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Association of spontaneous abortion and other reproductive effects with work in the semiconductor industry
Author(s) -
Schenker Marc B.,
Gold Ellen B.,
Beaumont James J.,
Eskenazi Brenda,
Katharine S. Hammond,
Lasley Bill L.,
McCurdy Stephen A.,
Samuels Steven J.,
Saiki Cathy L.,
Swan Shanna H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700280603
Subject(s) - medicine , abortion , relative risk , confidence interval , semiconductor industry , obstetrics , demography , gynecology , pregnancy , genetics , sociology , engineering , biology , manufacturing engineering
Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that fabrication room (fab) work in the silicon‐based semiconductor industry is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (SAB). The study was conducted nationwide at 14 companies representing a spectrum of large to small manufacturers. A small increase in risk of SAB was observed among fab workers compared with nonfabrication room (nonfab) workers in two cohorts, historical (adjusted RR = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–2.09) and prospective (adjusted RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.63–1.76). Analysis of specific fab exposures in the historical cohort showed a consistent, dose‐response association of SAB with photoresist and developer solvents, whose major component was ethylene‐based glycol ethers. The consistency of our findings and the toxicological data for these agents suggest that this is a causal association. Independent associations of SAB with self‐reported stress and with etching fluorides were observed and require further research. No significant decrease in fertility was observed among men or women working in fabs, but reduced fecundability was suggested for some women fab workers.