Exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals before, during and after pregnancy: data from the Swiss Teratogen Information Service (STIS).
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
39137375
Description
AIMS OF THE STUDY
Limited knowledge exists regarding exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals by women planning to conceive, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The Swiss Teratogen Information Service (STIS) provides information to healthcare professionals about medications and other exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This study aimed to describe the queries on non-therapeutic chemicals addressed to the STIS over the past two decades.
METHODS
Using data from the STIS for the years 2000 to 2019, we conducted a descriptive analysis of all queries related to women's exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy planning, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
RESULTS
Over two decades, the STIS database recorded 320 exposures to chemicals. Workplace settings accounted for over 60% of queries, followed by exposures at home (20%). In almost half (48%) of the queries, more than one chemical was mentioned, totalling 885 chemicals across these 320 queries. Commonly mentioned chemicals included isopropanol, acetone and lead. Solvents were the leading category of products (16%), followed by cleaning products (10%), paints (8%) and insecticides (5%). The follow-up data showed five diverse cases of congenital malformations, accounting for 4.0% (5 out of 125) of the sample, a figure in line with the background risk of malformations in the general population.
CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasises the importance of conducting research that comprehensively captures the highly heterogeneous exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy and suggests that attention should be given not only to professional settings, but also to domestic contexts.
Limited knowledge exists regarding exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals by women planning to conceive, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The Swiss Teratogen Information Service (STIS) provides information to healthcare professionals about medications and other exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This study aimed to describe the queries on non-therapeutic chemicals addressed to the STIS over the past two decades.
METHODS
Using data from the STIS for the years 2000 to 2019, we conducted a descriptive analysis of all queries related to women's exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy planning, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
RESULTS
Over two decades, the STIS database recorded 320 exposures to chemicals. Workplace settings accounted for over 60% of queries, followed by exposures at home (20%). In almost half (48%) of the queries, more than one chemical was mentioned, totalling 885 chemicals across these 320 queries. Commonly mentioned chemicals included isopropanol, acetone and lead. Solvents were the leading category of products (16%), followed by cleaning products (10%), paints (8%) and insecticides (5%). The follow-up data showed five diverse cases of congenital malformations, accounting for 4.0% (5 out of 125) of the sample, a figure in line with the background risk of malformations in the general population.
CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasises the importance of conducting research that comprehensively captures the highly heterogeneous exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy and suggests that attention should be given not only to professional settings, but also to domestic contexts.
Date of Publication
2024-07-16
Publication Type
Article
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Srikantha, Piranavie | |
Winterfeld, Ursula | |
Girardin, Francois | |
Ochsenbein-Kölble, Nicole | |
Simões-Wüst, Ana Paula |
Additional Credits
Series
Swiss medical weekly
Publisher
EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag
ISSN
1424-7860
Access(Rights)
open.access