TY - JOUR
T1 - Childhood physical abnormalities following paternal exposure to sulfur mustard gas in Iran
T2 - A case-control study
AU - Abolghasemi, Hassan
AU - Radfar, Mohammad H.
AU - Rambod, Mehdi
AU - Salehi, Parvin
AU - Ghofrani, Hossein
AU - Soroush, Mohammad R.
AU - Falahaty, Farahnaz
AU - Tavakolifar, Yousef
AU - Sadaghianifar, Ali
AU - Khademolhosseini, Seyyed M.
AU - Kavehmanesh, Zohreh
AU - Joffres, Michel
AU - Burkle, Frederick M.
AU - Mills, Edward J.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Background: Mustard gas, a known chemical weapon, was used during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988. We aimed to determine if exposure to mustard gas among men was significantly associated with abnormalities and disorders among progenies. Methods. Using a case-control design, we identified all progenies of Sardasht men (exposed group, n = 498), who were born at least nine months after the exposure, compared to age-matched controls in Rabat, a nearby city (non-exposed group, n = 689). We conducted a thorough medical history, physical examination, and appropriate paraclinical studies to detect any physical abnormality and/or disorder. Given the presence of correlated data, we applied Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) multivariable models to determine associations. Results: The overall frequency of detected physical abnormalities and disorders was significantly higher in the exposed group (19% vs. 11%, Odds Ratio [OR] 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.37-2.72, P = 0.0002). This was consistent across sexes. Congenital anomalies (OR 3.54, 95% CI, 1.58-7.93, P = 0.002) and asthma (OR, 3.12, 95% CI, 1.43-6.80, P = 0.004) were most commonly associated with exposure. No single abnormality was associated with paternal exposure to mustard gas. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a generational effect of exposure to mustard gas. The lasting effects of mustard gas exposure in parents effects fertility and may impact child health and development in the long-term.
AB - Background: Mustard gas, a known chemical weapon, was used during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988. We aimed to determine if exposure to mustard gas among men was significantly associated with abnormalities and disorders among progenies. Methods. Using a case-control design, we identified all progenies of Sardasht men (exposed group, n = 498), who were born at least nine months after the exposure, compared to age-matched controls in Rabat, a nearby city (non-exposed group, n = 689). We conducted a thorough medical history, physical examination, and appropriate paraclinical studies to detect any physical abnormality and/or disorder. Given the presence of correlated data, we applied Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) multivariable models to determine associations. Results: The overall frequency of detected physical abnormalities and disorders was significantly higher in the exposed group (19% vs. 11%, Odds Ratio [OR] 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.37-2.72, P = 0.0002). This was consistent across sexes. Congenital anomalies (OR 3.54, 95% CI, 1.58-7.93, P = 0.002) and asthma (OR, 3.12, 95% CI, 1.43-6.80, P = 0.004) were most commonly associated with exposure. No single abnormality was associated with paternal exposure to mustard gas. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a generational effect of exposure to mustard gas. The lasting effects of mustard gas exposure in parents effects fertility and may impact child health and development in the long-term.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957902222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79957902222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1752-1505-4-13
DO - 10.1186/1752-1505-4-13
M3 - Article
C2 - 20630096
AN - SCOPUS:79957902222
SN - 1752-1505
VL - 4
JO - Conflict and Health
JF - Conflict and Health
IS - 1
M1 - 13
ER -