For Debate: Impotence in Farm Workers using Toxic Chemicals

Espir, Michael; Hall, John W.; Shirreffs, J. G.; Stevens, David L.

doi:10.1136/bmj.1.5693.423

Cited by 54 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In a British study, impaired erectile function in four farm workers, who had used pesticides for over a 1-year [48] was documented. Pesticides including OPs were identified as harmful agents and it was suggested that these chemicals disrupted testosterone metabolism [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reported Health Effects among Short and Long-term Pesticide Sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross Sectional Study

Manyilizu¹,

Mdegela²,

Kazwala³

et al. 2015

Occup Med Health Aff

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There is also circumstantial evidence on the association of exposure to pesticides with chronic diseases like respiratory problems, dermal disorders, cardiovascular disease, nephropathies, chronic fatigue syndrome and aging [1]. Since health-workers are not adequately trained to identify adverse effects of pesticides [22,23] and because of the Abstract Background: The aim of the present study was to assess whether long-term exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health effects in professional pesticide sprayers. Methods:The study was conducted in Lake Eyasi Basin and Ngarenanyuki in Arusha region, during the dry season in September-October 2013. In a cross-sectional study, 97 short-term exposed men with at most three months as professional sprayers were compared with 60 long-term exposed men with experience of at least five years as professional sprayers. The study participants were aged 18-30 years, drawn from the same source population and interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The questions focused on spraying procedures and on present and recurrent medical history including presence of selected six known pesticide induced health conditions. Results:Organophosphates, carbamates, dithiocarbamates and pyrethroids were the most applied insecticides but also organochlorine fungicides and endosulfan were frequently applied. The majority of the sprayers reported unsafe pesticide use. Mean pesticide uses in litres, spray frequency per crop and per week were 637, and 1.3 respectively for about 270 days a year. Respiratory disease symptoms were the most frequently reported (46/157; 29.3%) followed by skin (27/157; 17.2%), and sight (24/157; 15.3%). When adjusted for age and other predictors, long-term exposed sprayers had significantly higher self-reported occurrences of peripheral neuropathy (OR=7.7, CI95%: 1.045-56.728, p=0.045) and respiratory disorders (OR=0.2, CI95%: 0.067-0.501, p=0.001) compared with short-term exposed. Furthermore, 10 sprayers, all long-term exposed reported poor libido and erection problems. Conclusions: These findings document lack of safety knowledge, safe pesticide management and the implementation of protective measures as well as suggesting that long-term exposure to pesticides increase the risk of experience disease conditions compared to short-term exposure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reported Health Effects among Short and Long-term Pesticide Sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross Sectional Study

Manyilizu¹,

Mdegela²,

Kazwala³

et al. 2015

Occup Med Health Aff

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“…Four out of five English workers using pesticides on a particular farm developed erectile problems without obvious loss of sexual desire (16). In each case there was subsequent recovery.…”

Section: Types Of Environmental Hazards Toxic Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Impact of environment, stress, occupational, and other hazards on sexuality and sexual behavior.

Bancroft

1993

Environ Health Perspect

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Sexual health is important for general as well as reproductive health. The effects of the environment on sexual health are complex, however, because of the psychosomatic nature of human sexuality. The effects of any specific environmental agent on sexual function will therefore be modified or amplified by psychosocial factors, and any assessment of the effects of the agent will need to take those factors into account. As a consequence, we have little direct evidence of the adverse effects of the environment on sexuality. This paper therefore considers a) the aspects of sexuality that may by susceptible to environmental effects and the likely mediating mechanisms. These are considered under three headings: psychophysiological, endocrine, and subjective/interpersonal; b) the types of relevant environmental factors, including toxic pollutants, selfadministered toxins, diet, situational factors, adversity, stress, and social and cultural factors. As yet research has not controlled adequately for the various confounding factors. It is suggested that a first step is to investigate the effects of work stress (e.g., shift and night work) on sexual relationships, comparing the effects across contrasting cultural settings. Such research would then provide a basis for cross-cultural study of other environmental factors.

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“…Insecticides and herbicides have been implicated in causing impotence in four of five workers in one report (Espir et al 1970). The exact chemical was unknown, as they had been working with some 18 different toxic compounds.…”

Section: Insecticides and Herbicidesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Pharmacosexology: The Effects of Drugs on Sexual Function – A Review

Buffum

1982

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

154

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The literature on the sexual side effects of drugs and chemicals has been reviewed. There are many substances which alter the human sociosexual response cycle either negatively, positively or both. Many of the drugs used therapeutically have been reported to have adverse effects on sexuality, and this must be taken into account when these drugs are used clinically. Many substances which are used for recreational purposes (or sometimes abused) also have profound effects on sexual response. Many of these substances are used in such a way that they can correct underlying sexual problems. Treatment of a drug abuser may well prove unsuccessful without consideration of preexistent sociosexual problems and concerns. From the dawn of recorded history, many substances have been used for the purpose of sexual enhancement. Some of these have known success and their reputations have been passed down through the millenia. The chapter has not yet been closed on aphrodisiacs, even though none have survived the rigors of scientific scrutiny. As long as humans place value on optimal sexual functioning, there will be a demand for sex-enhancing drugs. In order for the scientific and medical community to successfully meet these challenges, more effective and relevant study designs will have to be utilized in order to separate fact from fancy. The study of pharmacosexology is in its infancy, and in order for it to grow and contribute to the world body of knowledge, more researchers and clinicians must be trained in both pharmacology and sexology.

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For Debate: Impotence in Farm Workers using Toxic Chemicals

Cited by 54 publications

References 11 publications

Self-reported Health Effects among Short and Long-term Pesticide Sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross Sectional Study

Self-reported Health Effects among Short and Long-term Pesticide Sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross Sectional Study

Impact of environment, stress, occupational, and other hazards on sexuality and sexual behavior.

Pharmacosexology: The Effects of Drugs on Sexual Function – A Review

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