0.00
Exposed to organic solvents b 0.96 (0.62–1.48) 0.86 1.08 (0.36–3.29) 0.88 1.13 (0.85–1.52) 0.39 0.89 (0.44–1.80) 0.74
Exposure to akylphenolics b 0.92 (0.57–1.48) 0.73 1.62 (0.50–5.25) 0.42 1.19 (0.88–1.62) 0.25 1.48 (0.70–3.11) 0.31
Exposure to metals b 0.57 (0.19–1.71) 0.31 0.58 (0.15–2.16) 0.42 0.58 (0.25–1.34) 0.2 0.49 (0.16–1.49) 0.21
Exposure to miscellaneous b 0.39 (0.13–1.18) 0.09 0.23 (0.03–1.84) 0.17 0.55 (0.27–1.12) 0.09 0.18 (0.05–0.60) 0.00
Occupational group (mother)
 Managers/seniors 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Professionals 1.08 (0.69–1.69) 0.72 0.92 (0.50–1.69) 0.80 1.00 (0.81–1.24) 0.96 1.18 (0.75–1.86) 0.47
 Associated professionals 1.02 (0.68–1.56) 0.86 1.10 (0.64–1.91) 0.72 1.01 (0.76–1.45) 0.91 1.35 (0.89–2.04) 0.15
 Administration/secretarial 1.36 (0.92–2.03) 0.12 1.18 (0.69–2.01) 0.54 1.21 (1.00–1.46) 0.04 1.49 (0.98–2.24) 0.06
 Skilled trades 0.98 (0.36–2.66) 0.97 0.63 (0.18–2.20) 0.48 1.07 (0.68–1.66) 0.76 0.99 (0.41–2.37) 0.99
 Personal service 1.12 (0.75–1.68) 0.57 1.07 (0.61–1.87) 0.81 1.15 (0.95–1.39) 0.13 1.19 (0.78–1.82) 0.41
 Customer service 1.36 (0.89–2.05) 0.14 1.05 (0.60–1.83) 0.85 1.15 (0.94–1.40) 0.15 1.18 (0.77–1.81) 0.44
 Machine operatives 1.40 (0.65–3.05) 0.39 0.64 (0.22–1.86) 0.41 1.51 (1.09–2.09) 0.01 1.42 (0.66–3.06) 0.37
 Elementary occupation 1.38 (0.92–2.10) 0.11 0.99 (0.55–1.78) 0.99 1.31 (1.20–2.24) 0.00 1.29 (0.84–2.00) 0.24
Work
 Most time/sitting 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Most time/standing 1.21 (0.99–1.48) 0.05 1.23 (0.96–1.58) 0.10 1.07 (0.98–1.18) 0.12 1.25 (1.04–1.51) 0.01
 Physical effort 0.84 (0.60–1.17) 0.31 0.85 (0.57–1.28) 0.44 0.97 (0.83–1.12) 0.66 1.19 (0.91–1 .56) 0.18
Ethnic origin
 British Caucasian 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 South Asian 2.53 (2.11–3.03) 0.00 2.69 (1.94–3.73) 0.00 1.97 (1.81–2.13) 0.00 2.43 (1.91–3.09) 0.00
 Other 0.97 (0.69–1.38) 0.90 0.86 (0.52–1.41) 0.56 1.02 (0.87–1.19) 0.77 1.06 (0.76–1.47) 0.72
Age (years)
 ≤35 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 >35 0.97 (0.73–1.29) 0.87 1.64 (1.16–2.32) 0.00 0.90 (0.80–1.22) 0.14 1.17 (0.90–1.52) 0.25
Education (mother)
 <5 GCSE equivalents 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 5 GCSE equivalents 1.37 (0.94–2.00) 0.10 1.51 (0.95–2.41) 0.08 0.84 (0.72–0.97) 0.02 0.96 (0.73–1.28) 0.82
 A-level equivalent c 1.14 (0.76–1.69) 0.53 1.11 (0.67–1.83) 0.66 0.83 (0.71–0.97) 0.01 0.78 (0.57–1.06) 0.11
 >A level 1.14 (0.78–1.66) 0.49 1.24 (0.77–2.01) 0.37 0.79 (0.68–0.92) 0.00 0.88 (0.64–1.20) 0.41
 Other degrees 1.00 (0.62–1.63) 0.97 1.29 (0.71–2.33) 0.41 0.69 (0.56–0.85) 0.00 0.70 (0.45–1.09) 0.11
 Unknown/foreign 1.15 (0.55–2.42) 0.70 1.26 (0.51–3.12) 0.61 0.71 (0.49–1.02) 0.06 0.91 (0.50–1.67) 0.78
Smoking (cigarettes)
 0 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 1–5 per day 1.31 (0.96–1.79) 0.09 1.63 (1.13–2.35) 0.00 1.20 (1.04–1.39) 0.01 1.62 (1.26–2.09) 0.00
 >5 per day 1.61 (1.25–2.08) 0.00 2.65 (1.89–3.71) 0.00 1.35 (1.20–1.53) 0.00 2.29 (1.79–2.92) 0.00
BMI
 Normal 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Overweight 0.68 (0.55–0.83) 0.00 0.76 (0.60–0.97) 0.02 0.75 (0.68–0.82) 0.00 0.76 (0.64–0.91) 0.00
 Obese 0.49 (0.39–0.63) 0.00 0.60 (0.45–0.80) 0.00 0.60 (0.54–0.67) 0.00 0.58 (0.47–0.71) 0.00
 Underweight 3.28 (1.45–7.41) 0.00 3.29 (0.67–16.24) 0.14 2.01 (1.01–2.29) 0.00 1.65 (0.41–6.58) 0.48
IMD 2010 score
 1 (most deprived) 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
 2 0.83 (0.66–1.04) 0.11 0.82 (0.62–1.07) 0.15 0.88 (0.79–0.98) 0.02 0.77 (0.64–0.94) 0.01
 3 0.60 (0.47–0.78) 0.00 0.83 (0.61–1.12) 0.23 0.76 (0.68–0.85) 0.00 0.82 (0.66–1.01) 0.07
 4 0.53 (0.41–0.70) 0.00 0.81 (0.58–1.15) 0.25 0.71 (0.63–0.80) 0.00 0.78 (0.60–0.99) 0.04
 5 (least deprived) 0.45 (0.28–0.71) 0.00 0.44 (0.20–0.93) 0.03 0.55 (0.44–0.69) 0.00 0.58 (0.36–0.93) 0.02

