Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x5gtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-04T23:35:12.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Occupational hazards to male fecundity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

Jens Peter Bonde  and
Aleksander Giwercman
Jens Peter Bonde*
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
Aleksander Giwercman
Affiliation:
Department of Growth and Reproduction, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Research methods and knowledge in the field of male reproductive toxicology have gradually improved since reports in the late 1970s on severe impairment of spermatogenesis in workers with occupational exposure to certain chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides (the nematocide 1,2-dibromochloropropan and the insecticide and fungicide chlordecone, but still we have only vague answers to basic questions about the overall significance of the environmental and occupational impact of these compounds on male reproductive capability.

Type
Articles
Information
Reproductive Medicine Review , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 59 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Whorton, MD, Krauss, RM, Marshall, S, Milby, TH. Infertility in male pesticide workers. Lancet 1977; ii: 1259–61.Google Scholar
2Cohn, WJ, Boylan, JJ, Blanke, RV, Fariss, MW, Howell, JR., Guzelian, PS. Treatment of chlordecone (Kepone) toxicity with cholestyramine. N Engl J Med 1978; 298: 243–48.Google Scholar
3Carlsen, E, Giwercmann, A, Keiding, N, Skakkebæk, NE. Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during past 50 years. BMJ 1992; 305: 609–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Colborn, T, Clement, C. Chemically-induced alterations in sexual and functional development: the wildlife/human connection. Adv Mod Environ Toxicol. 1992; xxi: 1–8.Google Scholar
5Sharpe, RM, Skakkebæk, NE. Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet 1993; 341: 1392–95.Google Scholar
6Olshan, AF, Teschke, K, Baird, PA. Paternal occupation and congenital anomalies in offspring. Am J Ind Med 1991; 20: 447–75.Google Scholar
7Olshan, AF, Faustman, EM. Male-mediated developmental toxicity. Reprod Toxicol 1993; 7: 191–202.Google Scholar
8Colie, CF. Male mediated teratogenesis. Reprod Toxicol 1993; 7: 3–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Wyrobek, AJ. Methods and concepts in detecting abnormal reproductive outcomes of paternal origin. Reprod Toxicol 1993; 7(suppl 1): 10–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Olsen, J, Skov, T. Design otions and methodological fallacies in the studies of reproductive failures. Environ Health Perspect 1993; 2 (suppl): 145–52.Google Scholar
11Amann, RP. A critical review of methods for evaluation of spermatogenesis from seminal characteristics. J Androl 1981; 2: 37–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Schrader, SM, Chapin, RE, Clegg, ED et al. Laboratory methods for assessing human semen in epidemiologic studies: a consensus report. Reprod Toxicol 1992; 6: 275–79.Google Scholar
13Comhaire, FH. Methods to evaluate reproductive health of the human male. Reprod Toxicol 1993; 7: 39–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Mandl, AM. The radiosensitivity of germ cells. Biol Rev 1964; 39: 288–371.Google Scholar
15Mandl, AM, Beaumont, HM, Hughes, GC. The differential radiosensitivity of male primordial germ cells and spermatogonia. In: Carlson, WD, Gassner, Fx eds. Effects of ionizing radiation of the reproductive system. New York: Pergamon Press, 1964: 165–74.Google Scholar
16Tam, PP, Liu, WK. Gonadal development and fertility of mice treated prenatally with cadmium during the early organogenesis stages. Teratology 1985; 32: 453–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Cognat, M, Rachail, M, Terpou, A, Deschanel, JP. Administration transplacentaire de diethylstilboestrol chez le rat. I. A propos de la fertilite des descendants. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) 1990; 19: 414–20.Google Scholar
