As continuation of their previous paper the authors submit the results of the European study EUROPOP pertaining to the effect of occupation on the course and outcome of pregnancy. The paper contains the first part of results where the authors compare groups of women with premature deliveries (22nd-36th week of pregnancy) with control groups 1/10 deliveries in term (> or = 37 weeks). The groups of abortions in the second trimester which were studied by the authors were relatively small (Czech Republic 49 and in the all-European study 229). To keep the study within a reasonable limits the tables are not presented. Comparison of results describing home work, living conditions of pregnant women, prenatal care and medical problems as well as data on the outcome of pregnancy are presented in part III.