a Adjusted for all variables in the table and job hours during pregnancy (<35, ≥35): alcohol consumption (yes or no/occasionally), marital status (married/remarried, single, separated/divorced, widowed), parity (first child, second child & higher), gestational diabetes (no, yes), preeclampsia (no, yes), pre-exciting hypertension (no, yes), other tobacco (no, yes), and drugs during pregnancy (no, yes).

b Unexposed=reference group (not shown in the table). Each group of EDC is included in the analysis as an independent variable.

c A-Level- A–C equates to Level 2 attainment defined by the 2011 revision of the International Standard Classification of Education; ≥2 advanced Levels or equivalent qualifications equate to Level 3 educational attainment.

Table 3

Characteristics of 4142 pregnancies with live births by likelihood of maternal occupational exposure to endocrine disrupter chemicals (EDC) during pregnancy, Born in Bradford Study, 2007–2012. Bold denotes significance (P<0.05). [CI=confidence interval; BMI=body mass index; GCSE=general certificate of secondary education; IMD=index of multiple deprivation for Bradford; PAH= polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; POBW=percentage of optimal birth weight; RR=risk ratio; SGA= small-for-gestational age.]

Characteristics (N=4142) Unlikely EDC exposure Possible/ probable EDC exposure Chi2 Pr Univariate and multivariate analyses P-value
N % N % crude RR (95% CI) P-value RRadj(95%CI) a
Exposure to EDC
 Any exposure (total) 3777 92.66 299 7.34
 PAH 4012 98.43 64 1.57
 Polychloride organic compounds 4072 99.9 4 0.1
 Pesticides 4069 99.83 7 0.17
 Phthalates 4000 98.14 76 1.86
 Organic solvents 3895 95.56 181 4.44
 Bisphenol A 4076 98.62 0 0
 Alkylphenolics 3917 96.1 159 3.9
 Flame retardants 4074 99.95 2 0.05
 Metals 4028 98.82 48 1.18
 Miscellaneous 4006 98.34 70 1.72
Occupational group (mother) b
 Managers/seniors 272 7.2 8 2.68 1.00 1.00
 Professionals 435 11.52 3 1 1.00 1.00
 Associated professionals 715 18.93 0 0 1.00 1.00
 Administration/secretarial 535 14.16 0 0 489.4 <0.00 1.00 1.00
 Skilled trades 646 17.1 30 10.03 7.94 (4.00–15.76) <0.00 12.08 (4.95–29.43) <0.00
 Personal service 34 0.9 11 3.68 43.73 (20.01–95.58) <0.00 52.92 (19.19–145.92) <0.00
 Customer service 716 18.96 99 33.11 21.73 (11.71–40.30) <0.00 25.10 (10.50–60.02) <0.00
 Machine operatives 29 0.77 17 5.69 66.11 (32.83–133.13) <0.00 80.40 (31.08–207.98) <0.00
 Elementary occupation 395 10.46 131 43.81 44.55 (24.26–81.82) <0.00 56.40 (24.01–132.51) <0.00
