Occupational exposure to endocrine disruptors and time to pregnancy among couples in a large birth cohort study: the Generation R Study

Objective: To study the influence of occupational exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) on time to pregnancy (TTP).

Design: Cross-sectional analysis within a prospective, population-based cohort study.

Setting: Medical center.

Patient(s): Mothers and fathers who filled out a questionnaire during mid-pregnancy (response 77% and 82% of enrollment, respectively) were selected if the pregnancy was planned and either parent performed paid employment. In total, 2,774 mothers and 2,728 partners were included in the statistical analyses.

Interventions(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Self-reported TTP (months).

Result(s): There was no correlation between maternal and paternal exposure, because κ values for agreement for all exposure categories ranged from 0.03 to 0.13. Paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals (hazard ratio of pregnancy 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.97) and overall exposure to EDs (hazard ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.75-0.96) was statistically significantly associated with an increased TTP. Maternal occupational exposure to all categories of EDs showed prolonged TTP, but the decreased hazard ratios were not statistically significant.

Conclusion(s): This birth cohort study provides indications for adverse effects of parental occupational exposure to EDs on TTP.