Association between prenatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene and adverse birth outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Environ ResAug 17, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchObstetrics & Gynecology
Pallavi V Menon, Kyle P Patel, Jordan L Kaplan et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between prenatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and adverse birth outcomes across 21 studies. The analysis found that prenatal PCE exposure was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.00-1.63). Other outcomes showed positive but non-significant associations.
Key findings
- Prenatal PCE exposure was linked to spontaneous abortion with a risk ratio of 1.28.
- The certainty of evidence for various outcomes ranged from very low to low.
- Positive associations were observed for stillbirth and small-for-gestational-age, but were not statistically significant.
Why it matters
Understanding the potential risks associated with prenatal exposure to environmental toxins like PCE is crucial for guiding public health policies and protecting vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant individuals.