PROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF FECUNDABILITY OF FEMALE SEMICONDUCTOR WORKERS

To investigate a possible effect of reduced fecundability (probability of conception per menstrual cycle) among women who fabricate silicon wafers, 152 fabrication-room (fab) and 251 nonfab workers were followe d for an average of five menstrual cycles. Daily urine samples were an alyzed to confirm clinical spontaneous abortions (SABs) and early feta l losses (EFLs). Adjusted fecundability odds ratios (FRs) for fab work ers ranged from 0.59 to 0.72 (p = 0.09-0.28 vs. nonfab). For clinical pregnancies only, the adjusted FR ranged from 0.43-0.50 (p = 0.04-0.09 vs. nonfab). This lower fecundability was most pronounced among dopan ts and thin-film workers [adjusted FR = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.27-1.40 for all pregnancies; adjusted FR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.0 5-0.96 for clinical pregnancies] and in workers exposed to ethylene-ba sed glycol ethers (adjusted FR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.11-1.19). (C) 1995 W iley-Liss, Inc.