Title: An Exploratory Analysis of the Effect of Pesticide Exposure on
the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in an Ontario Farm Population
Authors: Tye E. Arbuckle,1 Zhiqiu Lin,2 and Leslie S. Mery3
Author's Affiliation: 1Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health,
Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;
2Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton University, Ottawa,
Ontario Canada; 3Cancer Bureau, Population and Public Health Branch, Health
Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


Journal: Environ Health Perspect 109:851-857 (2001).

Abstract:
"The toxicity of pesticides on human reproduction is largely
unknown--particularly how mixtures of pesticide products might affect fetal
toxicity. The Ontario Farm Family Health Study collected data by
questionnaire on the identity and timing of pesticide use on the farm,
lifestyle factors, and a complete reproductive history from the farm
operator and eligible couples living on the farm. A total of 2,110 women
provided information on 3,936 pregnancies, including 395 spontaneous
abortions. To explore critical windows of exposure and target sites for
toxicity, we examined exposures separately for preconception (3 months
before and up to month of conception) and postconception (first trimester)
windows and for early ( 12 weeks) and late (12-19 weeks) spontaneous
abortions. We observed moderate increases in risk of early abortions for
preconception exposures to phenoxy acetic acid herbicides [odds ratio (OR) =
1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-2.1], triazines (OR = 1.4; 95% CI,
1.0-2.0), and any herbicide (OR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9). For late abortions,
preconception exposure to glyphosate (OR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.9),
thiocarbamates (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.0), and the miscellaneous class of
pesticides (OR = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4) was associated with elevated risks.
Postconception exposures were generally associated with late spontaneous
abortions. Older maternal age ( 34 years of age) was the strongest risk
factor for spontaneous abortions, and we observed several interactions
between pesticides in the older age group using Classification and
Regression Tree analysis. This study shows that timing of exposure and
restricting analyses to more homogeneous endpoints are important in
characterizing the reproductive toxicity of pesticides."



--
Henry Kuska, retired

http://home.neo.rr.com/kuska/