Archives of Environmental Health An International Journal · 1992 · 87 citations · 33 references
Public HealthChild HealthMaternal HealthEnvironmental HealthEpidemiologyPediatric EpidemiologyBirth Defects EpidemiologyLow Birth Weight EpidemiologyPerinatal Risk FactorsPrenatal DevelopmentPrenatal Risk AssessmentReproductive RiskCensus Tract AnalysisCirculatory DisordersCongenital Anomaly RiskCongenital Malformation RiskEnvironmental Prenatal ExposuresEpidemiologic Exposure AssessmentMaternal Exposure EffectsMaternal-infant Risk Assessment
Public concern exists about the potential for reproductive damage that may result from exposures to environmental contaminants. Therefore, the authors sought to determine if there was an association between a child's congenital malformation or a child's lowered weight at birth and his or her mother's residence in a census tract where a site of environmental contamination had been documented. Exposure designations were derived from existing sources of information. Except for an elevated risk (odds ratio = 1.5) for infants with malformations of the heart and circulatory system, this investigation did not reveal increased risks for most malformations or for lowered birthweight among babies born to women who lived in these census tracts. Methodologic issues inherent to investigations that rely on existing data sources are discussed.
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