18McLachlan, JA, Newbold, RR, Bullock, B. Reproductive tract lesions in male mice exposed prenatally to diethylstilbestrol. Science 1975; 190: 991–92.Google Scholar
19Yasuda, Y, Ohara, I, Konishi, H, Tanimura, T. Long term effects on male reproductive organs of prenatal exposure to ethinyl estradiol. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1988; 159: 1246–50.Google Scholar
20Gill, WB, Schumacher, GFB, Bibbo, M, Straus, FHI, Schoenberg, HW. Association of diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero with cryptorchidism, testicular hypoplasia and semen abnormalities. J Urol 1979; 122: 36–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Skakkebæk, NE, Berthelsen, JG, Giwercman, A, Mueller, J. Carcinoma-in-situ of the testis: possible origin from gonocytes and precursor of all types of germ cell tumours except spermatocytoma. lnt J Androl 1987; 10: 19–28.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Sheehan, DM, Young, M. Diethylstilbestrol and estradiol binding to serum albumin and pregnancy plasma of rat and human. Endocrinology 1979; 104: 1442–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Lamerz, R, Fateh-Moghadam, A. Carcinofetale Antigene. I. Alpha-Fetoprotein. Klin Wochenschr 1975; 53: 147–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Pollard, I. Prenatal stress effects over two generations in rats. J Endocrinol 1986; 109: 239–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Crump, PJ, Chevins, PF. Prenatal stress reduces fertility of male offspring in mice, without affecting their adult testosterone levels. Horm Behav 1989; 23: 333–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Johansen, TEB. Anatomy of the testis and epididymis in cryptorchidism. Andrologia 1987; 19: 565–69.Google Scholar
27Angulano, A, Oates, RD, Amos, JA et al. Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. A primary genital form of cystic fibrosis. J Am Med Assoc 1992; 267: 1794–97.Google Scholar
28Steinberger, E, Smith, KD, Perloff, WH. Spermatogenesis in Klinefelter's syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol 1965; 25: 1325–30.Google Scholar
29Lawrence, R, Yuceoglu, AM. Seminiferous tubule dysgenesis. Am J Dis Child 1960; 101: 635–38.Google Scholar
30Mattison, DR, Thomford, PJ. Selection of animals for reproductive toxicology studies: an evaluation of selected assumptions in reproductive toxicity testing and risk assessment. In: Roloff, MV, Wilson, AGE, Ribelin, WE, Ridley, WP, Ruecker, FA eds. Human risk assessment – the role of animal selection and extrapolation. New York: Taylor and Francis, 1987: 195–213.Google Scholar
31Neubert, D. Significance of pharmacokinetic variables in reproductive and developmental toxicity. Xenobiotica 1988; 18 (suppl 1): 45–58.Google Scholar
32Jackson, H, Partington, M, Fox, BW. Effects of busulphan (myleran) on the spermatogenic population of the rat testis. Nature 1962; 194: 1184–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33Ogilvy-Stuart, AL, Shalet, SM. Effect of radiation on the human reproductive system. Environ Health Perspect 1993; 101: 109–16.Google Scholar
34Lantz, GD, Cunningham, GR, Huckins, C, Lipschultz, LI. Recovery from severe oligospermia after exposure to dibromochloropropane. Fertil Steril 1981; 35: 46–53.Google Scholar
35Sever, LE, Hessol, NA. Toxic effects of occupational and environmental chemicals on the testes. In: Thomas, JA, Korach, KS, McLachlan, JA eds. Endocrine toxicology. New York: Raven Press, 1985: 211–48.Google Scholar
36Foster, PMD, Creasy, DM, Foster, JR, Thomas, LV, Cook, MW, Gangolli, SD. Testicular toxicity of etbylene glycol monomethyl and monoethyl ethers in the rat. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1983; 69: 385–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37Ratcliffe, JM, Schrader, SM, Clapp, DE, Halperin, WE, Turner, TW, Homung, RW. Semen quality in workers exposed to 2-ethoxyethanol. Br J Ind Med 1989; 46: 399–406.Google Scholar
