Risks to the offspring from parental occupational exposures.

Risks to the offspring of workers with occupational chemical exosures may derive from mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic effects of industrial agents to which the parents are exposed. Evidence for impaired pregnancies and hazards to the offspring of working populations with chemical exposures is, however, very limited. Perhaps the best documented example is increased spontaneous abortion rates in female operating room personnel who have first trimester exposure to waste anesthetic gases. Evidence is reviewed for hazards to the offspring resulting from parental occupational exposure to vinyl chloride, benzene, chloroprene, radiation and petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. It is essential in investigating the role of occupational factors that other environmental and behavioral factors with major effects on pregnancy outcome be accounted for. These include smoking, alcohol, and drug exposures. An approach to surveillance for chromosomal abnormalities in offspring of occupationally exposed parents is outlined.