Occupational / Environmental Exposures

There are thousands of chemicals in use in today's workplaces - and more women at work than ever before. Before suggesting that a woman change or quit her job, employers and employees need reliable proof of reproductive risk or safety of exposures in the workplace. Evidence-based information on the risks of industrial exposures is limited, but Motherisk is working to fill that knowledge gap. The following articles contain some of what we have uncovered so far.

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Further Reading

• Neurotoxicology, 26 (4), 599-613.
  Till C, Nulman I, Koren G, Westall CA, Rovet J. (2005). Vision abnormalities in young children exposed prenatally to organic solvents.
• Can Fam Physician. 49: 297-8, 2003.
  Goldman RD, Einarson A, Koren G: Electric shock during pregnancy.
• Child neurodevelopmental outcome and maternal occupational exposure to solvents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Oct;158(10):956-61.
  Laslo-Baker D et al.
• CMAJ Aug.5, 2003; 169(3).
  Koren G, Matsui D, Bailey B: DEET-based insect repellents: safety implications for children and pregnant and lactating women
• Electric shock during pregnancy
  Ran D. Goldman, md, Adrienne Einarson, Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
• Exposure to electromagnetic fields during pregnancy
  Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
• Occupational exposure to inhaled anesthetic: Is it a concern for pregnant women?
  Samar Shuhaiber; Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
• Exposure to organic solvents: Does it adversely affect pregnancy?
  Kristen I. McMartin, MSC; Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
• Occupational exposure to mercury: What is a safe level?
  Reza Moienafshari, MD; Benjamin Bar-Oz, MD; Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
• JAMA 1999 Sep 15;282(11):1033.
  Khattak S, K-Moghtader G, McMartin K, Barrera M, Kennedy D, Koren G Pregnancy outcome following gestational exposure to organic solvents: a prospective controlled study.
• American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 176/3 (678-681) 1997.
  Einarson A, Bailey B, Inocencion G, Ormond K, Koren G: Accidental electric shock in pregnancy: A prospective cohort study
• Chest 106: 1460-1462, 1994.
  Ito S, Koren G: Estimation of fetal risk from aerosolized pentamidine in pregnant health care workers.
• J Ped Infect Dis 12: 2-5, 1993. No abstract available.
  Ito S, Koren G: Exposure of pregnant women to ribavirin-contaminated air: risk assessment and recommendations
• Am J Obstet Gynecol 165: 429-437, 1991.
  Bentur Y, Koren G: The three most common occupational exposures reported by pregnant women: An update
• Can Med Assoc J 142: 1241-1244, 1990.
  Koren G, Chang N, Gonen R, Klein J, Weiner LH, Demshar HP, Pizzolato S, Shime J: Lead exposure in mothers and their newborn babies in greater Toronto, 1989.
• Reproduct Toxicol 5: 397-403, 1991.
  Koren G, Sharav T, Pastuszak A, et al: A multicenter prospective study of reproductive outcome following carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnancy
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  Koren G: Lead risk during pregnancy. Can J Fam Physicians 42: 414-415, 1996.
• Teratology. 1999 Dec;60(6):330-1. No abstract available.
  Koren G, Khattak S: Pregnancy outcome following gestational exposure to organic solvents: Author's response.
• Proactive approach for the evaluation of fetal safety in chemical industries.Teratology. 1999 Sep;60(3):130-6.
  McMartin KI, Koren G:
• JAMA. 1999 Mar 24-31;281(12):1106-9.
  Khattak S, K-Moghtader G, McMartin K, Barrera M, Kennedy D, Koren G: Pregnancy outcome following gestational exposure to organic solvents: a prospective controlled study.
• Am J Ind Med. 1998 Sep;34(3):288-92.
  McMartin KI, Chu M, Kopecky E, Einarson TR, Koren G: Pregnancy outcome following maternal organic solvent exposure: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies
• Neurotoxicol Teratol 2001; 23: 235-45
  Till C, Koren G, Rovet JF: Prenatal exposure to organic solvents and child neurobehavioral performance.
• Teratology 2001; 64: 134-41.
  Till C, Westall CA, Rovet JF, Koren G: Effects of maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents on offspring visual functioning: a prospective controlled study.

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