Prospective surveillance of semen quality in the workplace

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6855854

Schenker, M B; Samuels, S J; Perkins, C; Lewis, E L; Katz, D F; Overstreet, J W

We performed a prospective surveillance of semen quality among workers in the plant where 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane was first recognized as an occupational cause of impaired semen quality and of infertility. All male employees of the Agricultural Chemical Division were required to participate. Ninety-seven workers (92% participation) provided 258 semen samples over the 4 years of the program. Most samples were analyzed at the plant with a mini-laboratory designed for the study. Motility and shape measures were made objectively. Sixty-six subjects (68%) were non-azoospermic. Generalized multiple regression showed no significant predictors for any response, with the exception of the motility measures, which were reduced with longer times between ejaculation and assay. Between- and within-person standard deviations and correlations were calculated. Comparison of this population with fertile artificial insemination donors (16 men, 498 ejaculates) revealed generally higher ejaculate-to-ejaculate standard deviations in the worker samples. This is probably due to less well controlled conditions of sperm collection in the workplace setting. For cross-sectional studies, one ejaculate per worker is recommended as sufficient; for estimating an individual worker's mean, even three ejaculates may not provide enough precision.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Davis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6855854
• Journal Information: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 30:4; 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.
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CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
MATHEMATICS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
PROPANE
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SENSITIVITY
SPERMATOZOA
STATISTICS
TOXICITY