Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive Hazards

  • Chapter
Agricultural Medicine

Conclusion

There is ample evidence that agricultural workers and those who reside in agricultural areas have an increased risk for a variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes. Both paternal and maternal exposures to biologic and chemical agents and maternal exposure to physical factors must be recognized and controlled to prevent these adverse effects on fertility and on the next generation of children. Strategies should include reduction or elimination of chemical agents whenever possible, proper personal protective equipment, improved work practices and hygiene, worker education, avoidance of biologic exposures, and reduction in the intensity and duration of maternal physical labor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Younglai EV, Foster WG, Hughes EG, Trim K, Jarrell JF. Levels of environmental contaminants in human follicular fluid, serum, and seminal plasma of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2202;43:121–26.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arbuckle TE, Schrader SM, Cole D, Hall JC, Bancej CM, Turner LA, Claman P. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid residues in semen of Ontario farmers. Reprod Toxicol 1999;13:421–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kunisue T, Someya M, Monirith I, Watanabe M, Tana TS, Tanabe S. Occurrence of PCBs, organochlorine insecticides, tris(4-Chlorophenyl)methane, and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol in human breast milk collected from Cambodia. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2004;46:405–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Anwar WA. Biomarkers of Human Exposure to Pesticides. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:801–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Solomon GM, Weiss PM. Chemical contaminants in breast milk: Time trends and regional variability. Environ Health Perspect 2002;110:A339–47.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bradman A, Barr DB, Henn BGC, Drumheller T, Curry C, Eskenazi B. Measurement of pesticides and other toxicants in amniotic fluid as a potential biomarker of prenatal exposure: a validation study. Environ Health Perspect 2003;111:1779–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Foster W, Chan S, Platt L, Hughes C. Detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in samples of second trimester human amniotic fluid. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:2954–57.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Carlsen E, Giwercman A, Keiding N, Skakkebaek NE. Declining semen quality and increasing incidence of testicular cancer: is there a common cause? Environ Health Perspect 1995;103(Suppl7):137–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Colborn T, vom Saal FS, Soto AM. Developmental effects of endocrinedisrupting chemicals in wildlife and humans. Environ Health Perspect 1993;101: 378–84.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sharpe RM, Skakkebaek NE. Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet 1993;341:1392–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Oliva A, Spira A, Multigner L. Contribution of environmental factors to the risk of male infertility. Hum Reprod 2001;16:1768–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Strohmer H, Boldizsar A, Plockinger B, Feldner-Busztin M, Feichtinger W. Agricultural work and male infertility. Am J Ind Med 1993;24:587–92.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Swan SH, Kruse RL, Liu F, Barr DB, Drobnis EZ, Redmon JB, Wang C, Brazil C, Overstreet JW. Semen quality in relation to biomarkers of pesticide exposure. Environ Health Perspect 2003;111:1478–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Larsen SB, Joffe M, Bonde JP. Time-to-pregnancy and exposure to pesticides in Danish farmers. ASCLEPIOS Study Group. Occup Environ Med 1998;55:278–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lerda D, Rizzi R. Study of reproductive function in persons occupationally exposed to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Mutation Research 1991; 262:47–50.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tielemans E, van Kooij R, te Velde E, Burdorf A, Heederik D. Pesticide exposure and decreased fertilization rates in vitro. The Lancet 1999;354:484–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Recio R, Robbins WA, Borja-Aburto V, Moran-Martinez J, Froines JR, Hernandez RM, Cebrian ME. Organophosphorous pesticide exposure increases the frequency of sperm sex-null aneuploidy. Environ Health Perspect 2001;109:1237–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sanchez-Pena LC, Reyes BE, Lopez-Carrillo L, Recio R, Moran-Martinez J, Cebrian ME, Quintanilla-Vega B. Organophosphorous pesticide exposure alters sperm chromatin structure in Mexican agricultural workers. Toxicol Appl Pharm 2004;196:108–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. de Cock J, Westveer K, Heederik D, te Velde E, van Kooij R. Time-to-pregnancy and occupational exposure to pesticides in fruit growers in The Netherlands. Occup Environ Med 1994;51:693–99.