Occupational exposures during pregnancy and Neurodevelopmental disorders

Research problem and specific questions: The number of children with neurodevelopmental disorders have increased during the last coupleof years.

Physical, psychosocial, and chemical exposures in residential settings during pregnancy have been indicated as possible risk factors in relation to neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

However, few studies have assessed these associations in occupational settings even though the exposure levels usually are much higher.Specific questions: Does occupational exposure to chemicals, particles, noise, whole body vibration, or psychosocial work during pregnancy increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children?

Do residential exposures and socioeconomic factors modify that association?Data and method: A national cohort of 1,5 million births in Sweden between 1994 and 2014, with data on occupational title, full-time/part-time work and leave of absence during pregnancy will be used.

Individual information on the mother’s lifestyle (smoking, BMI etc.), heredity of neurodevelopmental disorders, socioeconomic factors (education, income etc.) and residential exposure (noise, air pollution, green/blue space etc.) during pregnancy is also attached.

Occupational exposure to stone/concreate, silica, organic particles, combustion particles, welding fumes, oil mist, noise, solvents, whole body vibration, physically strenuous work, psychosocial work will be classified through job-exposure matricesbased on measurements and questionnaire data.

Diagnosis of neurological disorders are gathered through the national Swedish inpatient registry.Plan for project realisation: The project build on existing data that will be linked to new exposure assessments and registry data.

The research group has vast experience preforming these kind of studies.Relevance: More and more women start working in exposed occupations previously only held by men. Risk assessments are lacking, especially regarding occupational exposures during pregancy.

Better assessments of which occupational exposures during pregnancy that might increasethe risk of neurological disorders will give better guidance for preventive work in these exposed occupations.