{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T16:28:46Z","timestamp":1778084926017,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"10","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Occup Environ Med"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>OBJECTIVES<\/jats:title><jats:p>The association between birth weight and exposure to benzene, work stress, and other occupational and environmental hazards was investigated.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec sec-type=\"methods\"><jats:title>METHODS<\/jats:title><jats:p>In a large petrochemical industry, 792 pregnant workers were enrolled and followed up through delivery between May 1996 and December 1998. Exposure to benzene and other solvents was assessed by an industrial hygienist based on each woman's job title and workplace information. Other occupational and environmental exposures and personal information, including perceived work stress, exposure to noise, physical exertion at work, and passive smoking, were obtained by an interview questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to examine the individual and combined associations of occupational and environmental exposures with birth weight, with adjustment for major confounders including gestational age.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title><jats:p>In the univariate model, birth weight was negatively associated with exposure to benzene (\u221258 g (95% confidence interval (95% CI), \u2212115 to \u22122)) and with work stress (\u221284 g (95% CI, \u2212158 to \u221210)). In the multivariate model, there was a significant interaction between exposure to benzene and work stress relative to reduced birth weight, after adjustment for other environmental and occupational exposures and personal variables. Adjusted mean birth weight was 3445 g (95% CI 3401 to 3489) among those with neither exposure, 3430 g for those with exposure to benzene only, 3426 g for those with work stress only, and 3262 g (95% CI 3156 to 3369) for those with both exposures. In other words, there was 183 g (95% CI 65 to 301) reduction in birth weight among those with both exposure to benzene and work stress compared with those with neither exposure. Other work or environmental factors could not explain these findings.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>CONCLUSIONS<\/jats:title><jats:p>Low level exposure to benzene and work stress interact to reduce birth weight in this population.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/oem.57.10.661","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2002,7,27]],"date-time":"2002-07-27T10:38:40Z","timestamp":1027766320000},"page":"661-667","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":70,"title":["Exposure to benzene, occupational stress, and reduced birth weight"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"57","author":[{"given":"Dafang","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sung-Il","family":"Cho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Changzhong","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaobin","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrew I","family":"Damokosh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Louise","family":"Ryan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Thomas J","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David C","family":"Christiani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiping","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM197710132971501"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1394","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a116250","article-title":"Parental cigarette smoking and the risk of spontaneous abortion.","volume":"135","author":"Windham","year":"1992","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1097\/00001648-199605000-00006","article-title":"Maternal caffeine consumption and spontaneous abortion: a prospective cohort study.","volume":"7","author":"Dlugosz","year":"1996","journal-title":"Epidemiology"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1097\/00001648-199501000-00006","article-title":"Agricultural work during pregnancy and selected structural malformations in Finland.","volume":"6","author":"Nurminen","year":"1995","journal-title":"Epidemiology"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.5271\/sjweh.2180","article-title":"Parental occupation and birth outcomes in an agricultural community.","volume":"12","author":"Schwartz","year":"1986","journal-title":"Scand J Work Environ Health"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00039896.1995.9935976"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.97105514","article-title":"Association between air pollution and low birth weight: a community-based study.","volume":"105","author":"Wang","year":"1997","journal-title":"Environ Health Perspect"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1210","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a115241","article-title":"Effect of parents' occupational exposures on risk of stillbirth, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational infants.","volume":"129","author":"Savitz","year":"1989","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0890-6238(94)90019-1"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9227","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3476(85)80238-9","article-title":"Toluene embryopathy.","volume":"106","author":"Hersh","year":"1985","journal-title":"J Pediatr"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"908","DOI":"10.1097\/00043764-199508000-00004","article-title":"Effects of parental exposure to solvents on pregnancy outcome.","volume":"37","author":"Lindbohm","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Occup Environ Med"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.12","first-page":"799","article-title":"Menstrual function in workers exposed to