Occupational health nurses and other health professionals are at the forefront of the issues of reproductive health in the workplace. Many complexities are involved, and the best information available may be inconclusive. Thus, these issues represent a challenging area where occupational health nurses can make important contributions.
A great accountability for communication about reproductive toxins falls on occupational health professionals. They must make every effort to be knowledgeable, to control workplace risks for everyone, and to educate and counsel employees on reproductive issues in the workplace.
References
1.
AgnewJ., McDiarmidM., LeesP., and DuffyR. (1991). Reproductive hazards of fire-fighting 1. Non-chemical hazards.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 19, 433–455.
2.
BenturY., & KorenG. (1991). The three most common occupational exposures reported by pregnant women: an update.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 165(2), 430.
3.
Bologa-CampeanuM., KorenG., ReiderM., and McGuiganM. (1988). Prenatal adverse effects of various drugs and chemicals.Medical Toxicology, 3, 307–323.
4.
ErnhartC.B., SokolR., MartierS., MoronP., NadlerD., AgerJ., and WolfA. (1987). Alcohol teratogenicity in the human: a detailed assessment of specificity, critical period and threshold.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 156(1), 33–34.
5.
Gunderson-WarnerS., MartinezL., MartinezI., CareyJ., KochenourN., and EmeryM. (1990). Critical review of articles regarding pregnancy exposure in popular magazines.Teratology, 42, 469–472.
6.
JohnstonW., and PackerA. (1987). Workforce 2000: Work and Workers for the 21st Century.Indianapolis, IN: Hudson Institute.
7.
KelseyF.O. (1965). Problems raised for the FDA by the occurrence of thalidomide embryopathy in Germany, 1960–1961.American Journal of Public Health, 55(5), 706.
8.
KelseyJ., ThompsonW., & EvansA. (1986). Methods in Observational Epidemiology.New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
9.
KlebanoffM., ShionoP., and RhoadsG. (1990). Outcomes of pregnancy in a national sample of resident physicians.New England Journal of Medicine, 325(15), 1040.
10.
KlineJ., and SteinZ. (1985). Very early pregnancy. In: DixonR.L. (ed). Reproductive Toxicology.New York, NY: Raven Press.
11.
KorenG. (ed). (1990). Maternal-Fetal Toxicology: A Clinician's Guide.New York, NY: Marcel Dekker.
12.
KorenG., FeldmanY., and ShearN. (1986). Motherisk: A new approach to antenatal counseling of drug/chemical exposure.Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 28(6).
13.
KorenG., Bologa-CampeanuM., PellegriniE., RiederM., and McGuiganM. (1987). Information and consultation for drug chemical and radiation exposure in pregnancy: What bothers women most commonly?Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 29(6), 456.
14.
KorenG., and PastuszakA. (1990). Prevention of unnecessary pregnancy terminations by counseling women on drug, chemical and radiation exposure during the first trimester.Teratology, 41, 657–661.
15.
McDonaldA. (1990). Work and pregnancy: The Montreal survey in context. Presentation at the 23rd International Congress in Occupational Health, Montreal, Canada, September 1990.
16.
MilhamS., and DavisR. (1991). Cigarette smoking during pregnancy and mother's occupation.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 33(40), 468–469.
NishimuraH., and MiyamotoS. (1969). Teratogenic effects of sodium chloride in mice.Acta Anal (Basel), 74, 121–124.
19.
Office of Technology Assessment Task Force, Science Information Resource Center. (1988). Reproductive Health Hazards in the Workplace.Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott.
20.
ParmeggianL. (ed.). (1985). Radiation, ionizing: Biological effects. In: Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, vol. 2., ed. 3 (revised). Geneva: International Labour Office.
21.
RainesL., and PushS. (1986). Protecting pregnant workers.Harvard Business Review, May-June, 26.
22.
RayburnS.K., and YorkerB.A. (1991). Maternal rights in the workplace (legal issues).AAOHN Journal, 39(11), 534–536.
23.
SchardeinJ. (1985). Chemically Induced Birth Defects.New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc.
24.
SchnorrT., GrajewskiB., HornungR., ThunM., EgelandG., MurrayW., Con-overD., & HalperinW. (1991). Video display terminals and the risk of spontaneous abortion.New England Journal of Medicine, 324(11), 727–733.
25.
ThomasJ.A., and BallantyneB. (1990). Occupational reproductive risks: Sources, surveillance, and testing.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 32(3), 552.
26.
WerlerM., MitchellA., and ShapiroS. (1989). The relation of aspirin use during the first trimester of pregnancy to congenital cardiac defects.New England Journal of Medicine, 321(24), 1639.
