Use of new field methods of semen analysis in the study of occupational hazards to reproduction: the example of ethylene dibromide

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5348068

Schrader, S M; Ratcliffe, J M; Turner, T W; Hornung, R W

Increasing attention has been paid to the use of semen analysis as an indicator of exposure to potential mutagenic and reproductive hazards. In the infertility clinic setting, semen evaluations include the measurement of sperm concentration, volume, pH, motility, velocity and morphology, the analysis of seminal plasma to evaluate accessory sex gland function and, in some cases, the in vitro evaluation of fertilization capacity and sperm-cervical mucus interaction. To date, however, the study of semen characteristics of occupationally exposed populations has been confined principally to the measurement of sperm concentration and sperm morphology. This has been largely due to the unavailability of portable equipment suitable for the measurement of other semen characteristics and the difficulty of obtaining fresh semen samples in the field setting. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health researchers have developed mobile laboratory facilities which enable us to evaluate fresh samples, in the field, for semen characteristics in addition to concentration and morphology. This paper describes the application of these methods using the example of our recent cross-sectional study of workers occupationally exposed to ethylene dibromide in the papaya fumigation industry. We discuss our findings in the context of the usefulness of semen analysis as an indicator of occupational hazards to male reproduction.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5348068
• Journal Information: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 29:12; ISSN JJOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MORPHOLOGY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
REPRODUCTION
SENSITIVITY
SPERMATOZOA