Birth Defects in Offspring of Female Veterinarians

To investigate the risk of birth defects in offspring offemale veterinarians exposed to occupational hazards such as radiation,anesthetic gases, and pesticides in veterinary practice. Methods: TheHealth Risks of Australian Veterinarians project was conducted as aquestionnaire-based survey of all graduates from Australian veterinaryschools during the 40-year period 1960–2000. Results: In a multiplelogistic regression controlling for the potential confounders, the studyshowed an increased risk of birth defects in offspring of femaleveterinarians after occupational exposure to high dose of radiation(taking more than 10 x-ray films per week, odds ratio: 5.73 95% CI:1.27 to 25.80) and an increase risk of birth defects after occupationalexposure to pesticides at least once per week (odds ratio: 2.39 95% CI:0.99 to 5.77) in veterinarians exclusively working in small animalpractice. Conclusion: Female veterinarians should be informed of thepossible reproductive effects of occupational exposures to radiation andpesticides. (J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:525–533)