Investigation of reports of sexual dysfunction among male chemical workers manufacturing stilbene derivatives

Abstract

A Health Hazard Evaluation was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in an area of a large chemical plant that manufactured the stilbene derivative 4,4'-diaminostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, an intermediate used for the production of optical brightening agents. Men employed in the area reported problems with impotence. The study population consisted of 44 men aged 20-57 years (mean age 37) employed in the area at the time of the evaluation. An industrial hygiene investigation, health and work history questionnaire survey, physical examinations, and blood chemistry and serum hormone evaluation were conducted. Fourteen percent of the men reported symptoms of impotence over the preceding 6 or more months, 7% had potency problems of shorter duration, and 7% were not currently impotent but had experienced impotence for 6 or more months in the past; 36% experienced decreased libido, all since beginning work in the production area. Low levels of serum testosterone (less than 350 ng/dl) were observed in 37% of the men. The low serum testosterone concentrations were not accounted for fully by diurnal variation or an effect of rotating shift work. It is suggested that exposures to chemicals possessing estrogenic activity may be related to the observed health effects in these workers.

Perinatal Exposure to Low Levels of the Environmental Antiandrogen Vinclozolin Alters Sex-Differentiated Social Play and Sexual Behaviors in the Rat

“…Specifically, pesticide-exposed men had a significantly higher incidence of complete impotence, showing little to no change from baseline flaccidity on measures of penile rigidity, tumescence, frequency, and duration (Oliva et al 2002). Occupational exposure to stilbene has also been associated with an increase in self-reported impotence and decreased libido (Quinn et al 1990; Whelan et al 1996). Stilbene is a component of textile finishing agents and detergents, and it is structurally similar to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol.…”

Large effects from small exposures. I. Mechanisms for endocrine-disrupting chemicals with estrogenic activity.

“…The physiological and the environmentally relevant dose ranges typically fall well below the toxicological dose range based on using established protocols for examining acute toxic effects of chemicals. Exceptions would be instances of industrial accidents or workplace exposure, such as the Yu-Cheng incident in Taiwan involving accidental exposure to acutely toxic doses of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (9) or exposure to synthetic estrogens by workers in pharmaceutical plants (10).…”

Environmental Agents and Erectile Dysfunction: A Study in a Consulting Population

“…Some organochlorine pesticides and various industrial chemicals have estrogenic or antiandrogenic endocrine properties and interfere directly or indirectly with fertility and reproduction (Toppari et al, 1996;Cheek and McLachlan, 1998). In the past, male manufacturing workers who came into contact with the potent synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol, and its industrial derivative, diaminostilbene, reported impotence and a decrease in libido (Shmunes and Burton, 1981;Quinn et al, 1990). It was recently shown that the endocrine disrupter, p,pЈ-DDE, a persistent antiandrogenic metabolite of the insecticide DDT, interferes with erectile function in rats (Brien et al, 2000).…”