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The offspring weight and the number of perinatal deaths for a population living near a copper smelter in Vasterbotten province, Sweden and for parents working at the smelter, were compared with values for a reference population. Between 1973 and 1981, the mean birthweights of children born to smelter employees, to parents living nearby, and those in the reference area were 3,467 grams (g), 3,525g, and 3,499g, respectively. No statistically significant difference in birthweights occurred among the groups. Of the 4,400 births among exposed workers, 62 resulted in perinatal deaths. There were 300 perinatal deaths out of 26,244 births in the referents. For the period 1966 to 1970, an excess risk of 2.04 occurred for exposed persons. During the remaining 20 years, the higher risk was not present. The study did not find an adverse effect on mean birthweight or low birthweight for the neighbor group.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 21(4):277-282, 1995. (32 references)
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