A case/control study investigated the association between video display terminal (VDT) use in pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. The exposure to VDTs was examined in 508 women (median age 33 years, range 17 to 44) admitted for spontaneous abortion within week 12 of gestation and 1,148 controls in Milan, Italy. The control group delivered at term and were of similar age and background. The exposure to VDT was determined in the first trimester and was based on self reporting of the hours per week spent in front of a terminal. The length of exposure, the beginning and end of exposure during pregnancy, and the VDT activity were analyzed. The risk of miscarriage varied according to occupation. In comparison with professional and technical staff, the odds ratio (OR) was, respectively, 0.9 and 1.0 for clerks and housewives, 1.4 for blue collar workers, and 1.8 for students or unemployed. Unmarried women were at highest risk of spontaneous abortion. A significant association was noted with previous spontaneous abortion, but not with previous live births. There was no association between VDT exposure and spontaneous abortion. For less than 10 and between 11 and 20 hours of exposure per week the ORs were 1.0 and 0.9, respectively.

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