Ammonia, anhydrous

Epidemiological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

epidemiological data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Published study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Association of Petrochemical Exposure with Spontaneous Abortion

Author:

Xu, X., Cho S-I., Sammel, M., You, L., Cui, S., Huang, Y., Ma, G., Padungtod, C., Pothier, L., Niu, T., Christiani, D., Smith, T., Ryan, L., Wang, L.

Year:

1998

Bibliographic source:

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 55(1): 31-36

Materials and methods

Study type:

cohort study (retrospective)

Endpoint addressed:

developmental toxicity / teratogenicity

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

A retrospective cohort study investigating worker exposure and spontaneous abortion

GLP compliance:

not specified

Remarks:

: not relevant for this study type

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Ammonia, anhydrous

EC Number:

231-635-3

EC Name:

Ammonia, anhydrous

Cas Number:

7664-41-7

Molecular formula:

H3N

IUPAC Name:

ammonia

Details on test material:

Ammonia

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

The study was a retrospective epidemiological study in a large petrochemical complex in Beijing, China to assess the association between petrochemical exposure and spontaneous abortion. In total, 2853 non-smoking women who were 20-44 years of age and had been pregnant at least once participated in the study. 97 women were found to have been exposed to ammonia. Women and their husbands were interviewed collecting information on reproductive history, pregnancy outcomes, employment history, alcohol consumption, indoor air pollution, and demographic variables. Exposure during the pre-conception period and the first trimester of pregnancy was calculated from information on perceived ammonia exposure. Exposure during the first, second, and third trimesters was recorded separately for each pregnancy.

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

Women were exposed to ammonia in an occupational setting; a large petrochemical complex in Beijing China.

Statistical methods:

Only results from the women’s first pregnancies were analysed using multiple logistic regression.

Results and discussion

Results:

Data analyses did not show any effect on spontaneous abortion (Odds Ratio: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.5-2.6).

Confounding factors:

Actual exposure levels were unknown.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Data analyses did not show any effect on spontaneous abortion (Odds Ratio: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.5-2.6), but actual exposure levels were unknown.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Data analyses did not show any effect on spontaneous abortion (Odds Ratio: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.5-2.6), but actual exposure levels were unknown.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Data analyses did not show any effect on spontaneous abortion (Odds Ratio: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.5-2.6), but actual exposure levels were unknown.

Executive summary:

The study was a retrospective epidemiological study in a large petrochemical complex in Beijing, China to assess the association between petrochemical exposure and spontaneous abortion. In total, 2853 non-smoking women who were 20-44 years of age and had been pregnant at least once participated in the study. Women and their husbands were interviewed collecting information on reproductive history, pregnancy outcomes, employment history, alcohol consumption, indoor air pollution, and demographic variables. 97 women were exposed to ammonia in the occupational setting. Data analyses did not show any effect on spontaneous abortion (Odds Ratio: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.5-2.6), but actual exposure levels were unknown.