Fetal deaths and sex ratio among progenies of workers at lead mine and dye-houses

Mutant genes, especially sex linked mutations can lead to fetal deaths and changing the secondary sex ratio, that can assume as long term or genetic consequences of exposure to the environmental and occupational hazards. The goals of present study were to determine the fetal deaths rate and sex ratios among progenies of workers at two high risk occupations (lead mine and dye-houses). In a cross-sectional investigation, the outcomes of all pregnancies of two high risk groups (wives of lead and dye workers) were studied for fetal deaths rate and sex ratio of live births and then statistically compared with each other and with general population. Result of pregnancies of wives of all workers of Ahangran lead mine and dye workers at Hamadan, Iran, were studied. Total of pregnancies were 545 cases and total of live births were 473. The basic primary data were collected by face to face interviews and fill appropriate questionnaires. Sex ratio of live births among pregnancies of workers of lead mine and dye-houses were 91.60 and 98.95 percent respectively. Also the rates of fetal deaths (abortions plus stillbirths) among their wives’ pregnancies were 13.15 and 13.30 percent respectively. Fetal death rates among those two groups were different with the same rate of general population (p<0.05). The results of present study showed an increase in fetal death rate and decrease in sex ratios of subject groups in comparison with general population. Working in lead mine and dye-houses as results of long-term genetic consequences in such high risk places can be subject of another survey