Use of time to pregnancy in environmental epidemiology and surveillance.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Potential sources of environmental pollution, such as incinerators or landfill sites, can adversely affect reproduction and/or development. Time to pregnancy (TTP) is a validated measure of biological fertility that can be studied with relatively small populations. METHODS: Pregnant local residents living within 3 km of a landfill site ('exposed' group, n = 200) or elsewhere in the Rhondda valleys ('unexposed' group, n = 400) were interviewed by health visitors or midwives. The response rate was 83%. RESULTS: No difference was found in the TTP distributions between the exposed and unexposed groups. Relationships of TTP with covariates were consistent with the literature. CONCLUSIONS: In a context of public and scientific concern about possible reproductive toxicity, an interview study of TTP was highly acceptable to local women. A large enough sample to generate stable TTP distributions was readily achieved.

Author information

Author/s: Joffe, Mike (M); Paranjothy, Shantini (S); Fielder, Hilary (H); Lyons, Ronan (R); Palmer, Stephen (S);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PF, UK. m.joffe(-atsign-)imperial.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of public health (Oxford, England) (J Public Health (Oxf)), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 30 (issue 2) : pp 178-85

Dates: Created 2008/05/20; Completed 2008/08/05;

PMID: 18272548, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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