Work type
 Most time/sitting 1593 49.77 48 10.05 1.00 1.00
 Most time/standing 1229 38.39 147 58.33 91.18 <0.00 3.65 (2.65–5.01) <0.00 1.83 (1.28–2.60) <0.00
 Physical effort 379 11.84 57 22.62 4.47 (3.08–6.46) <0.00 1.64 (1.10–2.45) <0.00
Ethnic origin
 British Caucasian 2214 58.62 224 74.92 1.00 1.00
 South Asian 1139 30.16 35 11.71 46.18 <0.00 0.32 (0.22–0.46) <0.00 0.35 (0.22–0.56) <0.00
 Other 424 11.23 40 13.38 0.94 (0.68–1.29) <0.69 0.65 (0.44–0.97) <0.03
Age (years)
 20–34 3089 81.78 242 80.94 1.00 1.00
 >34 553 14.64 36 12.04 9.93 <0.00 0.84 (0.59–1.18) <0.32 1.04 (0.72–1.52) <0.87
 <20 135 3.57 21 7.02 1.85 (1.22–2.81) <0.00 0.94 (0.61–1.44) <0.78
Education (mother)
 <5 GCSE equivalents 262 6.95 50 16.78 1.00 1.00
 5 GCSE equivalents 1005 26.67 102 34.23 0.57 (0.42–0.78) <0.00 0.79 (0.57–1.10) <0.14
 A-level equivalent c 763 20.25 46 15.44 69.76 <0.00 0.35 (0.24–0.52) <0.00 0.58 (0.39–0.86) <0.00
 >A level 1378 36.57 60 20.13 0.26 (0.18–0.37) <0.00 0.77 (0.50–1.20) <0.25
 Other 296 7.86 31 10.4 0.59 (0.39–0.90) <0.01 1.04 (0.66–1.62) <0.89
 Unknown 64 1.7 9 3.02 0.77 (0.39–1.49) <0.43 0.72 (0.33–1.59) <0.42
Smoking (cigarettes)
 0 3222 85.37 215 71.91 1.00 1.00
 1–5 per day 244 6.47 37 12.37 38.13 <0.00 2.10 (1.51–2.91) <0.00 1.33 (0.96–1.84) <0.08
 >5 per day 308 8.16 47 15.72 2.12 (1.57–2.84) <0.00 1.01 (0.73–1.40) <0.94
Alcohol
 No/occasionally 2938 72.2 197 65.89 1.00 1.00
 Yes 1131 27.8 102 34.11 6.41 <0.01 1.34 (1.06–1.69) <0.01 1.10 (0.86–1.42) <0.39
BMI
 Normal 986 26.84 85 29.31 1.00 1.00
 Overweight 1462 39.8 113 38.97 1.69 <0.63 0.90 (0.68–1.18) <0.46 1.00 (0.75–1.33) <0.99
 Obese 1220 33.22 91 31.38 0.87 (0.66–1.16) <0.35 0.98 (0.73–1.32) <0.91
 Underweight 5 0.14 <5g 0.34 2.10 (0.34–12.71) <0.41 4.56 (2.17–9.56) <0.00
Parity
 First child 1946 53.45 161 55.52 1.00 1.00
 Second child & higher 1695 46.55 129 44.48 0.46 <0.49 0.92 (0.74–1.15) <0.49 0.87 (0.68–1.10) <0.28
Marital Status
 Married/remarried 2334 61.86 116 38.8 1.00 1.00
 Single 1336 35.41 174 58.19 63.35 <0.00 2.43 (1.94–3.05) <0.00 1.22 (0.91–1.63) <0.17
 Separated/divorced/ widowed 103 2.73 9 3.01 1.69 (0.88-3.25) <0.11 0.96 (0.47-1.92) <0.92
IMD 2010 score BF
 1 (most deprived) 857 23.21 70 23.73 1.00 1.00
 2 861 23.32 77 26.1 1.08 (0.79–1.48) <0.59 1.17 (0.85–1.60) <0.29
 3 907 24.57 82 27.8 6.9 <0.14 1.09 (0.80–1.49) <0.55 1.38 (1.00–1.90) <0.04
 4 815 22.07 47 15.93 0.72 (0.50–1.03) <0.07 1.05 (0.72–1.54) <0.74
 5 (least deprived) 252 6.83 19 6.44 0.92 (0.56–1.51) <0.76 1.79 (1.06–3.05) <0.02

