Impaired Reproductive Development in Sons of Women Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides during Pregnancy

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy causes adverse effects on the reproductive development in the male infants.Design and measurementsPregnant women employed in greenhouses in Denmark were consecutively recruited, and 113 mother–son pairs were included. The mothers were categorized as occupationally exposed (91 sons) or unexposed (22 sons) to pesticides during pregnancy. Testicular position and volume, penile length, and position of urethral opening were determined at 3 months of age using standardized techniques. Concentrations of reproductive hormones in serum from the boys were analyzed.ResultsThe prevalence of cryptorchidism at 3 months of age was 6.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0–12.4]. This prevalence was considerably higher than among Danish boys born in the Copenhagen area (1.9%; 95% CI, 1.2–3.0) examined by the same procedure. Boys of pesticide-exposed mothers showed decreased penile length, testicular volume, serum concentrations of testosterone, and inhibin B. Serum concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and the luteinizing hormone:testosterone ratio were increased compared with boys of nonexposed mothers. For individual parameters, only the decreased penile length was statistically significant (p = 0.04). However, all observed effects were in the anticipated direction, and a joint multivariate test showed that this finding had a p-value of 0.012.ConclusionsOur findings suggest an adverse effect of maternal occupational pesticide exposure on reproductive development in the sons despite current greenhouse safeguards and special measures to protect pregnant women.

The Reproductive Health and Liver Functions of Occupationally Exposed Female Pesticide Sprayers of Mango Plantations

“…Females involved in agricultural work reported a higher percentage of adverse outcomes of pregnancy (abortion, stillbirth and congenital anomalies) compared to females not engaged in agriculture, which agrees with other studies [22][23][24][25][26]. The intricate processes of the menstrual cycle, ovum production, fertilization, implantation, growth and development of the foetus may be particularly susceptible to low-dose exposures to endocrine disruptors.…”

Widely Used Pesticides with Previously Unknown Endocrine Activity Revealed as in Vitro Antiandrogens

“…Female Danish greenhouse workers exposed to current-use pesticides were more likely to give birth to a son with cryptorchidism than were a random sample of mothers from the Copenhagen area (6.2% and 1.9%). Furthermore, sons of mothers who directly handled treated plants or were engaged in spraying pesticides had significantly smaller penises than did sons of mothers who had non contact roles in the greenhouse industry (Andersen et al 2008). Last, in a recent meta-analysis of studies from the United States and Europe, Rocheleau et al (2009) reported that maternal occupational exposure to pesticides was associated with a 36% increased risk of hypospadias relative to the risk in mothers without exposure (risk ratio = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.04-1.77).…”

Is male infertility a forerunner to cancer?

“…It has been shown that maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of cryptorchidism in male infants (36). A separate study also found that women who worked in greenhouses while pregnant gave birth to sons with significant reproductive health impairment, particularly a three-fold greater risk of cryptorchidism (37).…”