Work, Hobbies & Gastroschisis
lthough occupational exposures during s Women had a greater risk when exposure to
A pregnancy have received much attention,
leisure-time activities have been largely s
solvents came through hobby related activities.
Exposure to all classes of solvents raised risk:
ignored. Both may expose the fetus to chemicals and aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene),
other harmful conditions, in some cases raising the aliphatic hydrocarbons (propane, some aerosol
risk for birth defects. This study by the California propellants), glycols (ethylene glycol, antifreeze),
Birth Defects Monitoring Program looks at occupation/ and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).
hobbies and the birth defect gastroschisis.
Mothers were asked about work activities as well as
GASTROSCHISIS
specific hobbies during the 3 months before and the
3 months after conception. An industrial hygienist s Young mothers are 4 times as likely as women
in their late 20s to have babies with gastroschisis,
evaluated types of exposures associated with each
(pronounced gas-tro-SKEE-sis). Seen in 1 in 4500
occupation/hobby and classified the exposure level California births, about 130 affected infants are
based on duration, manner of contact, and working born each year, one third of them to teens.
conditions. Responses of mothers whose babies had s Newborns with gastroschisis—where intestines
gastroschisis were compared to those of mothers protrude through a hole in the abdomen—die
whose babies had no birth defects. without immediate corrective surgery and intensive
hospital care. Medical costs average $44,000.
SOLVE NT S I NC RE ASE D R IS K s The defect occurs 5-8 weeks after conception,
most likely due to a disruption of the blood
Mothers exposed to organic solvents had more than supply to the developing abdominal wall.
double the risk of having babies with gastroschisis. s Using cocaine or other drugs
About 10% of mothers of normal infants were during pregnancy increases
exposed to solvents, compared to about 25% of risk more than 4 times.
Mothers whose infants
mothers whose babies had gastroschisis.
have gastroschisis are
s High-level exposure to solvents raised risk by more likely to come from
nearly 4 times; low-level exposure raised risk disadvantaged backgrounds.
about 2 times.
s Solvents are found in a wide range of products, such as doing your nails, is probably OK,” says
such as gasoline, motor oil, paint thinner, poly- researcher Claudine Torfs. “But try to avoid
urethane, spray paint, aerosol sprays, nail polish frequent or intense exposures.”
remover, and many cleaning products. The study
looked at exposures to solvents in general—it P OPUL AT ION-BA SED STUDY DESIGN
did not focus on possible risks from any of these All cases were identified through ongoing surveil-
specific exposures. lance by the California Birth Defects Monitoring
s Women who engaged in hobbies with solvent Program registry, a population-based, actively
exposure—automechanics, furniture stripping, ascertained database on children with birth defects.
and painting—had a risk 2 to 4 times higher. Specific study elements follow:
s Secondhand exposure to solvents—through the s Participants: 110 mothers of infants with
activities of another person in the household— gastroschisis and 220 mothers of the same ages
did not increase the risk for gastroschisis. whose infants did not have birth defects. All
babies were born between 1988-1990. Only
COLORING AGENTS ALSO RA ISE D RISK White or Latina women were included because
there were few cases in other racial/ethnic
Mothers exposed to colorants—pigments, metallic
groups.
and organic dyes—doubled their risk. Exposure was
seen in 16% of mothers of normal infants and 29% s Interview: Conducted in the mother’s home by
of women whose babies had gastroschisis. a trained interviewer, in English or Spanish,
3-6 months after the baby’s birth. The 2.5-hour
s Colored wall or furniture paints, fabric dyes/paint,
structured questionnaire asked about the mother’s
permanent hair dye, nail polish, and corroded
pregnancy, diet, health, drug use, occupation,
metal all contain colorants.
hobbies, and demographics as well as about the
s Exposure can come from occupations/hobbies
baby’s father and grandparents.
such as cosmetology, painting, fabric dyeing,
s Diagnostic information: Abstracted from
and automechanics (handling corroded parts).
hospital medical records and reviewed by a
geneticist to ensure correct classification.
C ON SID ER ALL SOURCE S OF EXPOSURE
Expectant mothers should use caution as they REFERENCE: Torfs CP, Katz EA, Bateson TF, Lam PK,
consider possible exposures from their activities Curry CJR. Maternal medications and environmental
exposures as risk factors for gastroschisis. Teratology
at home and in the workplace. Even seemingly 1996;54:84-92.
harmless hobbies may raise the risk for birth defects.
The California Birth Defects Monitoring Program—
Further studies are needed to delineate risks a public health program devoted to finding causes of birth defects—
is funded through the California Department of Health Services
associated with specific exposures. “Until then, and jointly operated with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.
occasional low exposure to solvents or colorants,
April 1999