38Welch, L, Schrader, S, Turner, T, Cullen, M. Effects of exposure to ethylene glycol ethers on shipyard painters: II. male reproduction. Am J Ind Med 1988; 14: 509–26.Google Scholar
39Chowdhury, AK, Steinberger, E. A quantitative study of the effect of heat on germinal epithelium of rat testes. Am J Anat 1964; 115: 509–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40Procope, B-J.Effect of repeated increase of body temperature on human sperm cells. Int J Androl 1965; 10: 333–39.Google ScholarPubMed
41Bonde, JP. Semen quality among welders exposed to radiant heat. Br J Ind Med 1992; 49: 5–10.Google ScholarPubMed
42Waller, DP, Killinger, JM, Zaneveld, LJD. Physiology and toxicology of the male reproductive tract. In: Thomas, JA, Korach, KS, McLachlan, JA eds. Endocrine toxicology. New York: Raven, 1985: 269–333.Google Scholar
43Ratcliffe, JM, Schrader, SM, Meinhardt T. Semen quality in timber fumigators exposed to ethylene dibromide. NIOSH Report No. TA-83-244. Cincinnati: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1984.Google Scholar
44Schrader, SM, Turner, TW, Ratcliffe, JM. The effects of ethylene dibromide on semen quality: a comparison of short-term and chronic exposure. Reprod Toxicol 1988; 2: 191–98.Google Scholar
45Foster, PMD. Testicular organization and biochemical function. In: Lamb, JC, Foster, PMD eds. Physiology and toxicology of male reproduction. New York: Academic Press, 1988: 17–18.Google Scholar
46Chapin, RE, Morgan, KT, Bus, JS. The morphogenesis of testicular degeneration induced in rats orally administered 2,5-hexanedione. Exp Mol Pathol 1983; 38: 149–69.Google Scholar
47Foster, PMD, Foster, JR, Cook, MW, Thomas, LV, Gangolli, SD. Changes in ultrastructure and localization of zinc in rat testis following the administration of di-n-pentyl phthalate. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1994; 63: 120–32.Google Scholar
48Krasovskii, GN, Varshavskaya, SP, Borisov, AI. Toxic and gonadotropic effects of cadmium and boron relative to standards for these substances in drinking water. Environ Health Perspect 1976; 13: 69–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
49Singhal, RL, Vijayvargiya, R, Shukla, GS. Toxic effects of cadmium and lead on reproductive functions. In: Thomas, JA, Korach, KS, McLachlan, JA eds. Endocrine toxicology. New York: Raven Press, 1985: 249–68.Google Scholar
50Rodamilans, M, Osaba, JM, To-Figueras, J et al. Lead toxicity on endocrine testicular function in an occupationally exposed population. Hum Toxicol 1988; 7: 125–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51Gustafson, , Hedner, P, Schütz, A, Skerfving, S. Occupational lead exposure and pituitary function. M Arch Occup Environ Health 1991; 61: 277–81.Google Scholar
52Cullen, MR, Kayne, RD, Robins, JM. Endocrine and reproductive dysfunction in men associated with occupational inorganic lead intoxication. Arch Environ Health 1984; 39: 431–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
53Vaegar, G, Tolonen, M, Tanner, P, Helpiö, E. Serum gonadotropins and testosterone in men occupationally exposed to carbon disulfide. J Toxicol Environ Health 1983; 11: 691–701.Google Scholar
54VanHoorne, M, Vermeulen, A, De Bacquer, D. Epidemiological study of endocrinological effects of carbon disulfide. Arch Environ Health 1993; 48: 370–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55World Health Organization. WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and spermcervical mucus interaction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.Google Scholar
56Auger, J, Czyglik, F, Kuntsmann, JM, Jouannet, P. Significant decrease of semen characteristics of fertile men from Paris area during the last 20 years. Hum Reprod 1994; 9 (suppl 4): 72 (Abstract).Google Scholar
57Irvine, DS. Falling sperm quality [letter]. BMJ 1994; 309: 476.Google Scholar
