Prenatal exposure to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and reproductive effects in a multicentre birth cohort in spain
Objective: To investigate the possible association between birth size or gestational length and maternal serum concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in a population exposed to background levels. Methods: A total of 1568 mother-child pairs recruited in three Spanish areas (INMA Project) from 2004 to 2008 participated in the study. Multivariate analysis was performed between birth weight and length, weeks of gestation, preterm birth or small for gestational age and HCB concentrations in maternal serum. Results: The median concentration of HCB was 45.45. ng/g lipids. No association was found between HCB exposure levels and birth weight (β 50.42 [109.88; 9.04]), birth length (β: 0.07 [0.32; 0.18]), gestation age (HR: 1.07 [0.94; 1.22]), small for gestational age (OR: 0.95 [0.56; 1.61]) and preterm birth (OR: 0.60 [0.29; 1.28]). Results remain similar after adjustment for other organochlorines. Conclusion: Our findings support the idea that exposure to low levels of HCB does not affect the intrauterine growth nor the duration of gestation. ; a Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, Spain b Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain c Health Research Institute, Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain d University of the Basque Country, Spain e Unit of Environment and Health, Centre for Public Health Research (CSISP), Valencia, Spain f University of Valencia, Spain g Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain h Public Health Laboratory, Basque Government, Spain i Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain j University of Granada, San Cecilio Universitary Hospital, Granada, Spain ; No