Agricultural-related chemical exposures, season of conception, and risk of gastroschisis in Washington State

Objective

We sought to determine if periconceptional exposure to agrichemicals was associated with the development of gastroschisis.

Study Design

We conducted a retrospective, case-controlled study using Washington State Birth Certificate and US Geological Survey databases. Cases included all live-born singleton infants with gastroschisis. Distance between a woman's residence and site of elevated exposure to agrichemicals was calculated. Multivariate regression was used to estimate the association between surface water concentrations of agrichemicals and the risk of gastroschisis.

Results

Eight hundred five cases and 3616 control subjects were identified. Gastroschisis occurred more frequently among those who resided <25 km from a site of high atrazine concentration (odds ratio, 1.6). Risk was related inversely to the distance between the maternal residence and the closest toxic atrazine site. In multivariate analysis, nulliparity, tobacco use, and spring conception remained significant predictive factors for gastroschisis.

Conclusion

Maternal exposure to surface water atrazine is associated with fetal gastroschisis, particularly in spring conceptions.

Key words: abdominal wall defect, atrazine, gastroschisis, herbicide