Congenital central nervous system malformations and vinyl chloride monomer exposure: a community study.

Incidence rates for central nervous system (CNS) malformations in infants born to residents of Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1970-1974, were significantly higher than comparable United States rates during those years. Since Kanawha County contains a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymerization plant, a case-control study was conducted on the possible relationship between the occurrence of CNS defects and parental occupational or residential exposure to vinyl chloride monomer emissions from this plant. No relationship with parental occupation was found. While a tendency was noted for residences of case families to be located in an area northeast of the plant, this observation did not entirely correlate with existing data on local patterns of wind direction and air pollution.