Table 2

Maternal occupational exposure* to organic particles and small for gestational age (SGA)†, low birth weight (LBW), dichotomised as <2500 g and ≥2500 g, and preterm birth (PTB), dichotomised as <37 weeks and ≥37 weeks subdivided by work participation during pregnancy

Working full-time with low absence from work‡Working full-time or part-time with moderate absence from work§Working full-time or part-time with high absence from work¶
Crude(n=376 831)Adjusted**(n=370 126)Crude(n=418 233)Adjusted**(n=410 370)Crude(n=200 779)Adjusted**(n=196 878)
OR (95% CI)No. of casesOR (95% CI)No. of casesOR (95% CI)No. of casesOR (95% CI)No. of casesOR (95% CI)No. of casesOR (95% CI)No. of cases
SGA
 Unexposed183531818717144169981263112572
 Exposed (y/n)1.29 (1.20 to 1.40)7461.14 (1.04 to 1.25)7211.28 (1.20 to 1.37)11301.11 (1.02 to 1.20)10881.30 (1.18 to 1.44)4410.97 (0.85 to 1.11)425
 Low exposure1.19 (1.08 to 1.32)4301.10 (0.98 to 1.22)4221.19 (1.10 to 1.30)5731.08 (0.98 to 1.20)5601.15 (1.00 to 1.33)2010.93 (0.79 to 1.10)195
 High exposure1.46 (1.30 to 1.64)3161.22 (1.07 to 1.38)2991.39 (1.27 to 1.52)5571.14 (1.02 to 1.26)5281.46 (1.28 to 1.67)2401.01 (0.86 to 1.19)230
 P for trend0.0010.0130.942
LBW
 Unexposed112 492112 27219049188591374813649
 Exposed (y/n)1.37 (1.29 to 1.46)11751.15 (1.07 to 1.23)11371.12 (1.05 to 1.19)12531.03 (0.95 to 1.11)12031.15 (1.05 to 1.26)5550.94 (0.84 to 1.05)530
 Low exposure1.29 (1.19 to 1.40)6921.12 (1.03 to 1.22)6751.05 (0.96 to 1.13)6380.99 (0.91 to 1.09)6161.06 (0.93 to 1.20)2630.92 (0.79 to 1.06)253
 High exposure1.50 (1.37 to 1.65)4831.19 (1.07 to 1.32)4621.21 (1.11 to 1.31)6151.07 (0.97 to 1.18)5871.25 (1.10 to 1.41)2920.96 (0.83 to 1.11)277
 P for trend<0.0010.2640.445
PTB
 Unexposed119 995119 654114 476114 1791683216658
 Exposed (y/n)1.39 (1.32 to 1.46)18871.16 (1.10 to 1.23)18331.06 (1.01 to 1.11)18970.98 (0.92 to 1.05)18311.09 (1.01 to 1.16)9571.00 (0.91 to 1.09)929
 Low exposure1.34 (1.26 to 1.43)11421.15 (1.08 to 1.24)11180.98 (0.92 to 1.05)9600.93 (0.86 to 1.00)9321.01 (0.92 to 1.11)4580.95 (0.86 to 1.06)450
 High exposure1.46 (1.35 to 1.57)7451.17 (1.08 to 1.27)7151.15 (1.08 to 1.23)9371.05 (0.97 to 1.14)8991.17 (1.07 to 1.28)4991.04 (0.94 to 1.17)479
 P for trend<0.0010.5650.645
  • *Exposure divided into dichotomous and unexposed (0), low exposure (>0–50th percentile) and high exposure (>50th percentile). The 50th percentile=0.08 mg/m3.

  • †SGA, estimated by a calculated growth curve of weight and gestational age.

  • ‡Full-time workers who stated that they were working full-time at the interview in week 10 and had fewer than 50 days of absence from work (<50th percentile) during pregnancy (excluding the first 14 days of sickness).

  • §Part-time workers who stated that they were working part-time at the interview in week 10 or had 50 or more days (≥50th percentile) but fewer than 112 days of absence from work (<75th percentile) during pregnancy (excluding the first 14 days of sickness).

  • ¶All workers who responded to the question about work at the interview in week 10 and had 112 or more days of absence from work (≥75th percentile) during pregnancy, except those who stated that they were not working at all.

  • **OR adjusted for mother’s age, education, smoking habits, nationality, occupational exposure to noise and parity.