58Van Waeleghem, K, De Clercq, N, Vermeulen, L, Schoojans, F, Comhaire, F. Deterioration of sperm quality in young Belgian men during recent decades. Hum Reprod 1994; 9 (suppl 4): 73. (Abstract).Google Scholar
59Popescu, HI, Lancranjan, I. Spermatogenesis alteration during protracted irradiation in man. Health Phys 1975; 21: 567–73.Google Scholar
60Ash, P. The influence of radiation on fertility in man. Br. J Radiol 1980; 53: 271–78.Google Scholar
61Lancranjan, I, Maicanescu, M, Rafaila, E, Klepsch, I, Popescu, HI. Gonadic function in workmen with longterm exposure to microwaves. Health Phys 1975; 29: 381–83.Google Scholar
62Rachootin, P, Olsen, J. The risk of infertility and delayed conception associated with exposures in the Danish workplace. J Occup Med 1983; 25: 394–402.Google ScholarPubMed
63Figa, Talamanca I, Dell'Orco, V, Pupi, A et al. Fertility and semen quality of workers exposed to high temperatures in the ceramics industry. Reprod Toxicol 1992; 6: 517–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
64Lancranjan, I, Popescu, HI, Gavanescu, O, Klepsch, I, Serbanescu, M. Reproductive ability of workmen occupationally exposed to lead. Arch Environ Health 1975; 30: 396–401.Google Scholar
65Wildt, K, Eliasson, R, Berlin, M. Effect of occupational exposure to lead on sperm and semen. In: Clarkson, TW, Nordberg, GF, Sager, PR eds. Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Metals. New York: Plenum Press, 1983: 279–300.Google Scholar
66Assennato, G, Paci, C, Baser, ME et al. Sperm count suppression wthout endocrine dysfunction in lead-exposed men. Arch Environ Health 1986; 41: 387–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
67Braunstein, GD, Dahlgren, J, Loriaux, DL. Hypogonadism in chronically lead poisoned men. Infertility 1978; 1: 33–51.Google ScholarPubMed
68Rabjerg, L, Viskum, S. Bly og sædkvalitet. En underscgelse blandt ansatte på en akkumulatorfabrik. Copenhagen: Arbejdsmiljcfondet, 1991.Google Scholar
69George, JD, Fail, PA, Grizzle, TB, Yang, RS, Heindel, JJ. Reproductive toxicity evaluation of a pesticide/fertilizer mixture administered in the drinking water to mice. Toxicologist 1993; 13: 77.Google Scholar
70Gennart, JP, Buchet, JP, Roels, H, Ghyselen, P, Ceulemans, E, Lauwerys, R. Fertility of male workers exposed to cadmium, lead, or manganese. Am J Epidemial 1992; 135: 1208–19.Google Scholar
71Coste, J, Mandereau, L, Pessione, F et al. Leadexposed workmen and fertility: a cohort study on 354 subjects. Eur J Epidemol 1991; 7: 154–58.Google Scholar
72Lauwerys, R, Roels, H, Genet, P, Toussaint, G, Bouckaert, A, De Cooman, S. Fertility of male workers exposed to mercury vapor or to manganese dust: a questionnaire study. Am J Ind Med 1985; 7: 171–76.Google Scholar
73Bonde, JP, Ernst, E. Sex hormones and semen quality in welders exposed to hexavalent chromium. Hum Exp Toxicol 1992; 11: 259–63.Google Scholar
74Jelnes, JE, Knudsen, L. Stainless steel welding and semen quality. Reprod Toxicol 1988; 2: 209–12.Google Scholar
75Bonde, JP. Semen quality and sexual hormones among mild steel and stainless steel welders: a cross sectional study. Br J Ind Med 1990; 47: 505–14.Google Scholar
76Bonde, JP. Semen quality in welders before and after three weeks of non-exposure. Br J Ind Med 1990; 47: 515–18.Google Scholar
77Bonde, JP. Subfertility in relation to welding. A case-referent study among male welders. Dan Med Bull 1990; 37: 105–108.Google ScholarPubMed
78Bonde, JP, Hansen, KS, Levine, RL. Fertility among Danish male welders. Scand J Work Environ Health 1990; 16: 315–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
79Takahashi, W, Wong, L, Rogers, BJ, Hale, RW. Depression of sperm counts among agricultural workers exposed to dibromochloropropane and ethylene dibromide. Bull Contam Environ Toxicol 1981; 27: 551–58.Google Scholar
80Egnatz, DG, Ott, MG, Townsend, JC et al. DBPC and testicular effects in chemical workers: an occupational survey in Midland, Michigan. J Occup Med 1980; 22: 727–32.Google Scholar