a Adjusted for all variables in the table and job hours during pregnancy (<35, ≥35), alcohol consumption (drank alcohol during pregnancy (yes or no/occasionally), marital status (married/remarried, single, separated/divorced, widowed), parity (first child, second child & higher), gestational diabetes (no, yes), preeclampsia (no, yes), pre-exciting hypertension (no, yes), other tobacco (no, yes), and drugs during pregnancy (no, yes).

b The first four occupational groups combined and used as the reference group in univariate and multivariate analyses.

c A-Level- A–C equates to Level 2 attainment defined by the 2011 revision of the International Standard Classification of Education; ≥2 advanced levels or equivalent qualifications equate to Level 3 educational attainment.

Results

Table 1 describes the maternal characteristics of the 4142 eligible pregnancies and gives crude risks of SGA (10.9%), and POBW<85 (17.9%). The cohort was multiethnic: ~60% were classified as Caucasian British, ~29% South Asian (Pakistani/Bangladesh/India), and ~11% other. The results from crude risks indicate that women were more likely to have babies with inadequate fetal growth as measured by both SGA and POBW<85, if they are from a South Asian ethnicity group, less educated, smoke, use drugs, live in most derived areas, or have preeclampsia or pre-existing hypertension.

Table 2 presents the univariate and multivariate estimates of RR for each of the two outcomes associated with statistically significant risk factors. In the multivariate analyses, all maternal characteristics and each category of seven groups of chemicals (those with numbers more than five records) were included except vitamin/iron supplementation and financial status, which were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between occupational groups for either outcome. However, work involving standing most of time was associated with a 25% increased risk of having a baby with inadequate fetal growth.

Effects of EDC on the risk of SGA

In multivariate analysis, the proportion of infants with SGA among women likely occupationally exposed to PAH, pesticides, phthalates, or ALP was statistically non-significantly higher than among women in the reference group, except for exposure to pesticides where it was 5 fold higher [adjusted RR (RRadj) 5.45, 95% CI 1.59–18.62]. No association was found between SGA and exposures to solvents, metals, and miscellaneous chemicals.

Effects of EDC on the risk of POBW<85.

In multivariate analysis, the proportion of infants with POBW<85 among women likely occupationally exposed to pesticides (RRadj 3.72, 95% CI 1.40–9.91) and phthalates 3-fold (RRadj 3.71, 95% CI 1.62–8.51) was higher than that among the women in the reference group. Exposures to ALP was statistically non-significantly associated with increased risk of POBW<85. No association was found between POBW<85 and exposures to PAH, organic solvents, and metals. Exposure to the miscellaneous category had a protective effect.

The most frequently occurring occupations associated with exposure to pesticides with significant adverse effects on fetal growth were veterinary nurses, veterinary assistants, and horticultural trades. The main pesticides encountered were carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids. The most prevalent occupations associated with exposure to phthalates with significant adverse effects on fetal growth were hairdressers, beauticians and related occupations and printing machine minders. The phthalates most often encountered were DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DEP. The most prevalent occupations associated with exposure to ALP with significant effect on fetal growth were domestic cleaners, hairdressers and beauticians. The ALP most often encountered were alklylphenols and alkylphenolic ethoxylates.

