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Factors associated with birth defects in the region of Corpus Christi, Texas
Citation:
Wade, Tim, K. Messier, P. Langlois, AND D. Lobdell. Factors associated with birth defects in the region of Corpus Christi, Texas. Society for Epidemiology Research, Denver, CO, June 16 - 19, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Preliminary findings of a RARE collaboration with Region 6 to evaluate associations between birth defects and water and neighborhood factors in Corpus Christi
Description:
In recent years, the Birth Defects Epidemiology & Surveillance Branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has documented a high prevalence of certain birth defects in the Corpus Christi, TX region. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate associations between drinking water sources and proximity to hazardous waste sites with birth defects in this region. We obtained from DSHS records of birth defects and live births from 1997- 2008 from five counties near and including Corpus Christi. Using only geocoded records, cases were all birth defects, excluding minor defects (n=5158) and controls were live births without a birth defect (n=83034). Residences were mapped to water utility service areas using information provided by the State of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Water system violations for specific contaminants and locations of hazardous waste sites and toxic releases inventory sites (TRI) were obtained from the US EPA. Associations with birth defects were estimated using logistic regression models controlling for age, race/ethnicity, birth year and county of residence reported as (Odds Ratio [95% confidence interval]). No associations were observed between water source type (surface vs. ground), private vs. public water source, or drinking water violations for Total Trihalomethane, Haloacetic Acid, Chlorine or the Surface Water Treatment Rule. Residence in a water system that had more than three Total Coliform violations during the year before delivery was associated with an increased risk of birth defects (1.59[ 1.14,2.27]). Total birth defects were also associated with the density of Superfund sites, TRI sites, and Brownfields within 5 km of the residence at the time of birth. For example, the presence of two or more Superfund sites within 5 km was associated with a 33% increased odds of birth defects (1.32[1.05,1.65]). This abstract does not represent EPA policy.