81Lahdetie, J. Micronucleated spermatids in the seminal fluid of smokers and non-smokers. Mutat Res 1986; 172: 255–63.Google Scholar
82Levine, RJ, Blunden, PB, Dalcorso, RD, Starr, TB, Ross, CE. Superiority of reproductive histories to sperm counts in detecting infertility at a dibromochloropropane manufacturing plant. J Occup Med 1983; 25: 591–97.Google Scholar
83Ratcliffe, J, Schrader, SM, Steenland, K, Clapp, DE, Turner, T, Hornung, RW. Semen quality in papaya workers with long term exposure to ethylene dibromide. Br J Ind Med 1987; 44: 317–26.Google Scholar
84Wyrobek, AJ, Watchmaker, G, Gordon, L, Wong, K, Moore, HD, Whorton, D. Sperm shape abnormalities in carbaryl-exposed employees. Environ Health Perspect 1981; 40: 255–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
85Whorton, MD, Milby, TH, Stubbs, HA, Avashia, BH, Hull, EQ. Testicular function among carbaryl-exposed employees. J Toxicol Environ Health 1979; 5: 929–41.Google Scholar
86Whorton, MD, Stubbs, HA, Obrinsky, A, Milby, TH. Testicular function of men occupationally exposed to para-tertiary butyl benzoic acid. Scand J Work Environ Health 1981; 7: 204–13.Google Scholar
87Lerda, D, Rizzi, R. Study of reproductive function in persons occupationally exposed to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Mutat Res 1991; 262: 47–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
88Lancranjan, I. Alterations of spermatic liquid in patients chronically poisoned by carbon disulphide. Med Lav 1972; 63: 29–33.Google ScholarPubMed
89Meyer, CR. Semen quality in workers exposed to carbon disulfide compared to a control group from same plant. J Occup Med 1981; 23: 435–39.Google Scholar
90Eskenazi, B, Wyrobek, AJ, Fenster, L et al. A study of the effect of perchloroethylene exposure on semen quality in dry cleaning workers. Am J Ind Med 1991; 20: 575–91.Google Scholar
91Rasmussen, K, Sabroe, S, Wohlert, M, Ingersley, HJ, Kappel, B, Neilsen, J. A genotoxic study of metal workers exposed to trichloroethylene. Sperm parameters and chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1988; 60: 419–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
92Bonde, JP, Mortensen, JT, Johansen, JP. Toksisk encefalopati og sædkvalitet blandt ansatte i en flexotrykvirksomhed. Ugeskr Læger 1987; 149: 469–71.Google Scholar
93Jelnes, JE. Semen quality in workers producing reinforced plastic. Reprod Toxicol 1988; 2: 209–12.Google Scholar
94Bjerrehuus, T, Detlefsen, G. Infertility in Danish painters exposed to organic solvents. (In Danish with an English summary). Ugeskr Læger 1986; 148: 1105–106.Google Scholar
95Wyrobek, AJ, Brodsky, J, Gordon, L, Moore, DH, Watchmaker, G, Cohen EN. Sperm studies in anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology 1981; 55: 527–32.Google Scholar
96Sanotskii, IV. Aspects of the toxicology of chloroprene: immediate and long-term effects. Environ Health Perspect 1976; 17: 85–93.Google Scholar
97Ward, JB, Hokanson, JA, Smith, ER et al. Sperm count, morphology and fluorescent body frequency in autopsy service workers exposed to formaldehyde. Mutat Res 1984; 130: 417–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
98Egeland, GM, Sweeney, MH, Fingerhut, MA, Wille, KK, Schnorr, TM, Halperin, WE. Total serum testosterone and gonadotropins in workers exposed to dioxin. Am J Epidemial 1994; 139: 272–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
99Rosenberg, MJ, Wyrobek, AJ, Ratcliffe, J et al. Sperm as an indicator of reproductive risk among petroleum refinery workers. Br J Ind Med 1985; 42: 123–27.Google Scholar
100Bonde, JP. The risk of male subfecundity attributable to welding of metals. Int J Androl 1993; 16: (suppl 1): 1–32.Google Scholar
101Lipschultz, LI, Ross, CE, Whorton, D, Milby, T, Smith, R, Joyner, RE. Dibromochloropropane and its effect on testicular function in man. J Urol 1980; 124: 464–68.Google Scholar