August/September 2007 (vol. 04/2)

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Research Plus

Chemical workers’ pregnancy outcomes

The chemical company BASF has been monitoring birth outcomes of its female employees as part of a policy to protect pregnant women and new mothers. In total, 1,148 pregnancies and 1,147 live births (singleton and twins) were followed over six years. Pregnancy loss did not differ by type of work, though first-trimester vaginal bleeding during pregnancy was weakly (but not significantly) associated with possible workplace exposure to toluene and research chemicals1. Pre-term births, Apgar scores, birth height, weight and sex ratio were unaffected by maternal work area or chemical hazard classification2.

  1. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine 2007; 49(5): 507–518.
  2. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine 2007; 49(5): 519–525.

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Occupational Health at Work August/September 2007 (vol. 04/2) pp40