Computer scientists, landscapers and artists are among men whose jobs may contribute to an increased risk for their children, researchers warned today.
Researchers, led by Dr Andrew Olshan of the University of North Carolina, USA, explain that previous research has linked certain careers with birth defects, but different types of defects and occupations have been grouped together, giving unclear results.
The new study used figures from the US National Birth Defects Prevention Study to compare father’s occupation in 9,998 cases of birth defects against those in 4,066 other babies. Results showed that several occupations were linked with an increased rate of birth defects.
Such jobs included mathematical, physical and computer scientists, artists, photographers and photo processors, food service workers, landscapers and groundskeepers, hairdressers and cosmetologists, office and administrative support workers, sawmill workers, petroleum and gas workers, chemical worker, printers, material moving equipment operators, and motor vehicle operators.
In the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine today (July 18), the authors say they hope: "Findings from this study might be used to identify specific occupations worthy of further investigation".
Another study in the same journal confirmed earlier findings that women’s workplace exposure to organic solvents is linked to birth defects affecting the heart.
These solvents are widely used and are found in paints, varnishes, adhesives, degreasing/cleaning agents, dyes, and agricultural products. They enter the body through the lungs, mouth or skin.
Figures on 4,998 women living in the US showed that exposure to organic solvents in the month before conception up to early pregnancy "is a potential risk factor for several types of heart defects at birth".
Dr Suzanne Gilboa of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA, and her team call for more work on specific exposure/heart defect combinations.
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