Table 3 shows the distribution of pregnancy characteristics of 4142 stratified by likelihood of maternal occupational exposure to EDC during pregnancy. Almost 7.5% of the study cohort were classified as possibly or probably exposed to ≥1 of 10 classes of EDC. The most common encountered exposures were to organic solvents (4.5%) and ALP (4%) phthalates (1.9%), PAH (1.6%), metals (1.2%), and miscellaneous (1.7%). In general, women who were more likely to be exposed to EDC worked in skilled trades, personal service, elementary occupations, or as machine operators. In addition, their work involved prolonged standing or physical effort and they were more likely to be Causcasian British and less educated.

Discussion

This study provides evidence that maternal occupational exposure during pregnancy to estimated concentrations of EDC – as classified by application of a JEM – is associated with significantly increased risk of impaired fetal growth. In particular, mothers exposed to pesticides were three to five times more likely to have an infant with suboptimal fetal growth as measured by POBW<85 and SGA respectively, and mothers exposed to phthalates were about three times more likely to have a baby with inadequate fetal growth measured by POBW<85. Maternal exposure to ALP was associated with a non-significant but increased risk of inadequate fetal growth as measured by SGA and POBW<85.

This study also demonstrated disproportionate exposure to EDC with personal risk factors in women. In general, women who were exposed to EDC were more likely to be Caucasian British, less educated, done work involving prolonged standing or physical effort and worked as skilled trades, personal service, machine operators and elementary occupations.

The study has several strengths primarily due to the large amount and detail of data available. The prospective design minimises recall bias, and selection bias was minimised by the 80% participation rate to the mid-pregnancy. Detailed information was collected about individual maternal characteristics and information obtained on chemical exposures through JEM, which enabled adjustment for potential confounders including adjustment for exposures to individual EDC in order to minimise the effect of possible confounding. The classification of EDC exposures was assessed independently and prior to knowledge of the outcomes by a recently updated JEM developed specifically to assess the association between occupational exposures to EDC and birth outcomes, thus information bias was largely eliminated. We were able to evaluate the effect of several EDC exposures on two different criteria for inadequate fetal growth.

In this study, we used POBW<85 as an indicator of inadequate intrauterine growth that is less dependent on the health of the reference population or the quality of their morphometric data than is percentile position on a birth weight distribution. The method uses optimal rather than expected growth as the standard and reports the ratio of the observed birth dimension to the optimal birth dimension rather than as being above or below a specified position of the population distribution of that dimension, avoiding the problems inherent in the use of percentile position.

The availability of job titles, the detailed information on work tasks or activities routinely performed, type of business and information about when the mother worked during her pregnancy has reduced non-differential misclassification of exposure and enabled a more accurate assessment of occupational exposures compared with studies with access only to job titles.

We validated the job title coding to get a more accurate code for each job title, so the potential for observer bias in the coding of occupational title status was minimised, improving the reliability and validity of the coded job titles. The risk for each category of EDC was estimated, rather than several EDC categories combined, allowing any differences between categories to be observed. Finally, JEM-based assessments of risk of exposures to chemical agents are more reliable than self-reported assessments (17).

A limitation was that individual exposures were not measured. However, Vandenberg et al (44), has reviewed the dose–response between endocrine disrupters and various health outcomes and the possibility of non-monotonic dose–responses. As stated by Vandenberg: “the endocrine system evolved to function when unbound physiologically active ligand (hormones) are present at extremely low doses”, “EDCs that mimic natural hormones have been proposed to follow the same rules and therefore have biological effects at low doses” (44, page 8). Another limitation is that the cells of JEM represent exposure probabilities, which are only a crude measure of exposure, so it needs to be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, the JEM does not consider specific chemicals but only broad groups thereof, and the mechanisms of action can vary between specific chemicals in a group (34). In this study, we reported the specific chemicals identified within each broad group of pesticides, phthalates and alkylphenolic compounds, but it was not possible to distinguish the role of each specific chemicals in their broad groups in the observed lower fetal growth rate. There is also a possibility of overlap between the categories of phthalates and alkyphenolic compounds among exposed mothers, so it was not possible to separate the specific role of each of these chemicals in inadequate fetal growth rate. Finally, too few mothers were exposed to some of EDC such as polychlorinated organic compounds, bisphenol A, and flame-retardants to allow evaluation of their associations with our outcomes. Exposure to the miscellaneous category had a protective effect, but due to small number of exposed people, the CI was very large, (95% CI 0.05–0.60) so the results should be interpreted with caution. Large CI were also observed in the results of occupational groups in table 3. There might be a risk of type 2 errors due to small samples of those exposed to some of EDC. However, for other EDC our results are compatible with those of previous similar studies (4, 16, 17), enhancing their credibility as well as our own.

