ANOPHTHALMIA AND BENOMYL IN ITALY - A MULTICENTER STUDY BASED ON 940,615 NEWBORNS

Following the report on clusters of anophthalmia and microphthalmia in England and Wales and their possible relation to the pesticide Benomy l, we analyzed the situation in Italy for the period 1986 to 1990 usin g data from the Italian registries of congenital malformations and nat ional data on Benomyl use. Of 940,615 consecutive births, 33 cases of clinical anophthalmia and 78 cases of microphthalmia were reported (bi rth prevalence: 0.35 and 0.83/10,000). Birth prevalence by region for 18 of Italy's 20 political regions was evaluated for the two malformat ions, grouped together after exclusion of defects associated with chro mosomal anomalies, no dishomogeneity in space or time among registries or among regions was observed for the study period. In no region was a statistically significant difference identified between observed and expected overall birth prevalence. Correlation analysis between the p revalence of micro/anophthalmia and Benomyl use by region showed a neg ative, nonsignificant coefficient, and an inverse correlation was foun d when the 18 regions were divided into four groups by increasing leve ls of Benomyl use. Parental occupation in agriculture did not seem to be associated with micro/anophthalmia when compared to a control group affected with isolated preauricular tags (odds ratio 0.63; CL 0.07-2. 52). On the basis of these results, though the limits intrinsic to eco logic correlation studies must be taken into account, an association b etween Benomyl use and congenital micro/ anophthalmia appears to be un likely.