Sally Ann Lederman, PhD¹, Lisa S Weiss, MPH², Deliang Tang, MD¹, Howard Andrews, PhD³, Virginia Rauh, ScD⁴, Mark G Becker, PhD⁵, Richard Wang, DO⁶, and Frederica Perera, DrPH⁷. (1) Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, 100 Haven Ave. #25F, New York, NY 10032, 973-696-1451, sal1@columbia.edu, (2) Epidemiology, Columbia University, CCCEH, 100 Haven Ave., #25F, New York, NY 10032, (3) Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 47, New York, NY 10032, (4) Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Avenue, B-116, New York, NY 10032, (5) CIESIN, COlumbia University, 61 Route 9W, PO Box 1000, Palisades, NY 10964, (6) Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway (F-17), Atlanta, GA 30341, (7) Columbia Center for Children's Enviornmental Health, Columbia University School of Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032

To determine the effects of exposure to the WTC event on pregnancy outcomes, 329 pregnant women were enrolled at delivery in 3 hospitals in downtown NYC between Dec. 2001 and June 2002. Birth weight, length and head circumference and characteristics of the pregnancy were abstracted from the medical records. The mother was interviewed postpartum to determine home and work locations in the 4 weeks after 9-11-01, other toxicant exposures, and demographics. Participants were 42.0% White, 32.5% Asian, 15.6% Black, 9.8% other/unidentified (mostly Hispanic origin), with a wide range of incomes, education and other characteristics. All home and work locations were geocoded and distance from the WTC site was computed. Participants were widely distributed, with more than 1/3 living and/or working <2 mi. from the WTC on or after 9-11-01, while others were widely dispersed in the NYC metropolitan area or even out of the local area during that period. The geocoded addresses were used to subdivide women’s locations into 4 quartiles of distance from the WTC site. The presentation will discuss the effects of proximity (being in the nearest distance quartile) in the 4 weeks after 9-11-01 on gestation duration, and birth weight, length and head circumference.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how residence and work site location information can be used to assess the effects on birth outcomes of an environmental exposure during pregnancy. They will be able to articulate the relation of proximity to risk. They will also be able to identify some effects of this tragic event.

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Environmental Health Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.