Reproductive hazards in the workplace: development of epidemiologic research.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Binkin NJ ; Coye, Molly J. ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Melius, James M. ; Rosenberg, Michael J.
• Description:
  Epidemiologic studies on occupational reproductive hazards including pesticide workers exposed to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (96128) (DBCP), spontaneous abortions among office workers exposed to video display terminals, and impotence in male workers employed in manufacturing diamino-stilbene (41380750) (DAS) were performed. Thirty five field workers involved in applying DBCP (a nematocide), 27 tractor maintenance personnel, and 29 plantation workers not exposed were subjected to industrial hygiene and prospective medical evaluation including sperm count. Spontaneous abortions in 22 pregnant office workers exposed to video display terminals were studied using fetal life tables. Industrial hygiene survey, personal medical interview, and chemical analyses of blood samples were done on DAS workers. Impotence was defined as a failure rate of 25 percent or greater to achieve erection during sexual intercourse. Exposure of low concentration of DBCP produced no significant effect on sperm count. A mean decline of sperm count in the field workers and the maintenance workers were 1.0 and 1.1 million sperms per milliliter of semen, respectively; comparisons had a mean decline of 1.172 million sperms per milliliter. Life table analysis showed six spontaneous abortions among pregnant office workers. A definite clustering time, a 14 month period between May 1979 and June 1980, was observed for pregnancies involving spontaneous abortions. Neither geographic clustering effect nor any association between amount of video display terminal use and adverse pregnancy outcome were evident. Eighteen percent of workers in DAS manufacture were diagnosed as impotent, 10 percent had some difficulty in sustaining erection and 8 percent reported past impotence. Affected workers reported more paresthesia and genitourinary symptoms. Serum testosterone was depressed, with values less than 300 milligrams per milliliter in 8 out of 28 workers exposed to DAS. The authors conclude that extremely large samples are needed to investigate associations between industrial exposure and most adverse reproductive outcomes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Computers Epidemiology Halothane Insecticides Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Propane Safety Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System

  More +
• Keywords:
  Agricultural-workers Author Keywords: Dibromochloropropane Cathade Ray Tubes Chemical-industry-workers Computer-equipment DBCP Fertility Halogenated-hydrocarbons Male Infertility NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Office-workers Optical Brighteners Pesticides-and-agricultural-chemicals Reproductive-hazards Sperm Counts Video Display Terminals

  More +
• ISSN:
  0355-3140
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  83-88
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00138844
• Citation:
  Scand J Work Environ Health 1983 Apr; 9(2):83-88
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr PJ Landrigan, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• CAS Registry Number:
  1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (CAS RN 96-12-8) ; ar,ar′-1,2-Ethenediylbis[benzenamine] (CAS RN 41380-75-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1983
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aec722bb148dbf9f4ecdea925325db6c52da839e91b820b95c4a074a27582d5491662f0976ff1c95f56d4dfeb385e685371de93ff0f1b9d9864f0f17426ff2b5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184725/cdc_184725_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 435.68 KB ]