A Case-Control Study of Maternal Occupation and the Risk of Orofacial Clefts.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the association between maternal occupation and risk of orofacial clefts in offspring.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and vital records for 1999 to 2009 deliveries. We used automated software to assist in classifying occupations into standard codes.

Surveillance of congenital malformations in infants conceived through assisted reproductive technology or other fertility treatments.

Background: As assisted reproductive technology (ART) becomes more common, it is important to understand the associated risks. The objective of this study was to determine if congenital malformations are associated with ART or other fertility treatments in New York.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of all live births in upstate New York from 1997 to 2005, exposure was defined using ART or other fertility treatments as noted on birth certificates.

Comparison of patterns and knowledge of benefits and warnings of fish consumption between parents and children.

We examined generational differences in fish consumption and knowledge of benefits/warnings of fish consumption among parents and children. This cross-sectional study gathered self-administered questionnaire data, including demographics, fish consumption behavior (including specific fish species) and knowledge of fish consumption warnings and benefits. Fish were later grouped into four categories by potential mercury contamination.

Fish consumption patterns, knowledge and potential exposure to mercury by race.

Objective: Compared fish consumption patterns, fish advisory/benefit awareness and risk factors of consuming high-mercury (Hg) fish between Chinese and non-Chinese adults.

Methods: 301 Chinese and 120 non-Chinese participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants self-reported demographics, fish consumption behavior, and awareness of warnings/benefits of fish consumption.

Differences in folic acid use, prenatal care, smoking, and drinking in early pregnancy by occupation.

Objective: To describe differences in four high risk periconceptional behaviors (lack of folic acid supplementation, lack of early prenatal care, smoking, and drinking) by maternal occupation.

Methods: Analyses were conducted among women in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who delivered liveborn infants without birth defects. Periconceptional occupational data were collected using a computer-assisted telephone interview and occupational coding was performed using the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification System.

Paternal occupation and birth defects: findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Objectives: Several epidemiological studies have suggested that certain paternal occupations may be associated with an increased prevalence of birth defects in offspring. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, the authors investigated the association between paternal occupation and birth defects in a case-control study of cases comprising over 60 different types of birth defects (n=9998) and non-malformed controls (n=4066) with dates of delivery between 1997 and 2004.

Methods: Using paternal occupational histories reported by mothers via telephone interview, jobs were systematically classified into 63 groups based on shared exposure profiles within occupation and industry.

Maternal occupation and the risk of major birth defects: a follow-up analysis from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

This study further examined the association between selected maternal occupations and a variety of birth defects identified from prior analysis and explored the effect of work hours and number of jobs held and potential interaction between folic acid and occupation. Data from a population-based, multi-center case-control study was used. Analyses included 45 major defects and specific sub-occupations under five occupational groups: healthcare workers, cleaners, scientists, teachers and personal service workers.

Lessons learned from the september 11th disaster: a state health agency perspective.

The New York State Department of Health has conducted a number of studies over the past 10 years investigating health impacts related to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) disaster among New York City residents and New York State World Trade Center (WTC) responders. Efforts to evaluate the health effects of WTC exposures in these cohorts presented numerous challenges, including study design and associated concerns about bias, identifying the affected populations, gaining community support and participation, and determining the most appropriate clinical testing and follow-up approaches. The unique position of a state public health agency provided multiple points of support for these efforts.

Maternal asthma medication use and the risk of selected birth defects.

Objectives: Approximately 4% to 12% of pregnant women have asthma; few studies have examined the effects of maternal asthma medication use on birth defects. We examined whether maternal asthma medication use during early pregnancy increased the risk of selected birth defects.

Methods: National Birth Defects Prevention Study data for 2853 infants with 1 or more selected birth defects (diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, small intestinal atresia, anorectal atresia, neural tube defects, omphalocele, or limb deficiencies) and 6726 unaffected control infants delivered from October 1997 through December 2005 were analyzed.

A nested case-control study of low birthweight among cosmetologists.

Objective: This study was designed to determine whether licensed female cosmetologists with a low birthweight child were more likely to perform specific occupational tasks during pregnancy than cosmetologists who had a normal weight child. We also investigated certain salon characteristics in relation to low birthweight status.

Methods: This nested case-control study followed-up a positive association of low birthweight children among cosmetologists found in a retrospective cohort study previously reported.

Asthma and lower respiratory symptoms in New York State employees who responded to the World Trade Center disaster.

Purpose: To investigate whether New York State employees who responded to the World Trade Center disaster were more likely to report asthma or lower respiratory symptoms (LRS; cough, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath) than non-exposed employees, 2 years post-September 11.

Methods: Participants (578 exposed, 702 non-exposed) completed mailed questionnaires in 2003. A unique exposure assessment method was used; exposure scores were divided at the mean (at/below, above).

The risk of congenital malformations and other neonatal and maternal health outcomes among licensed cosmetologists.

This study sought to determine if cosmetologists in New York State (NYS) have a higher risk of complications of labor/delivery or congenital malformations and poor neonatal health indicators among their offspring compared with Realtors and the general population. This retrospective cohort study matched licensing records for cosmetologists and realtors to birth records and the NYS Congenital Malformations Registry from 1997 to 2003. A random sample of NYS birth certificates, frequency matched to cosmetologists on year of child's birth, mother's ethnicity, and education, was also formed.

Maternal asthma medication use and the risk of gastroschisis.

The objective of this study was to examine the association between maternal asthma medication use during the periconceptional period and the risk of gastroschisis. In this case-control study, the authors used data on deliveries enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2002) from eight collaborating centers. The cases included 381 infants with isolated gastroschisis, and the controls were 4,121 liveborn infants without malformations.

The risk of having a low birth weight or preterm infant among cosmetologists in New York State.

Objectives: This study sought to determine if female licensed cosmetologists have a higher risk of low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, and preterm delivery compared to two different comparison groups.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study matched 15,003 licensed cosmetologists and a comparison group of 4,246 licensed realtors to birth records in New York State from 1997 to 2003. A second comparison group from the general population of New York State (n = 12,171) was frequency matched to cosmetologists on child's year of birth, mother's ethnicity and mother's education.

Development of an exposure assessment method for epidemiological studies of New York State personnel who responded to the World Trade Center disaster.

Objectives: An exposure assessment method was developed for use in assigning an exposure score to New York State personnel who responded to the World Trade Center disaster site after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.

Methods: The method consists of an algorithm with two instantiations. Each represents a major component of the overall exposures at the site: dust and smoke.