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The association between parental occupational exposure to lead (7439921) and low birth weight was examined in this study. A total of 220 cases in which birth weight was below 2,500 grams and 522 controls were selected from the previous Baltimore Washington Infant Study. Parents were interviewed within 18 months of the birth about pregnancy characteristics and occupational histories. The lead exposure period examined extended from 6 months prior to conception to delivery. Within this population, 40% of the cases and 98% of the controls were term infants, while 45% of the cases and 8% of the controls were small for gestational age (SGA). Case parents were more likely to be black, unmarried, unemployed, and uneducated than were control parents. Case mothers were also more likely to be thinner, shorter, and cigarette smoker than were control mothers. Only three case mothers and nine control mothers were occupationally exposed to lead, thus excluding in depth analysis of this relationship. Of the employed fathers, 21% were occupationally exposed to lead. The risk of low birth weight increased significantly among infants of fathers directly exposed to high levels of lead, compared to infants of unexposed fathers. This effect was more pronounced among SGA infants than among infants whose weights were appropriate for gestational age. Direct paternal occupational exposure to high levels of lead was considered a predictor of low birth weight. The authors conclude that further study of this relationship, in which the actual measurements of exposure levels and biomarkers are included, is necessary.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 30(5):569-578, 1996. (32 references)
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