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Petrelli G, Figa-Talamanca I. Reduction in fertility in male greenhouse workers exposed to pesticides. Eur J Epidemiol 2001;17:675–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sallmen M, Liesivuori J, Taskinen H, Lindbohm ML, Anttila A, Aalto L, Hemminki K. Time-to-pregnancy among the wives of Finnish greenhouse workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 2003;29:85–93.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Thonneau P, Abell A, Larsen SB, Bonde JP, Joffe M, Clavert A, Ducot B, Multigner L, Danscher G. Effects of pesticides on time-to-pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 1999;150:157–63.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Abell A, Juul S, Bonde JP. Time-to-pregnancy among female greenhouse workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 2000;26:131–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Greenlee AR, Arbuckle TE, Chyou PH. Risk factors for female infertility in an agricultural region. Epidemiology 2003;14:429–36.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Fuortes L, Clark MK, Kirchner HL, Smith EM. Association between female infertility and agricultural work history. Am J Ind Med 1997;31:445–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Goldsmith JR. Dibromochloropropane: epidemiological findings and current questions. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1997;837:300-6.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Korrick SA, Chen C, Damokosh AI, Ni J, Liu X, Cho SI, Altshul L, Ryan L, Xu X. Association of DDT with spontaneous abortion: a case-control study. Ann Epidemiol 2001;11:491–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Savitz DA, Arbuckle T, Kaczor D, Curtis KM. Male pesticide exposure and pregnancy outcome. Am J Epidemiol 1997;146:1025–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Crisostomo L, Molina VV. Pregnancy outcomes among farming households of Nueva Ecija with conventional pesticide use versus integrated pest management. Int J Occup Environ Health 2002;8:232–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Restrepo M, Munoz N, Day NE, Parra JE, de Romero L, Nguyen-Dinh X. Prevalence of adverse reproductive outcomes in a population occupationally exposed to pesticides in Colombia. Scand J Work Environ Health 1990;16: 232–38.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Nurminen T. Maternal pesticide exposure and pregnancy outcome. Occup Environ Med 1995;37:935–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gold EB, Tomich E. Occupational hazards to fertility and pregnancy outcome. In: Gold EB, Lasley BL, Schenker MB (eds.), Occupational Medicine, State of the Art Reviews. Reproductive Hazards 1994;9:435–69.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Eskenazi B, Harley K, Bradman A, Weltzien E, Jewell NP, Barr DB, Furlong CE, Holland NT. Association of in utero organophosphate pesticide exposure and fetal growth and length of gestaion in an agricultural population. Environ Health Perspect 2004;112:1116–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Munger R, Isacson P, Hu S, Burns T, Hanson J, Lynch CF, Cherryholmes K, Van Dorpe P, Hausler W. Intrauterine growth retardation in Iowa communities with herbicide-contaminated drinking water supplies. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:308–14.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kristensen P, Irgens LM, Andersen A, Bye AS, Sundheim L. Birth defects among offspring of Norwegian farmers, 1967-1991. Epidemiology 1997;8:537–44.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Engel LS, O’Meara ES, Schwartz SM. Maternal occupation in agriculture and risk of limb defects in Washington State, 1980-1993. Scand J Work Environ Health 2000;26:193–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Blatter BM, Roeleveld N, Bermejo E, Martinez-Frias ML, Siffel C, Czeizel AE. Spina bifida and parental occupation: results from three malformation monitoring programs in Europe. Eur J Epidemiol 2000;16:343–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Garcia AM. Occupational exposure to pesticides and congenital malformations: a review of mechanisms, methods, and results. Am J Ind Med 1998;33:232–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Nurminen T, Rantala K, Kurppa K, Holmberg PC. Agricultural work during pregnancy and selected structural malformations in Finland. Epidemiology 1995;6:23–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Garcia AM, Benavides FG, Fletcher T, Orts E. Paternal exposure to pesticides and congenital malformations. Scand J Work Environ Health 1998;24:473–80.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Garcia AM, Fletcher T, Benavides FG, Orts E. Parental agricultural work and selected congenital malformations. Am J Epidemiol 1999;149:64–74.