Titre du document / Document title

Time to pregnancy among the wives of Finnish greenhouse workers

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

SALLMEN Markku ⁽¹⁾ ; LIESIVUORI Jyrki ^{(2 3)} ; TASKINEN Helena ⁽⁴⁾ ; LINDBOHM Marja-Liisa ⁽¹⁾ ; ANTTILA Ahti ⁽¹⁾ ; AALTO Lea ⁽¹⁾ ; HEMMINKI Kari ⁽⁵⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, FINLANDE
⁽²⁾ Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, FINLANDE
⁽³⁾ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kuopio, FINLANDE
⁽⁴⁾ Department of Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, FINLANDE
⁽⁵⁾ Karolinska Institutet, Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, Huddinge, SUEDE

Résumé / Abstract

Objectives This study investigated the possibility of men's work in greenhouses and their exposure to pesticides being associated with reduced fertility. Methods A study on time to pregnancy was conducted among the families of Finnish male greenhouse employers and employees. Exposure to pesticides was assessed on the basis of questionnaire information and data gathered from the enterprises. Fecundability density ratios (FDR) for occupational exposure were calculated with discrete proportional hazards regression analyses. Results After three mailings, 578 (43%) couples participated. Fecundability was suggestively decreased for exposed greenhouse workers who were inefficiently protected, with FDR values of 0.67 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.33-1.35], 0.92 [95% CI 0.45-1.88] and 0.77 [95% CI 0.4b-1.29] for high exposure, moderate exposure and low exposure, respectively, as compared with unexposed greenhouse workers. The exposed men who efficiently used personal protective equipment were as fertile as the unexposed greenhouse workers. Exposure to pyrethroids (FDR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.85) was related to decreased fecundability. Suggestive associations were observed for organophosphates (FDR 0.70, 95% CI 0.42-1.17) and carbamates (FDR 0.55, 95% CI 0.27-1.11). Conclusions The findings of the study provide limited support for the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides is associated with reduced fertility. The findings for pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates can serve as a basis for a hypothesis for future studies.

Revue / Journal Title

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health   ISSN 0355-3140 

Source / Source

2003, vol. 29, n^o2, pp. 85-93 [9 page(s) (article)] (27 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, Helsinki, FINLANDE  (1975) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Male genital diseases ; Europe ; Occupational medicine ; Occupational exposure ; Finland ; Public health ; Epidemiology ; Fertility ; Reproduction ; Male ; Human ; Toxicity ; Pesticides ; Worker ; Greenhouse ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Appareil génital mâle pathologie ; Europe ; Médecine travail ; Exposition professionnelle ; Finlande ; Santé publique ; Epidémiologie ; Fertilité ; Reproduction ; Mâle ; Homme ; Toxicité ; Pesticide ; Travailleur ; Serre ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Aparato genital macho patología ; Europa ; Medicina ocupacional ; Exposición profesional ; Finlandia ; Salud pública ; Epidemiología ; Fertilidad ; Reproducción ; Macho ; Hombre ; Toxicidad ; Plaguicida ; Trabajador ; Invernadero ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

fecundability ; male exposure ; pregnancy delay ; reproductive health ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 17954, 35400011083079.0020