Occupational Exposure during Pregnancy and Effects on Newborns: A Nested Case-Control Study

Background: The protection of pregnant workers should be based on evidence regarding the risks to reproductive health from exposure to specific work environments and conditions. The objective of this study was to identify the effects on mothers and newborns resulting from environmental exposure to various occupational risks. Methods: The study cohort was composed of 399 women admitted to the Obstetrics/Postpartum ward at Hospital La Fe in Valencia, Spain. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to establish associations between workplace exposure during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and newborn health. Sex, anthropometric characteristics, and blood gas analysis in arterial and venous umbilical cord blood at delivery were collected. Results: A total of 138 women were exposed to biological and/or chemical risks, 122 to physical risks, and 139 at no risk of exposure. In the group with chemical and/or biological risks, the frequency of women who resorted to in vitro fertilization to achieve the studied pregnancy is less than half of the group exposed to physical risks, with statistically significant differences (p = 0.047). The mean values for the arterial analysis in both exposure groups were within average values, with similar pH values between them, but the mean values of PCO2 and PO2 were lower in the group of neonates of mothers exposed to physical risks, with a significant difference for arterial PO2 (p = 0.027). Conclusion: Our analysis contributes evidence for planning and prioritizing preventive actions to protect women's reproductive health. The results suggest the continuation of a future project that would consider more factors and potentially increase the sample size.

Automated summary

This study examines the effects of occupational risks on the health of mothers and newborns. The results show that pregnant women exposed to chemical and/or biological risks are less likely to resort to in vitro fertilization compared to those exposed to physical risks. Additionally, newborns of mothers exposed to physical risks had lower arterial PO2 values. These findings contribute to the planning and prioritization of preventive measures to protect women's reproductive health.