Objective To explore the correlation of formaldehyde and benzene combined pollution with fetal malformation in a furniture production base, and to provide basis for birth defects reduction.
Methods In Shunde Longjiang Hospital of Foshan city from April 2010 to December 2012, eighty pregnant women who gave birth to children with fetal malformations and whose fetus prenatally diagnosed to have malformations were enrolled in the study. Formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene concentrations in their living and working environment were measured and compared with those of mothers who delivered healthy children in the same period.
Results The leading 4 fetal malformations in the participants were congenital heart disease (15 cases, 18.75%), ear malformation (13 cases, 16.25%), brain malformation (13 cases, 16.25%), and strephenopodia (7 cases, 8.75%). The air average concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene exposed by the fetal malformation group were (1.15& #177;0.35), (0.44& #177;0.18), (1.28& #177;0.35), and (2.18& #177;0.34) mg/m3, respectively, significantly higher than those of the healthy group (P < 0.01). The disqualified air sample rates of the 4 selected chemicals ranged from 96.25% to 98.33%, which exceeded the corresponding national standards, and were significantly higher than those of the healthy group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion Formaldehyde and benzene pollution are associated with fetal malformation.
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