EXPOSURE TO VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS AND RISK OF SPONTANEOUS-ABORTION

Clusters of spontaneous abortion among video display terminal (VDT) us ers in North America and Canada in the late 1970s aroused suspicion ab out the potential risk of art association between VDT exposure and pre gnancy outcome. This case-control study considered the association bet ween VDT use and the risk of miscarriage. Cases were 508 women admitte d for spontaneous abortion to the Clinica Luigi Mangiagalli and a netw ork of obstetric departments in the Milan area. Controls were 1,148 wo men who gave birth at term to healthy infants on randomly selected day s at the same hospitals where cases were identified No association eme rged between VDT exposure and spontaneous abortion, the estimated odds ratio being 1.0 (95% CI: 0.8-1.2). This evidence agrees with studies conducted in different countries by various authors. (C) 1997 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.