With the increasing labour force participation among women in Western countries, many women will work during their reproductive years. This will increase the likelihood that women during their reproductive years will be exposed to a variety of risk factors at work that may effect their reproductive abilities and the outcome of their pregnancy, such as spontaneous abortion, hypertensive disorders, intrauterine growth restriction, and adverse birth outcomes. Occupational exposures may also interact with foetal development, resulting in health effects in the offspring, such as congenital malformations and neurobehavioural disorders at young age. For several work-related risk factors the associations with reproductive effects are well established and translated into legislation, such as mandatory provisions for pregnant women preparing antineoplastic drugs or being exposed to lead. However, for many other work-related risk factors, the scientific evidence is less consistent. Work-related risk factors can be divided into chemical agents such as metals, solvents, pesticides, physical agents such as radiation and noise, and ergonomic factors such as heavy workload, shift work, and psychosocial stress.

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Financial support for this dissertation was kindly provided by: Erasmus MC Department of Public Health Erasmus University Rotterdam Bronovo Researchfonds Chipsoft MSD B.V. Medical Dynamics J.E. Jurriaanse Stichting
A. Burdorf (Alex)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/38782
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Snijder, C. (2012, December 13). Work, environment and reproductive health. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/38782