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Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on February 13, 2008
Journal of Public Health 2008 30(2):178-185; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn005
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© The Author 2008, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Use of time to pregnancy in environmental epidemiology and surveillance



Mike Joffe, Emeritus Reader1

Shantini Paranjothy, Walport Clinical Lecturer2

Hilary Fielder, Director of Screening Services3

Ronan Lyons, Professor4

Stephen Palmer, Professor2,5
1 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PF, UK
2 Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, 5th Floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
3 Breast Test Wales, 18 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LJ, UK
4 School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
5 Health Protection Agency, Local and Regional Services, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, 4th Floor Neuadd Meirionydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

Address correspondence to Mike Joffe. E-mail: m.joffe{at}imperial.ac.uk


  Abstract

Background Potential sources of environmental pollution, such as incinerators or landfill sites, can adversely affect reproduction and/or development. Time to pregnancy (TTP) is a validated measure of biological fertility that can be studied with relatively small populations.

Methods Pregnant local residents living within 3 km of a landfill site (‘exposed’ group, n = 200) or elsewhere in the Rhondda valleys (‘unexposed’ group, n = 400) were interviewed by health visitors or midwives. The response rate was 83%.

Results No difference was found in the TTP distributions between the exposed and unexposed groups. Relationships of TTP with covariates were consistent with the literature.

Conclusions In a context of public and scientific concern about possible reproductive toxicity, an interview study of TTP was highly acceptable to local women. A large enough sample to generate stable TTP distributions was readily achieved.

Keywords: environmental epidemiology, fertility, fecundity, landfill, reproduction, time to pregnancy


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