Issue:
Until recently few women have been employed as welders and little is known about whether the exposures to metals or other tasks in welding might have an effect on fertility or the outcome of pregnancy. With increasing involvement of women in traditionally male-dominated work, and the shortage of skilled workers in Alberta’s industries related to oil and gas, significant numbers of women are now working as welders or are in apprenticeship training for this trade. This project will carry out preparatory work to establish a cohort of female welding apprentices and to develop the tools needed to assess their exposures and reproductive outcomes.
Objectives:
Participants (recruited through colleges in Alberta that train welders), will be followed for up to 5 years during which time they will be asked about the types of welding they are doing and whether any become pregnant. Those who become pregnant will be asked to provide urine samples for metal exposure analysis. This (development) portion of the project is to establish the links with the colleges and to develop and test the questionnaires and other procedures.
Anticipated Results:
It is anticipated that in the long term (following a possible full operating grant), information gleaned on possible reproductive hazards will help to inform measures to prevent harm to the female welder and her unborn child.
Investigators:
Nicola Cherry (University of Alberta)
