TY - JOUR
T1 - Drinking water disinfection by-products and time to pregnancy
AU - MacLehose, Richard F.
AU - Savitz, David A.
AU - Herring, Amy H.
AU - Hartmann, Katherine E.
AU - Singer, Philip C.
AU - Weinberg, Howard S.
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - BACKGROUND: Laboratory evidence suggests tap water disinfection by-products (DBPs) could have an effect very early in pregnancy, typically before clinical detectability. Undetected early losses would be expected to increase the reported number of cycles to clinical pregnancy. METHODS: We investigated the association between specific DBPs (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, brominated-trihalomethanes, brominated-haloacetic acids, total organic halides, and bromodichloromethane) and time to pregnancy among women who enrolled in a study of drinking water and reproductive outcomes. We quantified exposure to DBPs through concentrations in tap water, quantity ingested through drinking, quantity inhaled or absorbed while showering or bathing, and total integrated exposure. The effect of DBPs on time to pregnancy was estimated using a discrete time hazard model. RESULTS: Overall, we found no evidence of an increased time to pregnancy among women who were exposed to higher levels of DBPs. A modestly decreased time to pregnancy (ie, increased fecundability) was seen among those exposed to the highest level of ingested DBPs, but not for tap water concentration, the amount absorbed while showering or bathing, or the integrated exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings extend those of a recently published study suggesting a lack of association between DBPs and pregnancy loss.
AB - BACKGROUND: Laboratory evidence suggests tap water disinfection by-products (DBPs) could have an effect very early in pregnancy, typically before clinical detectability. Undetected early losses would be expected to increase the reported number of cycles to clinical pregnancy. METHODS: We investigated the association between specific DBPs (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, brominated-trihalomethanes, brominated-haloacetic acids, total organic halides, and bromodichloromethane) and time to pregnancy among women who enrolled in a study of drinking water and reproductive outcomes. We quantified exposure to DBPs through concentrations in tap water, quantity ingested through drinking, quantity inhaled or absorbed while showering or bathing, and total integrated exposure. The effect of DBPs on time to pregnancy was estimated using a discrete time hazard model. RESULTS: Overall, we found no evidence of an increased time to pregnancy among women who were exposed to higher levels of DBPs. A modestly decreased time to pregnancy (ie, increased fecundability) was seen among those exposed to the highest level of ingested DBPs, but not for tap water concentration, the amount absorbed while showering or bathing, or the integrated exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings extend those of a recently published study suggesting a lack of association between DBPs and pregnancy loss.
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U2 - 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31816a23eb
DO - 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31816a23eb
M3 - Article
C2 - 18379423
AN - SCOPUS:42149154772
SN - 1044-3983
VL - 19
SP - 451
EP - 458
JO - Epidemiology
JF - Epidemiology
IS - 3
ER -