| Drinking Water and Pregnancy Outcome in Central North Carolina: Source, Amount, and Trihalomethane Levels
David A. Savitz, Kurtis W. Andrews, and Lisa M. Pastore Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA Abstract
In spite of the recognition of potentially toxic chemicals in chlorinated drinking water, few studies have evaluated reproductive health consequences of such exposure. Using data from a case-control study of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and low birth weight in central North Carolina, we evaluated risk associated with water source, amount, and trihalomethane (THM) concentration. Water source was not related to any of those pregnancy outcomes, but an increasing amount of ingested water was associated with decreased risks of all three outcomes (odds ratios around 1.5 for 0 glasses per day relative to 1-3 glasses per day, falling to 0.8 for 4+ glasses per day) . THM concentration and dose (concentration  amount) were not related to pregnancy outcome, with the possible exception of an increased risk of miscarriage in the highest sextile of THM concentration (adjusted odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-2.7) , which was not part of an overall dose-response gradient. These data do not indicate a strong association between chlorination by-products and adverse pregnancy outcome, but given the limited quality of our exposure assessment and the increased miscarriage risk in the highest exposure group, more refined evaluation is warranted. Key words: chlorination, low birth weight, preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, trihalomethanes. Environ Health Perspect 103:592-596 (1995)
Address correspondence to D.A. Savitz, Department of Epidemiology, CB 7400, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA. We thank Kate M. Brett, Laurie E. Evans, and Nancy Dole Runkle for work on data collection and analysis and acknowledge funding from the National Institutes of Health (HD23862, HD23862S) , March of Dimes (15-157) , Centers for Disease Control (R48/CCR402177) , and U.S. EPA (CR 820076-02) . Received 5 January 1995 ; accepted 10 March 1995.
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