Pregnancy Loss and Maternal Methemoglobin Levels: An Indirect Explanation of the Association of Environmental Toxics and Their Adverse Effects on the Mother and the Fetus

Lucijan Mohorovic, Oleg Petrovic, Herman Haller and Vladimir Micovic
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Lucijan Mohorovic: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rijeka School of Medicine, Creska 2, 52221 Rabac, Croatia
Oleg Petrovic: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Center Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Herman Haller: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Center Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Vladimir Micovic: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rijeka School of Medicine, Creska 2, 52221 Rabac, Croatia

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 12, 1-10

Abstract: The aim of this epidemiologic study was to point out a relationship between the exposure to products of coal combustion, and complications in pregnancy where one third of causes of stillbirth are still unknown. In the town of Labin (Croatia) a coal-powered thermoelectric power plant is the single major air polluter. We compared the records of miscarriages, premature births and stillbirths in two periods: the control and the exposure period. Data on reproductive loss was based on the records of pregnant women visiting for regular monthly pregnancy checkups. At the time of the epidemiological prospective study, 260 women (n = 138 in the clean period and n = 122 in the dirty period) were considered representative. The data were processed using Chi square and correlation tests. The frequencies of miscarriages and stillbirths were significantly lower in the control than in the exposure period (p

Keywords: methemoglobinemia; precursor; biomarker; oxidative stress; oxidant property; three stages of maternal preeclampsia; fetal preeclampsia; reproductive loss; stillbirth; local weather conditions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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