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Efird JT, Holly EA, Preston-Martin S, Mueller BA, Lubin F, Filippini G, Peris-Bonet R, McCredie M, Cordier S, Arslan A, Bracci PM. Farm-related exposures and childhood brain tumours in seven countries: results from the SEARCH International Brain Tumour Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2003;17:201–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Holly EA, Bracci PM, Mueller BA, Preston-Martin S. Farm and animal exposures and pediatric brain tumors: results from the United States West Coast Childhood Brain Tumor Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1998;7: 797–802.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kristensen P, Andersen A, Irgens LM, Bye AS, Sundheim L. Cancer in offspring of parents engaged in agricultural activities in Norway: incidence and risk factors in the farm environment. Int J Cancer 1996;65:39–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Zahm SH, Ward MH. Pesticides and childhood cancer. Environ Health Perspect 1998;106:893–908.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Daniels JL, Olshan AF, Savitz DA. Pesticides and childhood cancers. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:1068–77.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Meinert R, Kaatsch P, Kaletsch U, Krummenauer F, Miesner A, Michaelis J. Childhood leukaemia and exposure to pesticides: results of a case-control study in northern Germany. Eur J Cancer 1996;32A:1943.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Rodvall Y, Dich J, Wiklund K. Cancer risk in offspring of male pesticide applicators in agriculture in Sweden. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:798–801.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Kristensen P, Andersen A, Irgens LM, Bye AS, Vagstad N. Testicular cancer and parental use of fertilizers in agriculture. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1996;5:3–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Fear NT, Roman E, Reeves G, Pannett B. Childhood cancer and paternal employment in agriculture: the role of pesticides. Br J Cancer 1998;77:825–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Goldenberg RL, Thompson C. The infectious origins of stillbirth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;189:861–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Tenter AM, Heckeroth AR, Weiss LM. Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans. Int J Parasitol 2000;30:1217–58.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Maurin M, Raoult D.Q fever. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999;12:518–53.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Raoult D, Fenollar F, Stein A. Q fever during pregnancy: diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Arch Intern Med 2002;162:701–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Jorgensen DM. Gestational psittacosis in a Montana sheep rancher. Emerg Infect Dis 1997;3:191–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Flanagan PG, Westmoreland D, Stallard N, Stokes IM, Evans J. Ovine Chlamydiosis in pregnancy. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1996;103:382–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Giannacopoulos I, Eliopoulou MI, Ziambaras T, Papanastasiou DA. Transplacentally transmitted congenital brucellosis due to Brucella abortus. J Infect 2002;45:209–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Chedraui PA, San Miguel G. A case of leptospirosis and pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2003;269:53–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. McKinney WP, Volkert P, Kaufman J. Fatal swine influenza pneumonia during late pregnancy. Arch Intern Med 1990;150:213–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Interim guidelines for the evaluation of infants born to mothers infected with West Nile virus during pregnancy. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2004; 53:154–7.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Paul M. Occupational and Environmental Reproductive Hazards. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Nurminen T. Female noise exposure, shift work, and reproduction. J Occup Environ Med 1995;37:945–50.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Hatch M, Ji BT, Shu XO, Susser M. Do standing, lifting, climbing, or long hours of work during pregnancy have an effect on fetal growth? Epidemiology 1997;8:530–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Engberg L. Women and Agricultural Work. Occupational Medicine. State of the Art Reviews 1993;8:869–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Robert L. Goldberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah Janssen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Morinda Medical Group, Inc., Porterville, CA, 93257, USA

    James E. Lessenger MD, FAAFP, FACOEM

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Goldberg, R.L., Janssen, S. (2006). Reproductive Hazards. In: Lessenger, J.E. (eds) Agricultural Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30105-4_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30105-4_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-25425-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-30105-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation