Prolonged menstrual cycles in female workers exposed to ethylene glycol ethers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry

Abstract

Background: It has been shown that female workers exposed to ethylene glycol ethers (EGEs) in the semiconductor industry have higher risks of spontaneous abortion, subfertility, and menstrual disturbances, and prolonged waiting time to pregnancy. Aims: To examine whether EGEs or other chemicals are associated with long menstrual cycles in female workers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey during the annual health examination at a wafer manufacturing company in Taiwan in 1997. A three tiered exposure-assessment strategy was used to analyse the risk. A short menstrual cycle was defined to be a cycle less than 24 days and a long cycle to be more than 35 days. Results: There were 606 valid questionnaires from 473 workers in fabrication jobs and 133 in nonfabrication areas. Long menstrual cycles were associated with workers in fabrication areas compared to those in non-fabrication areas. Using workers in non-fabrication areas as referents, workers in photolithography and diffusion areas had higher risks for long menstrual cycles. Workers exposed to EGEs and isopropanol, and hydrofluoric acid, isopropanol, and phosphorous compounds also showed increased risks of a long menstrual cycle. Conclusions: Exposure to multiple chemicals, including EGEs in photolithography, might be associated with long menstrual cycles, and may play an important role in a prolonged time to pregnancy in the wafer manufacturing industry; however, the prevalence in the design, possible exposure misclassification, and chance should be considered.

Review of Hazardous Agent Level in Wafer Fabrication Operation Focusing on Exposure to Chemicals and Radiation

“…Woskies et al (Wald & Jones, 1987;Harrison, 1992 (Table 3) (Sorahan et al, 1985;Sorahan et al, 1992;McElvenny et al, 2003;Hsieh et al, 2005;Bender et al, 2007;Boice et al, 2010;Lee et al, 2011). …”

Proceedings of the Summit on Environmental Challenges to Reproductive Health and Fertility: executive summary

“…Longer cycles have been observed in studies of EDCs such as TCDD (132), hormonally-active pesticides (133), serum PCBs (134) and multiple industrial chemicals (e.g., ethylene glycol ethers) used in the semi-conductor industry (135). Menstrual disorders such as missed periods and abnormal uterine bleeding were also observed (130,133,134).…”

Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether [MAK Value Documentation, 2008]

“…Increased relative risks of spontaneous abortions and lower fertility were reported (Chen et al 2002;Correa et al 1996;Gray et al 1996;Hsieh et al 2005;Lamm et al 1996;Schenker 1996;Schenker et al 1995;Swan and Forest 1996;Swan et al 1995). These studies cannot be used for the present assessment because, as mentioned before, ethylene-based glycol ethers were assessed together in these studies, no distinction was made between ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and the glycol ether concentrations were not measured in the air, nor was biomonitoring performed.…”