Members of the EPICENE team at the BPH
analysed maternal professional multiple exposures during pregnancy
and their link with intrauterine growth, based on data from the ELFE cohort,
using data-driven approaches.
The results of this study suggest a role for chemical,
biological and postural exposures in intrauterine growth,
underlining the importance of appropriate preventive strategies in the workplace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the 47 occupational exposures studied, the mothers were classified as ‘unexposed’ (0-50%) and ‘exposed’ (> 50%).

Three statistical methods (EWAS, LASSO and random forest) were used to select the most important exposures. The 5 main exposures were included in a regression model, including significant second-degree interactions.

 

 

For low weight for gestational age, no significant association was found.

Screen work reduced birth weight by 22.95 g, while bending over increased birth weight by 38 g in women not exposed to airborne germs.
Repetitive tasks and outdoor work reduced head circumference by 0.09 and 0.13 cm respectively. In addition, in women exposed to airborne germs, oxygenated solvents reduced head circumference by 0.13 cm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The EPICENE team based its work on data from the ELFE cohort. This study includes more than 18,000 children born in metropolitan France in 2011, and their parents. By following these children and their families for 20 years, the objective of ELFE is to study how the environment influences children’s development, health and socialisation. The environment is evaluated on the family, socio-economic, geographical and physico-chemical levels, and the interactions between these different dimensions.

 

 

At the EPICOH Early Career congress in Barcelona in November 2024, Marie Tartaglia shared the results of her study entitled ‘Data-driven approaches to study maternal occupational multi-exposures during pregnancy and intrauterine growth: analysis of the ELFE study’, and won the Presentation Award.