This study introduces another approach (fetal growth measured by percentage of optimal birth weight) for defining adequacy of growth in assessing the effects of chemical exposures compared to other published studies. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the risk of inadequate fetal growth as measured by POBW<85 was significantly elevated following possible or probable maternal occupational exposures to one or more classes of EDC, particularly pesticides and phthalates. A recent study in the Generation R cohort using the same JEM found that occupational exposures to pesticides and phthalates during pregnancy were significantly associated with reduced placental weight and fetal length as estimated by ultrasounds and reduced fetal weight following mother’s exposures to phthalates and PAHs (16). Another study from Generation R cohort using the same JEM concluded that maternal occupational exposure to phthalates and pesticides was associated with adverse effects on fertility and pregnancy outcomes (17). A meta-analysis from a European large-scale prospective study using the same JEM also suggests that pregnant women classified as exposed to multiple EDC, including pesticides and phthalates, were at significantly higher risk of term low birth weight newborns in cohorts throughout Europe (4). Our finding in regard to non-significant association between POBW<85 as a measure of fetal growth and maternal exposure to ALP is in line with a recent study in the Generation R cohort using the same JEM in assessing occupational exposure to chemicals and fetal growth as measured by reduced fetal weight estimated from ultrasound-fetometry (16). Our finding about a significant association between maternal exposure to pesticides and SGA is supported by several studies (45–47). However, epidemiological studies on the effect of exposures to endocrine disrupters on pregnancy outcomes are not always consistent, warranting further research into this important topic. For example, the affected occupations associated with exposures to pesticides in this study were those classified as veterinary nurses and horticultural trades and, to phthalates, hairdressers, beauticians, and printing machine minders. The findings in the present study concerning exposure to pesticides and phthalates in hairdressers and agricultural activities and having infants with inadequate fetal growth is in accordance with previous findings (16, 17, 48–50). However, there were some studies in agricultural activities and among hairdressers that show conflicting results (51–54).

There is limited research evaluating the occupational and personal characteristics of women associated with occupational exposures to EDC. Evaluation of the influence of both occupational and personal risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, age, marital status, ethnic origin, education, BMI, socio-economic status) would help to improve our understanding of health hazards and develop a comprehensive preventive approach to achieve a longer, healthy working life. Unequal exposure to occupational exposure acting as EDC is an under-recognized risk factor that may play an important role in deriving the higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes among those affected populations.

Human development is most vulnerable to toxic substances and endocrine disruption in the early embryonic period. The restricted fetal growth associated with exposure to pesticides and phthalates during pregnancy is an important public health concern because restricted fetal growth is linked to adverse health later in life such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension (55). It is therefore important to identify occupation-related risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Further larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and identify potential targets for prevention. Until then, precautionary prevention and control management of risks to health and safety at the workplace are recommended. In general, the precautions to be taken for the protection of the reproductive health of both women and men will not differ from the safeguarding of all workers. A national priority of supporting research on occupational causes of adverse reproductive outcomes recommended.

Concluding remarks

Consistent with the results of other studies, this prospective birth cohort study provides evidence that occupational exposure to pesticides and phthalates may play a role in the etiology of inadequate fetal growth and SGA infants.

Acknowledgements

The Born in Bradford Study is only possible because of the enthusiasm and commitment of participating children and parents. We are grateful to all the participants, health professionals and researchers who have made the study happen. The authors also would like to acknowledge the Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy & International Affairs for infrastructure support that enabled Dr Shirangi to complete this study.

Funding

The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia supported this work, (Grant ID: 463908 to Dr Adeleh Shirangi for a Sidney Sax Fellowship). Funding Data Registry: researchdata.ands.org.au/dr-adeleh-shirangi/523275.

Professor John Wright and Dr Rosemary McEachan received funding from the National Institute for Health Research’s Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR200166) and A Wellcome infrastructure grant (WT101597MA). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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