tolune.","volume":"49","author":"Ng","year":"1992","journal-title":"Br J Ind Med"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"699","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.4700270506","article-title":"Reduced fertility among women exposed to organic solvents.","volume":"27","author":"Sallmen","year":"1995","journal-title":"Am J Ind Med"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1179\/oeh.1995.1.1.9","article-title":"Occupational stress and dysmenorrhea in women working in cotton textile mills.","volume":"1","author":"Christiani","year":"1995","journal-title":"Int J Occup Environ Health"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1093\/clinchem\/40.7.1401","article-title":"Blood concentrations of volatile organic compounds in a nonoccupationally exposed US population and in groups with suspected exposure.","volume":"40","author":"Ashley","year":"1994","journal-title":"Clin Chem"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.16","unstructured":"National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1987) Organic solvent neurotoxicity. (NIOSH, Cincinnati)."},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1136\/oem.55.1.31","article-title":"Association of petrochemical exposure with spontaneous abortion.","volume":"55","author":"Xu","year":"1998","journal-title":"Occup Environ Medicine"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0890-6238(99)00012-X"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thurston SW Ryan L Christiani DC (2000) Petrochemical exposure, ergonomic factors and menstrual disturbances. Am J Ind Med, ; (in press)..","DOI":"10.1002\/1097-0274(200011)38:5<555::AID-AJIM8>3.0.CO;2-E"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.20","unstructured":"Withdrawn.."},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.21","unstructured":"Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1987) Time-weighted average limit. Occupational safety and health standards. Benzene. (US OSHA, Code of Federal Regulations, Washington, DC)."},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.22","unstructured":"Hu YA Smith TJ Xu X (2000) Comparison of self-assessment of solvent exposure with measurement and professional assessment. Am J Ind Med, ; (in press).."},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.23","first-page":"663","article-title":"Determinants of low birth weight: methodological assessment and meta-analysis.","volume":"65","author":"Kramer","year":"1987","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.24","first-page":"675","article-title":"Investing in prevention: opportunities to prevent disease and reduce health care costs by identifying environmental and occupational causes of non-cancer disease.","volume":"10","author":"Silbergeld","year":"1994","journal-title":"Toxicol Ind Health"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM198501103120204"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.1998.213.01.61","article-title":"Occupational factors and reproductive outcomes among a cohort of female veterinarians.","volume":"213","author":"Wilkins","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.27","first-page":"45","article-title":"Organic-solvent water pollution and low birth weight in Michigan.","volume":"39","author":"Witkowski","year":"1992","journal-title":"Soc Biol"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.281.12.1106"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9378(93)90016-C"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-9378(96)70042-X"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1002\/jlb.57.3.422","article-title":"Distinct actions of benzene and its metabolites on nitric oxide production by bone marrow leukocytes.","volume":"57","author":"Laskin","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Leukoc Biol"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jat.2550150511"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-69928-3_95","article-title":"On the embryotoxic effects of benzene and its aklyl derivaties in mice, rats and rabbits.","volume":"8","author":"Ungvary","year":"1985","journal-title":"Arch Toxicol Suppl"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.34","first-page":"187","article-title":"Inhalation teratology tudy of benzene in rats.","volume":"6","author":"Coate","year":"1984","journal-title":"Advances in Modern Environmental Toxicology"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/tcm.1770060503"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-3999(95)00018-6"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.1997.tb46162.x","article-title":"Maternal stress, HPA activity, and fetal\/infant outcome.","volume":"814","author":"Sandman","year":"1997","journal-title":"Ann N Y Acad Sci"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nm0595-460"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a115800","article-title":"The association between weight, physical activity, and stress and variation in the length of menstrual cycle.","volume":"133","author":"Harlow","year":"1991","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"2024052310224804000_57.10.661.40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0278-6133.11.1.32"}],"container-title":["Occupational and Environmental Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/oem.57.10.661","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,23]],"date-time":"2024-05-23T17:24:19Z","timestamp":1716485059000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/oem.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/oem.57.10.661"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"references-count":40,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/oem.57.10.661"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/oem.57.10.661","relation":{},"ISSN":["1351-0711","1470-7926"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1351-0711","type":"print"},{"value":"1470-7926","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]}}}